Bob Carolgees

Bob Carolgees (born Robert Johnson, May 12 1948 in Birmingham, UK) is a comedy entertainer who used to appear on the Saturday morning TV series "Tiswas" and later its adult versions O.T.T. and Saturday Stayback. He is famed for appearing with a puppet named "Spit the Dog".

Career

Carolgees first appeared in a guest spot on "Tiswas" on the 31 March 1979. [cite web |url=http://www.tiswasonline.com/whos_who.php?person=carolgees |title=Tiswas Online list of Bob Carolgees appearances|Publisher=Tiswas Online |date=07.05.2007] Main presenter Chris Tarrant's first words to him were "I don't know who the f--- you are, but stand there, you're going to be on the telly, it's great!" Clowning around with a monkey puppet Charlie, Bob went down very well with the viewing audience and after being invited back for several guest spots he soon became a team presenter. [cite web |url=http://www.tiswasonline.com/articles.php?section=later |title= 'Later Magazine' Tiswas article|Publisher=Tiswas Online|date=09-1999] Carolgees, in pyjamas and headband was also the Tiswas character Houdi Elbow, a comedy 'psychic' and small time magician.

As well as gaining national fame with these and Spit the Dog, he was also part of The Four Bucketeers who made the UK Top 30 in 1980, even making a "Top of the Pops" appearance. [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/videoclips/date/1980/index.shtml|title=Top of the Pops Videoclips|Publisher=BBC|date=07.05.2007]

Carolgees went on to work for eight years alongside Cilla Black in "Surprise, Surprise" and he was for nearly two decades one of the foremost performers to entertain the British armed forces around the world. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3777813.stm|title=Spit the Dog sale fetches £5,000|Publisher=BBC|date=05.06.2004] He also fronted pop/game show "Hold Tight!", produced by Granada Television for Children's ITV and game show Concentration. [cite web |url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.php/Bob_Carolgees |title=Bob Carolgees at ukgameshows.com |Publisher=ukgameshows.com |date=07.05.2007] .

In the 1980s, and at the height of his popularity, Bob infamously dressed as an overgrown brummy/scouse schoolboy to feature in a series of [http://www.hellmanns.co.uk/products.php Hellmann's Mayonnaise] press and television commercials for 8 years.

Bob now owns a candle shop - [http://www.carolgeescandles.com Carolgees Candles] - in Frodsham, Cheshire, but temporarily came out of show business retirement to appear with all his old colleagues in "Tiswas Reunited" on ITV on 16 June 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.itvmedia.co.uk/default.asp?section=104&page=575&subpage=2109|title=ITV Media - Tiswas Reunited|Publisher=ITV|date=07.05.2007]

pit The Dog auction

An early "Spit the Dog" puppet (Bob has made three over the years) recently raised over £5,000 at a Christie's auction [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3777813.stm|title=Spit the Dog sale fetches £5,000|Publisher=BBC|date=05.06.2004]

tage Name

The name Carolgees comes from friends Carole and George Dunmore. Bob & George owned a record shop called Carolgees Records & Cassettes and also had a mobile disco called Carolgees Cabaret Disco which became extremely popular around Merseyside and which is where Bob developed his act. [cite web|url=http://upandhappy.podomatic.com/entry/2007-06-11T06_14_27-07_00|title=Totally Tiswas - Show One|Broadcaster=Up And Happy podcast|date=2007-06-16]

Peter Kay references

Bob is mentioned in almost all episodes of "That Peter Kay Thing" and appeared in a couple of episodes as himself. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/t/thatpeterkaythin_66603350.shtml|title=BBC Guide To Comedy - That Peter Kay Thing|Publisher=BBC|date=07.05.2007] He and "Spit the Dog" can briefly be seen hosting a "Trisha" style early morning discussion show in Peter Kay's follow up comedy "Phoenix Nights". he can also be seen on the back of a leaflet in the toilets in the first episode. [cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139020/|title=Bob Carolgees at IMDB|Publisher=IMDB|date=07.05.2007]

References

External links

*imdb|0139020|Bob Carolgees
* [http://www.tiswasonline.com/whos_who.php?person=carolgees A list of every appearance he ever made on Tiswas]
* [http://www.visit4info.com/static/advert_pages/24809.cfm Hellman's Mayonnaise Advert - Ham Frisbee]
* [http://www.visit4info.com/static/advert_pages/24807.cfm Hellman's Mayonnaise Advert - Gran's Chicken]
* [http://www.visit4info.com/static/advert_pages/24806.cfm Hellman's Mayonnaise Advert - Bob Carolgees]
* [http://www.carolgeescandles.com/index.php Carolgee's Candles]