Derek Roy (comedian)

Derek Roy
Born	25 August 1922(1922-08-25) London, England
Died	15 March 1981(1981-03-15) (aged 58) Southampton, England (cancer)
Spouse	Rone Ricardo[1]

Derek Roy (25 August 1922 - 15 March 1981) was a British comedian famous in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

His BBC Radio show 'Hip Hip Hoo Roy" was written by amongst others Spike Milligan, and was the show where Milligan's Goon Show character Eccles first appeared. Roy's unsuccessful star-vehicle 'Happy Go Lucky' also gave the first writing break to Ray Galton and Alan Simpson,^[2] who would soon team up with the shows last producer Dennis Main Wilson to make Hancock's Half Hour.^[3]

Roy also hosted Variety Bandbox, a talent show that made famous the likes of Michael Bentine, Jimmy Edwards, Tony Hancock, Alfred Marks, Morecambe and Wise, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Graham Stark and Harry Worth.

Derek Roy was a resident of the large Art Deco apartment block, Du Cane Court, where he is remembered by the older residents: "He was short, plump, and wore glasses; and besides being a stand-up comedian, he featured on an amusing radio variety show. He was well liked, well known and very vulgar. He lived in B11 and had a large dog which he would take on stage as part of his act."^[4]

He appeared in the movie 'Dance With Me' alongside Anne Shelton and Max Wall.^[2] In 1955 he also appeared on the first night of ITV.^[5]

References

1. ^ "Biography for Derek Roy (I)". IMDB. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746993/bio. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Flanagan, Barry. "Derek Roy". Memories of the Hippodrome. http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/hippodrome/Roy.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
3. ^ Oliver, John. "Derek Roy". Screenonline. http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/hippodrome/Roy.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
4. ^ Vincent, Gregory K. (2008). A history of Du Cane Court : land, architecture, people and politics. Woodbine. ISBN 0954167511. 
5. ^ Flanagan, Barry. "Denis Gifford (1927-2000)". comicsuk.co.uk. http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/Links/DenisGiffordObituary.asp. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 

External links

• Short biography of Derek Roy
• Galton and Simpson biography (featuring info on Derek Roy)

Persondata
Name	Roy, Derek
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	25 August 1922
Place of birth	London, England
Date of death	15 March 1981
Place of death	Southhampton, England (cancer)