Frank Carson RIP.

Mr.Crinklewood

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046201

Northern Irish comedian Frank Carson best known for the catch phrases "It's a cracker" and "It's the way I tell 'em", has died aged 85.

Carson had suffered from poor health and his family said he passed away at his home in Blackpool, Lancashire.

The comic rose to fame in the 1960s after winning talent show Opportunity Knocks three times. He went on to appear in The Comedians and Tiswas.

Plans are being made for a funeral in his home town of Belfast.

Carson had a successful operation for stomach cancer last year, but told the BBC his health had been a problem for some time.

"I have had a bad five years," he added.

"First it was the pacemaker, then it was a new knee, then I had a hernia and then of course I had this problem."

The family statement said Carson "husband, father, Gaga and comedian set off for his final gig today".

"He went peacefully at his home in Blackpool surrounded by his greatest fans - his extended family. We will be taking him home to Belfast to lay him to rest and celebrate his joyful life.

"It's quieter down here now. God help them up there!!"

Papal recognition
Born in Belfast on 6 November 1926 to a family of Italian descent, Carson was the son of a binman.

He grew up in the Little Italy area of the city and worked as a plasterer and electrician, and then joined the Parachute Regiment.

He served three years in the Middle East in the 1950s, before his attention turned to showbusiness.

Spotted for his stand-up work, he was a popular performer on Irish television before moving to England.

There, the comedian appeared in the TV music hall revival show The Good Old Days, before his appearances on Opportunity Knocks propelled him into the mainstream.

He went on to appear alongside fellow comics Charlie Williams, Bernard Manning, Mike Reid and Jim Bowen in the 1970s TV series, The Comedians.

A familiar face on British TV for the next two decades, Carson's other shows included Who Do You Do? and variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club.

He became known for his self-deprecating sense of humour.

In 1975, Carson signed up to play Paddy O'Brien in Spike Milligan sitcom The Melting Pot, but the show was shortly cancelled after the first episode was broadcast.

He later claimed Milligan had mocked his constant stream of wisecracks - by writing a joke of his own: "What's the difference between Frank Carson and the M1? You can turn off the M1."

Carson continued to work following a heart operation in 1976, and was a frequent guest on children's series Tiswas.

He was also at home on radio, appearing alongside David Frost and Leslie Crowther on 1980s BBC Radio 2 show Pull The Other One.

In 1987, Pope John Paul II knighted Carson into the order of St Gregory at a private audience in Rome, in recognition of his charity work in Northern Ireland.

"He kissed me and said I was a wonderful man," Carson later told the Daily Mail.

"I was in there for 17 minutes - the priests time it. President Reagan only got 11, so that was nice."

Despite his showbusiness career, the comedian also served as Mayor of Balbriggan in North Dublin twice.

"It is my favourite place in the world," said Carson, who spent his honeymoon in the area, "it always brings back happy memories".

Following the ascent of alternative comedy in the late 1980s, the performer largely returned to his roots in stand-up, and was performing hundreds of shows a year as recently as 2008.

He moved to Blackpool in later life, where he became involved with the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last year, Carson said he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered around the Corporation Street in Belfast, where he grew up.

He leaves a wife, Ruth, daughter Majella and sons Tony and Aidan, as well as 10 grandchildren.

Love that statement.

Sunnyisland

RIP frank carson, It was the way you told them.

Mr.Crinklewood

Almost forgot....

.....................he`s a Croaker...




I`m sure Frank would of appreciated some AH humour.

MickySticks

Who?

AngryBollix

whacker the cracker attacker

El_Dangeroso

MickySticks wrote: »

Who?

GTFO.

Kids these days.

summerskin

Saw him live about 20 years ago. He was quick witted and a very funny man, who also took the time to talk to anyone who wanted to. Hope he gets a good send off.

Sparks43

I don't think my wife likes me very much, when I had a heart attack she wrote for an ambulance.

Frank Carson R.I.P

TeddyTedson

It's good but it's not right! Say what you see. :D
RIP

Mr.Crinklewood

TeddyTedson wrote: »

It's good but it's not right! Say what you see. :D
RIP

Roy Walker is still alive and kickin.

admiralofthefleet

legend

Sparks43

Mr.Crinklewood wrote: »

Roy Walker is still alive and kickin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZna1zkWUF8

lividduck

Well at least someone liked Balbriggan, just shows he really did have a sense of humour...RIP Frank

latenia

Along with some of the other comedians mentioned above he was the epitome of that ITV Saturday night middle of the road dross that dominated comedy in the 70s and 80s. Really unfunny, and I even knew that when I was a kid watching them.

gerryo777

Met Frank years ago while we were remodelling the clubhouse at Balbriggan golf club.
He came into our canteen at dinnertime and proceeded with a 10 minute impromptu stand up routine that had all the lads nearly on the floor with the laughing.
A legend.
R.I.P

Sonnenblumen

All the best Frank.

RIP

mike65

Very much a comic of the end-of-the-pier era but you can't knock a professional trouper and feel good about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvnL8bQmygE

fryup

everyone is dieing Whitney Houston, David Kelly and now Frank

whats going on??????

Fratton Fred

RIP to a legend.

Sunnyisland

fryup wrote: »

everyone is dieing Whitney Houston, David Kelly and now Frank

whats going on??????[/QUOTE]



It happens every minute of everyday of every year.

fryup

its a cracker :pac:

from the Kenny Everett show

Richard

Frank Carson
News at Ten
Sober

Chuck Stone

fryup wrote: »

everyone is dieing Whitney Houston, David Kelly and now Frank

whats going on??????

It's that bloody death.

It all seems so inevitable.

admiralofthefleet

fryup wrote: »

everyone is dieing Whitney Houston, David Kelly and now Frank

whats going on??????

i hear jedward are in a panic

MrJoeSoap

RIP

Celebrity Deathwatch Forum ftw...

J Cheever Loophole

A very funny man and a genuinely nice fella.

A number of years ago, a mate of mine met him in a bar in England;

Frank - 'You're from Northern Ireland?'

Mate - 'I am indeed Frank. What gave it away - the accent?'

Frank - 'Nah, it was the smell of semtex of you!!'

People like Frank are all too rare. The world is a poorer place for his passing.

Rest In Peace.

tallus

R.I.P. Frank.

Mr.Crinklewood

MickySticks wrote: »

Who?

NIce impression of an owl.

J Cheever Loophole

Mr.Crinklewood wrote: »

MickySticks wrote: »

Who?

NIce impression of an owl.

If Mickey was trying to be funny, would that be wit who?











I'll get my coat!

daveyboy_1ie

RIP Frank, always smiled when you were on the telly. When comedians actually told jokes.

Dub Ste

When I was growing up in Leeds,there was a kids programme on ITV on a Saturday morning called the Mersey Pirate.
It was set on a old Mersey ferry,and was hoped to rival Swap Shop,it was pretty crap as far as I can remember.
Anyhoo,my school was invited to go one week,and I ended up "working"with Frank Carson.
The set up was that they had Frank on stage telling some really crap jokes,and we were all to run away screaming.
The producer or whoever it was said to my pal and me,that when everyone starts running,we were to stand still,then look at Frank,the each other,scream as loud as we could,then run.
When it came to doing it,it ran perfect,everyone ran,we stood,then did our bit,and when it was finished Frank came over shook our hands and said well done.I know he said more to us,but the oul memory is packing up on me.

When we got home my mam was delighted,she loved him.

Happy days..

RIP Frank....

Philm_12

I'm old enough to remember "The Comedians" years ago on TV. He was a regular performer.

A great wit - great one-liners.

Thanks for the memories, Frank.

fryup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8gmsWXXjNc

Son Of A Vidic

"it's the way I tell 'em" and it most certainly was. A comedy legend and a truly decent man.

RIP Frank Carson

JP Liz V1

RIP

Jacksquat

RIP Frank

John Doe1

and yet Bruce forsythe is still alive:(

paddyismaddy

rest in peace frankie boy

KKkitty

A true comedian. R.I.P. Frank.