Rikki Fulton
Comedian
βAsk any comic and they will tell you what the guy did was of the highest calibre. You could go all over the world, nobody could do what he did better.β The heartfelt words of writer/actor Tony Roper sums up how the general population of Scotland feel about Rikki Fulton, a man who brought decades of laughter to the nation.
ο»ΏThe Glasgow born actor started his career performing on stage and radio in non-comic roles, but quickly found his comic timing in the pantomimes of the Alhambra Theatre. Television broadcasting was only a few years old in Scotland, but Fulton was already an unmissable presence. His early comedy programmes include; The Rikki Fulton Show (1960) The Five Past Eight Show at Glasgowβs Alhambra Theatre (1960s) and alongside double act partner Jack Milroy in The Adventures of Francie and Josie (1962).
ο»ΏIn 1977 Gordon Menzies produced The Scotched Earth Show with Fulton for the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ. The final sketch featured Fulton in the guise of a Glasgow councillor addressing the nation as the Prime Minister of Scotland. Menzies later recalled βeven in rehearsal the whole production team had tears of laughter running down their cheeks and we all realised that we had found the master of television monologue.β Menzies went on to produce Fultonβs most popular sketch series, Scotch and Wry (1978-1992), which included now iconic comedy characters Super Cop, Dirty Dickie Dandruff and of course, the Reverend I.M. Jolly.
Clips
Francie & Josie
Watch a classic clip from the comedy duo's comedback in the 80s.
Links
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Tony Roper looks at the psychology behind the comedy of Rikki Fulton.