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Our problem was that just before we were to release our album those Castella Cigar Commercials came on TV. It's worth remembering how brilliant he is at his own expense in these sketches.". Sign Up. Adam O'Connor is known for Des O'Connor the Ultimate Entertainer (2020). Des O'Connor's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. He was a joy to work with he was talented, fun, positive, enthusiastic, kind and a total professional. Adam O'Connor. [1] Well known for his friendship with comedians Morecambe and Wise, his singing ability was often light-heartedly mocked on their show, with O'Connor taking part in the sketches. Northampton Town Football Club also tweeted in remembrance of O'Connor, who played for their reserve team in the 1940s. He showed that you do not need to be defined or held back by a diagnosis. Five of those albums managed to rank in the Top 40 of the UK Albums Chart. Menu. "Des was the king of telly really for so many years," she told BBC Breakfast, reflecting on her TV viewing habits as a youngster. O'Connor starred in mainstream television shows in almost every year from 1963 until the 2000s, a feat that only one other television personality has achieved worldwide (U.S. game show host Bob Barker, who hosted mainstream television shows from 1956 until 2007, with 19661972 being in syndication). Thanks for all the fun, Des., RIP Des OConnor, 88. . "He was the full ticket as a friend and colleague.". OConnor died on Saturday, days after a fall at his home, his longtime agent and family friend Pat Lake-Smith said. Melanie., Piers Morgan tweeted: RIP Des OConnor, 88. I really got to know him in 1989 when I was asked to manage a project with him for the top label Telstar. The club said: "We are very sorry to learn of the passing of Des O'Connor. Des O'Connor, the beloved entertainer who appeared on British television for decades, has passed away at the age of 88. Des reportedly met the Australian singer in 1990 when they appeared in the panto together. They said in a statement: "It is with great sorrow that I confirm that Des O'Connor passed away yesterday ). "He adored his family - they were. In addition to his work on television, O'Connor also found great success as a singer with 36 albums published over the course of his career. He was surprised live on the stage of the London Palladium by Eamonn Andrews in November 1969.[4]. Anthony France. It was while working in a local shoe factory that he discovered a talent for making people laugh, once recalling his ability to reduce the firm's typing school to giggles and to be the main source of entertainment on works outings. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Jimmy Connors was a leading American tennis player of the 1970's and 1980's. There was an appearance by an obviously intoxicated Oliver Reed while, on another occasion, Liverpool comedian Stan Boardman told his risque joke about Fokkers which saw him banned from ITV. Eric would come out with lines such as, "If you want me to be a goner, buy me a record by Des O'Connor," often with the singer standing behind him. He was just great to work with and a consummate professional. OConnor only told immediate family including his wife, their 16-year-old son Adam and his four grown-up daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina from previous relationships about his illness. Des is survived by wife Jodie Brooke Wilson and five children. As ever he was really friendly with the lads joking with them in the studio. He kicked off his showbiz career appearing in variety theatres across the country, but got his big TV break in the late 1950s as a presenter for ITVs Spot The Tune. For other inquiries, Contact Us. As you do we engaged in polite pleasantries. Ken Dodd and Benny Hill were among the established comics who appeared and new talent, such as the Cornish comedian, Jethro, got their big breaks on the show. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Read about our approach to external linking. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. They spoke emotionally about how starting in June 2020 through the spring of 2021, O'Connor allegedly hosted parties for her teenage son and his friends, "facilitating and watching" their sex acts . Few could match his popularity on television and it is incredible to remember that from 1963 to 2002 he hosted his own peak time TV show on either the BBC or ITV, followed by Today with Des and Mel from 2002 to 2006, whilst also hosting the hugely successful Countdown from 2007-2008. His mother was Jewish and his father was Irish, and Des joked he was. [3], In his childhood, he had rickets and was later badly injured in a hit-and-run car accident which meant he had to be in an iron lung for six months. . Des O'Connor was awarded a CBE for services to entertainment and broadcasting by Queen Elizabeth II. Meanwhile, Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker labelled him as a "truly lovely man and one of the great old school entertainers". His friendship with comedy duo Morecambe and Wise saw him mocked for his singing ability in sketches despite a successful career which included four Top 10 hits and more than 30 albums. He was awarded a CBE in 2008. He loved being on stage entertaining a live audience. Its worth remembering how brilliant he is at his own expense in these sketches: https://t.co/NZKOAgCH7L, David Baddiel (@Baddiel) November 15, 2020, Comedian Julian Clary said: Always loved Des O'Connor. "It was an education and a privilege to work with him for the years that followed. He was born in Stepney, London. Des O'Connor died on November 14, 2020 at the age of 88. He later hosted the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown alongside Carol Vorderman, with the pair bowing out together in 2008, and was made a CBE for his services to entertainment and broadcasting in that year's birthday honours. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images) Embed PURCHASE A LICENSE USD ADD TO CART An almost ever-present face on UK television, he held the record for more mainstream appearances on the small screen than any other performer. Later, while he was in Leeds, he invited the Welsh singer Shirley Bassey out on two dates. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Des O'Connor, who has died at the age of 88, was an . For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Des's wife Jodie is said to be 'shattered' by the loss of her husband, Credit: UPP:Universal Pictorial Press and Agency, The veteran entertainer enjoyed six decades in the world of entertainment, and made a name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic, Kristina pictured cuddled up to her beloved dad, Kristina went to visit her dad wearing a tribute T-shirt during lockdown, He also recorded a whopping 36 albums as a singer - five of which reached the UK Top 40, The 88-year-old died after falling in his house, Des OConnors wife Jodie Brooke Wilson and children hurting more than you can imagine after entertainer dies aged 88, Huge blow to Keir Starmer as Sun mega poll shows Brits think Rishi Sunak is a better leader & reject Labour's woke ideas, Brits are proud of this great country despite endless negativity from the left, Just one in five Brits back 'completely outdated' BBC licence fee, poll reveals, Chances of Labour landslide are melting as voters simply don't trust Keir Starmer, Evil 'Devils Disciple' serial killer enjoys freedom after 47 years despite being 'too dangerous to release permanently', First picture of 'friend to everyone' Brit grandad, 60, who died snorkelling on dream family P&O cruise in Caribbean, Leading Jewish organisation demands meeting with Guardian editor over 'sickening anti-Semitic cartoon' of ex-BBC boss, Woman stabbed to death in horror daylight attack on busy street next to O2 Brixton Academy as police hunt killer, 88-year-old, hailed the "ultimate entertainer", Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Thrillingly tense, belly-laugh funny and mind-warpingly weird - we've got your lockdown weekend sorted, Colleagues, turned lovers, turned enemies. TV legend and comedian Des O'Connor has died aged 88. Carol Vorderman, O'Connor's former on-screen colleague from his two years spent presenting the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown, said he was "a wonderful man" and "fantastic to work with". Entertainment legend Des O'Connor unfortunately died in his sleep on November 14 th aged 88 after falling at home in Buckinghamshire earlier in the week. The fact that he continued to do what he loved, by entertaining us all and keeping his humour throughout, is a reminder that whilst Parkinsons can devastate lives, it doesnt have to. Jeremy Dick has been a writer and editor since 2014. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. He fathered Adam at the age of 72 and defended his decision to become a dad again later in life. [2], Desmond Bernard O'Connor was born on 12 January 1932 in Stepney, East London, to Maude (ne Bassett), a cleaner, and Harry O'Connor, a dustman. . Another former co-host Melanie Sykes posted on Instagram that he had "the softest hands of anyone I ever met and the kindest of hearts". . Obituary: Des O'Connor. Our thoughts are with all who knew Des.". He never forgot his poor start in life, which is why I always felt that, even at the height of his spectacular showbiz success, he always seemed grateful and somewhat bewildered that it had all happened to him. It was funny and worked well and rode the back of the money Castella had spent on their adverts. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. He'd later host the followup series Des O'Connor Entertains before introducing his own chat show Des O'Connor Tonight, which O'Connor hosted between 1977 and 2002. Earlier this year his daughter Kristina, 32, visited Des through a window at his home where he was isolating to protect himself from coronavirus. Of course, the notion of a Des OConnor album was something of a joke after all the ribbing and derision that he got from Morecambe and Wise and on other TV shows, but what people did not know was that Des himself had written some of those gags and went along willingly being the butt of the joke. The TV legend died aged 88 on November 14, a week after suffering a fall in his Buckinghamshire home. O'Connor died on. He also had a daughter Karen O'Connor with his first wife Phyllis Gill, daughters Tracy and Samantha with second wife Gillian Vaughan, and a son, Adam, with Jodie Brooke Wilson. The audience roared with laughter.". He is survived by his wife Jodie, their son Adam and his four daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina. Shes also amassed success in the UK too, writing for groups like HearSay and tracks on soundtracks for films like Scary Movie and Rugrats Movie. TV host, singer and beloved entertainer Des O'Connor has died aged 88. O'Connor was married four times, and has described the end of his first three relationships as casualties of his obsession with work. What very sad news. "I just looked at the ceiling," O'Connor later recalled, "then I held my head in my hands. His agent revealed he died in hospital yesterday a week after suffering a fall at home. O'Connor was married four times, and has described the end of his first three relationships as casualties of his obsession with work. A daughter of the late entertainer Des O'Connor is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police after a detective who told her she was "amazingly hot" during an investigation was allowed to . Des enjoyed a brief stint as a professional footballer at Northampton Town FC before working a succession of odd jobs, including as a complaints clerk in a boot and shoe factory. Jodies world is shattered, she and Adam and Dess daughters are hurting more than you could possibly imagine. Truly one of the nicest people in showbiz. His agent added: "He is survived by his wife Jodie, their son Adam and his four daughters . "Unfortunately yesterday evening his condition suddenly deteriorated and he drifted peacefully away in his sleep. It was notable for showcasing the work of comedians. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Wilson, 51, said: Des dealt with it very privately. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. The song was also used as the theme for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. [citation needed], Until 2019, O'Connor toured theatres around the UK with his one-man show. RIP Des OConnor., Such sad news. We may forget that at the time there were only two channels, so they got massive audiences when the live touring variety shows in theatres were declining. Des probably had three older half siblings from his father's first marriage. He also recorded 36 albums and had four topten singles, including a numberone hi (Apr 3, 2014) read more news. He loved life, and considered enthusiasm almost as important as oxygen," Pat Lake-Smith said in a statement, adding that the "ultimate entertainer" was "well loved by absolutely everybody" and "loved life.". O'Connor, who has died aged 88 after a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire, also carved out a successful career as a singer including four Top 10 hits and more than 30 albums. Des O'Connor, pictured in 2011, was described by his long-time agent as the "ultimate entertainer". . Jodie has only one child a 16-year-old son called Adam with Des OConnor. Due to the success of this show, they toured the country in 2016 from April to October. Broadcaster Tony Blackburn said the late star "was a great entertainer and more importantly a very nice person", and TV presenter Gyles Brandreth described him as "the ultimate professional". Adam O'Connor born 2004, age 16 Her Other Children Des O'Connor CBE Bio Details Full name Desmond Bernard O'Connor Gender Male Age 88 Date of birth Tuesday 12 Jan 1932 Birth place Stepney, London, England, UK Date of death: 14 Nov 2020 Occupations Butlin's Redcoat TV Presenter RAF Writer Talkshow Host Singer & Recording Artist (1967) The veteran host was best known as a. LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 02: Des O'Connor (C) poses with son Adam O'Connor and Robert Lindsay's son Jamie Stevenson at an after party following the press night performance of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at The Savoy Hotel on April 2, 2014 in London, England. TV Shows. She is 51 years old. We then recorded his vocals at Livingston Studios in Wood Green. Desmond "Des" Bernard O'Connor (12 January 1932 - 14 November 2020) was an English television presenter and singer. He is a self-professed horror expert, pop culture enthusiast, and Bob Saget fanatic. Des O'Connor has died at the age of 88 - days after the "ultimate entertainer" suffered a fall at his home. Sadly, when she arrived at the hospital, OConnor had already died. Des OConnor was never afraid to laugh at himself and that was part of his charm. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. Violinist Sue Croot told the BBC she had always treasured a signed photograph O'Connor gave to her father Ronald Croot, who was helping out on a production of Cinderella at the Grand Theatre in Swansea in the late 1950s. He told the Daily Mail: "Jodie wanted a baby and if Id said: 'Ive got four children, but you cant have one' that would have been selfish. In 1950 and 1952, he collaborated in songwriting with British singer Sam Browne and Australian pianist and composer Ray Hartley. She said: In one of the scenes he had to be put in a hot-air balloon and go up into the gods. Des O'Connor had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease prior to his death, his wife Jodie Brooke Wilson revealed. O'Connor died on Saturday aged 88, following a fall at his Buckinghamshire home just over a week ago. Des O'Connor: From Butlin's to chat show king, Looking back on the career of Des O'Connor. [2], O'Connor was the first subject of the second incarnation of the long-running television programme This Is Your Life, when the show returned to screens after a five-year absence, produced by Thames Television. The venues they visited included Theatre Royal, Norwich, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Blackpool Opera House, Princess Theatre, Torquay, The Hexagon, Reading, Theatre Royal, Newcastle and Grand Theatre, Swansea. Des O'Connor's World Cup Party: 1998: TV Special: Himself - Presenter: The Royal Variety Performance: 1996: TV Movie: He was previously pictured at Bonnie Lythgoe's 70th birthday party in August 2019. Broadcaster Tony Blackburn said "he was a great entertainer and more importantly a very nice person", and TV presenter Gyles Brandreth described him as "the ultimate professional". After he was demobbed, he secured a job as Redcoat with Butlin's - a role that provided the springboard for many a famous show business name - before he was signed up to appear in a variety show at Newcastle's Palace Theatre in 1953. Des O'Connor once said that all he did was walk on to the stage, chat to the audience and sing a few songs. Jodie said that Des thought he had it years earlier (Picture: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images) O'Connor only told immediate family - including his wife, their 16-year-old son Adam and his four . A month after his death, ITV aired a tribute, titled Des O'Connor: The Ultimate Entertainer, on 13 December 2020. I then was faced with following it with a serious commercial for the new Des album. The presenter is survived by Jodie, their son Adam and his four daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina. Whilst no one should ever feel ashamed of a Parkinsons diagnosis, its also their right not to share it widely. Read about our approach to external linking. The Geordie TV double act described O'Connor as "a consummate professional and a lovely man". (Photo by robbie jack/Corbis via Getty Images) Fans and friends of "ultimate entertainer" Des O'Connor have been paying tribute to the star who has died at the age of 88. "Eric & Ernie will be waiting to have a laugh with you tonight Des. Revenge! sixteen million records O'Connor recorded 36 albums and had four top-ten UK singles, including a number-one hit with "I Pretend", with global sales of more than sixteen million records. To view this content choose accept and continue. He remembers sitting in the hot-air balloon and looking down at his hands and seeing a tremor. He adored his family they were everything to him. Speaking of having his youngest, he divulged: "Jodie wanted a baby and if I'd. Thank you for asking me to work on that. He is survived by his wife Jodie, their son Adam and his four daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina. Starting in 1963, he hosted his own variety show called The Des O'Connor Show, which had a successful eight-series run on ITV. He always said the sound of laughter was like the sound of heavenly music. Cheerful and kind man. I asked him if his weekend had been good and he responded with a long face to tell me that he had broken his rule of a lifetime and had actually taken a business call on a Sunday, something he would never normally do, but he said it was for an important client and had to be done. O'Connor was made a CBE in the 2008 Birthday Honours, Looking back on the career of Des O'Connor. He loved life, and considered enthusiasm almost as important as oxygen.". We worked long hours but always laughed lots, not least because when it it was showtime he would always tell me I looked like robbers dog! During the war, the family moved to Northampton where he signed as a schoolboy player with Northampton Football Club although he only made the third team. So, how much is Des O'Connor worth at the age of 88 years old? His agent said: Des, who was 88, was so well loved by absolutely everyone. Away from the stage, he was a keen racegoer as befitted a man who once held an amateur jockey licence and, for a time, owned a number of racehorses. Desmond Bernard O'Connor was born on 12 January 1932 in Stepney, East London, the son of a Jewish cleaner and an Irish dustman. He was a long-time TV chat-show host, beginning with The Des O'Connor Show in 1963, which ran for ten years. 2023 BBC. His fame soared when he was hired to host The Des O'Connor Show, which ran on ITV from 1963 to 1971. "He was a joy to work with - he was talented, fun, positive, enthusiastic, kind and a total professional. He remembers thinking it strange, but never thinking it was Parkinsons-related.. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The comedian, singer and TV host died on Saturday following a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire just over a week. Entertainer Des O'Connor has died at the age of 88, his agent has confirmed. We began filming Des strolling along singing in the typical manner of those record commercials in a romantic style but towards the end as he broke into How Deep Is Your Love and was passing the back of the pretend Russ Abbot fishing, he casually pushed the back of his chair and tipped him into the lake at Forty Hall in Enfield. In 2001, O'Connor was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards for his contribution to television. He was known for hosting his own chat show, as well as Take Your Pick and Countdown - and for his friendship with Morecambe and Wise. A lovely man pic.twitter.com/18QItazenv, Danny John-Jules (@DannyJohnJules) November 15, 2020, Posting a clip of OConnors famous appearance on the Morecambe and Wise Show, David Baddiel said: RIP Des O Connor. Whether it was Eric Morecambe ridiculing him, or Freddie Starr smashing his studio set up, Des always laughed along. A wondrously talented, warm, funny, charming man. O'Connor appeared at the Glasgow Empire, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, the Opera House, Sydney, and the O'Keefe Centre, Toronto, and made more than one thousand solo appearances at the London Palladium. Before his death, the Countdown star had been "recovering well" but tragically his condition suddenly deteriorated and he died in his sleep. What very sad news. ", David Sillito looks back at Des O'Connor's career. Des O'Connor dead: TV legend dies aged 88, Kristina shared a pre-lockdown picture of the pair cuddling on the sofa, (left to right Des O'Connor with his daughters Samantha and Karen, wife Jodie, son Adam and daughter Kristina. Self-deprecating entertainer and the son of an Irish binman, who sold 16 million albums and had a TV career for 60 years. He is survived by his wife Jodie, their son Adam and his four daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina. "Jodie's world is shattered, she and Adam and Des's daughters are hurting more than you could possibly imagine. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. [14] He worked with many pop stars, including Adam Faith, Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand, and Cilla Black. He was the son of Maude (Bassett) and Harry O'Connor. In 1977 he began hosting Des O'Connor Tonight, which started on BBC Two before moving to ITV, where it stayed until it ended in 2002. O'Connor's survivors include his wife, Jodie, with whom he'd been married since 2007; their son, Adam; and O'Connor's four daughters from his previous marriages, Karin, TJ, Samantha, and Kristina. She wrote on Instagram: Des had the softest hands of anyone I ever met and the kindest of hearts. Des O'Connor (centre) often worked alongside comedians Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. It led to live appearances in Las Vegas. Des O'Connor's heartbreaking last pictures show him waving to his daughter through a window as he shielded during the coronavirus outbreak. His fame soared when he was hired to host The Des O'Connor Show, which ran on ITV from 1963 to 1971. Des O'Connor once said that all he did was walk on to the stage, chat to the audience and sing a few songs. Read more: Ultimate entertainer Des OConnor dies aged 88. . He met his first wife Phyllis Gill while working as a Redcoat at Butlin's in 1953, He had a string of hit singles including a UK No 1, He wrote many of the insults hurled at him by Morecambe and Wise, Jay Leno was one of many international stars who appeared on his chat shows, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. His singing ability was often parodied on The Morecambe & Wise Show, with O'Connor taking part in the sketches. Her honesty will give hope to the 1 million people in the UK affected by Parkinsons.. pic.twitter.com/wMQX5nC8c1, Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 15, 2020. Talkshow Host. Having cut his teeth as a game show host on Take Your Pick in 1992, O' Connor had a year as co-host of the show, Countdown, with Carol Vorderman. Lovely, wonderful Des.". O'Connor appeared on stages around the world including hundreds of shows at the London Palladium. Fans and friends of ultimate entertainer Des O'Connor have been paying tribute to the star who has died at the age of 88. You may want to read Metas Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. He was also badly injured in a car accident and spent some time in an iron lung which disrupted his primary school education. His friendship with comedy duo Morecambe and Wise saw him mocked for his singing ability in sketches despite a successful career which included four Top 10 hits and more than 30 albums. He was so self-effacing and good-natured - the antithesis of so many others who worked in the brash world he inhabited. A lovely man., RIP Des OConnor. O'Connor had a successful career as a singer, recording 36 albums,[13] five of which reached the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart. The team produced hit songs "Let's Do It Again", "Start Singing A Song", "Yes! His singing was often mocked on the comedy series The Morecambe & Wise Show, but showing his sense of humor, O'Connor would often take part in the sketches on the show. O'Connor was born in Stepney, east London, the son of Harry O'Connor, a dustman, and Maude (nee Bassett), a cleaner. [citation needed]. at the Veterans Cemetery, 34024 Veterans Memorial Drive, Adel, IA 50003.
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