Rod Hull

Gyles Brandreth: 'I blame myself for Rod Hull's fatal accident'

Gyles Brandreth has revealed he blames himself for "killing" legendary entertainer Rod Hull.

Rod, famed for his emu and its TV attacks on Michael Parkinson, died in 1999 after slipping from the roof of his bungalow and falling, suffering a severe skull fracture and chest injuries.

Michael Parkinson's best interviews with comedians

Michael Parkinson, the chat show host who did so much to launch and promote comedians - most notably giving Billy Connolly his big break - has died at the aged of 88. Here are some of the best interviews he conducted with comedians aver his seven-decade career.

Orville and Emu: British TV's famous puppets go on sale

Two of British TV's most famous puppets - Orville the Duck and Emu - are going on sale at auction.

Seven comedy icons with a seedy reputation

It seems that every day a new showbusiness career lies in tatters as the world finally catches up to the men who abuse their power to harass and grope women. But for decades bad behaviour has gone unpunished... here are seven comedians beloved in their day - and some even now - despite widespread reports of pretty salacious behaviour that surely would not be tolerated today.

Rod Hull used Emu to grope his fans claims Eric Bristow

Legendary children's entertainer Rod Hull was a "pervert" who used his puppet Emu to molest fans, claims former darts player Eric Bristow.

Ever since Rod Hull and the terrifyingly blank-eyed Emu gave Michael Parkinson a mauling on his programme in 1976, chat show hosts have been understandably cagey about inviting puppets into their studios. Top marks for bravery, then, to Jonathan Ross, who welcomes Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy onto his sofa tonight. They'll be there, ostensibly, to discuss the forthcoming Muppets movie, but it'll be a small miracle if Ross manages to avoid at least a mild handbagging.

The balance of civility should be redressed by his other big-name guest of the night, Hugh Bonneville, who - in spite of having become one of Britain's best-known actors for his starring role in Downton Abbey - remains the picture of a modest English gentleman. He'll be talking, amongst other things, about the much-anticipated third series of Downton, which is set in the Twenties and is due to begin on ITV1 in September. Completing the line-up, the young comedian Jack Whitehall - whose cocksure manner and fondness for one-liners is reminiscent of a young Jonathan Ross - is given a chance to crack wise, and Sheffield-born indie rockers Arctic Monkeys provide the music.

The first series of Stephen K Amos's stand up/sketch comedy/chat show comes to an end. It's been something of a hit and miss first outing, with the humour erring on the side of juvenile a lot of the time. Tonight, Amos welcomes fellow comedians Isy Suttie (who plays Dobby in Peep Show, also on this evening, see below) and Marlon Davis in to do a bit of stand-up. Meanwhile he does his weekly "phone call" to his mother (played by Amos in drag), and meets stuntman Paul Hammer (again, Amos in costume) who reveals he stood in for both Muhammad Ali and Rod Hull's Emu on Michael Parkinson's chat show.