| frankie howerd |  |
| the eighties | an amazed new fan base |
| frankie howerd | |
| the eighties | an amazed new fan base |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 Strikes again 1981 |
During the 80's, and especially during the latter half, Frankie's humour was rediscovered by a new generation. But before the T-shirts emblazoned with "Get yer titters out" first appeared, he was on stage in Die Fledermaus (1981), A Funny Thing happened on the way to the Forum (Chichester Festival 1986), Frankie Howerd Bursts into Britain (1990) and best of all Quite Frankly Frankie Howerd at his tittermost (1990) at the Lyric and Garrick. In the early 80's devotees of Gilbert and Sullivan saw Frankie in the role of Sir Joseph Porter, Ruler of the Queen's Nav-ee, in HMS Pinafore. What! You want more - you saucy beggars... In 1990 Frankie contributed to an album by Eric Woolfson -Fruediana . The album is back in the limelight in 2006 - a new website about the album and it's guest artistes is in the final stages of preparation and will be revealed here when launched. |
 All change 1989 |
 Jonathon Ross |
In 1989 Frankie gave a speech at a dinner of the Gallery First Nighters ( a bunch of theatre goers that always queued to see the opening night of a show). He was forced to go on with his speech by Jack Rossiter, the Club President, after an attack of nerves hit Frankie. The words "It's just another show" got him on his feet, and these words stayed with him. He began to talk at business functions, various "do's" and packed them in on a one-man tour. The audience consisted of a new generation. A typical opener would be "What do you mean, you thought I was dead" which got them going. He would retort "Nay, nay and thrice nay" and had them rolling in the aisles. He had discovered a new found confidence. |  Frankie's on...call |
 Lurcio - 20 years on from original series |
In November 1990 he took to the boards at Oxford University, and a record of that marvelous performance exists on a videotape In 1991 London Weekend TV made a one off special Further Up Pompeii which saw Lurcio no longer a slave but up to his usual tricks. To celebrate 45 years in show business he was given a Silver Heart from the Variety Club. BBC-2's arts programme Arena provided a look back at his career. He recorded various novelty music tracks which are still available today. In April 1992 Frankie went into hospital with breathing problems. The media camped out in the front of the Harley Street Clinic, as well as fans. Two weeks after leaving hospital Frankie was allowed to go home and the picture below is the last one of him. On Easter Sunday April 19, 1992, he passed away. Lifelong friends of Frankie attended the funeral in Weare, Somerset on 29 April 1992 - Cilla, June Whitfield, Galton and Simpson, Tessa Le Bars, Lee Young and of course Dennis and his sister Betty. |
 Last photo call at Harley Street Clinic |