397:. He saw himself, according to the makers of the programme, as a talented performer who could have developed a more varied career in the entertainment industry had he not been repeatedly forced to perform with the Emu. Hull once complained, "I want to write but Emu doesn't leave me the time. I want to be a comedian in my own right, but again Emu won't let me do it."
522:
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Hull used Emu to create havoc while not accepting blame for it. The use of a false arm attached to Hull's jacket, which cradled the emu, made it appear that the neck and head moved of its own volition. Hull used the puppet to make violent attacks on people nearby. During these events Hull would make
423:
for £270,000 but the cost of renovations and an unpaid tax bill, caused by his accountant not paying his tax properly over the previous 20 years and the recession and property slump, resulted in Hull leaving the property in
October 1993 and then bankruptcy in September 1994. His production company,
221:
states that "In fact, Emu was a
Channel Nine creation". Other sources cite a Channel Nine producer, Jim Badger, who said that he had requested a reluctant Hull to use Emu. Hull claimed full authorship of Emu, saying, "Sure I found him in a cupboard, but I had put him there in the first place. I
33:
481:
Upon Hull's death, Michael
Parkinson reminisced that he had found him to be "a very charming, intelligent, and sensitive man – quite unlike the Emu." He observed that the puppet "was the dark side of Rod's personality, and very funny, provided it was not on top of you."
448:
Champions League match, when he slipped and fell. He suffered a severe skull fracture and chest injuries, and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital in
Hastings. Following an inquest, the coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
284:
At least two people have alleged that Hull sexually assaulted women using Emu as a cover. Darts champion Eric
Bristow wrote: "He used the puppet to feel up women and stick his hand between people's legs." In a 2007 interview with
291:, comedy producer Michael Hurll said to Hull "Look Rod, you've got your hand in that emu, up girls' skirts and squeezing their tits; doing things you would get locked up for." Hurll reported similar assaults on men in a
230:
Hull returned to the UK in 1971 and signed with
International Artists. Soon after, his Australian success translated to his native country with Hull appearing on several children's and adult light entertainment shows.
386:. This character was performed as a grotesque imitation of Hull and was finally unmasked by the real Rod Hull who appeared in the last episode of the series. It was to be Hull's penultimate television appearance.
467:, but although they filmed several sketches – in which the character would die after performing a pointless stunt – the footage was never used. Instead, the final episode of the second and final series of
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show. Cher, who had been instrumental in his success, moved back to her home country of
Australia with the children while Hull remained in England and relocated to a shepherd's cottage in East Sussex.
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Hibou
Productions went bust with debts of £38,500. Hull's second wife, Cher Hylton-Hull, who he married in 1978, already had a daughter, Catrina, and the couple had three children together:
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half-hearted attempts to pull the bird away from its victim but would often become embroiled in the fracas, rolling around on the floor, creating theatrical mayhem.
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concluded with a post-credits sketch featuring Kevin Eldon's Rod Hull character, fading out to a simple dedication reading "This series is dedicated to Rod Hull."
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threatened, "If that bird comes anywhere near me, I'll break its neck and your bloody arm!" In later years, Parkinson later referred to Emu as "that bloody bird."
393:, suggested that Hull nursed an increasing resentment towards his puppet, believing that the success of the bird prevented him from pursuing other avenues in
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131:(13 August 1935 – 17 March 1999) was a British comedian and popular entertainer on television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without
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concocted him, nobody else." The bird subsequently became a regular part of Hull's set on cabarets back in the United
Kingdom and Australia.
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On the night of 17 March 1999, Hull was trying to adjust the television aerial on the roof of his bungalow at half-time during an
306:'s bouquet of flowers during the after-show line-up at the Royal Variety Performance. During 1976, Hull's Emu repeatedly attacked
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and
Australia, a duplicate of Emu was made so the character could continue on the show, much to Hull's annoyance, and comedian
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brought Emu out of retirement for the first time since his father's death during the 2003 pantomime season, appearing in
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role. Hull first used Emu as a puppet in this show. There are conflicting reports as to how this came about. The 2003
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in one of his first public appearances after undergoing major emergency reconstructive surgery on his face.
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bought one of the last remaining Emu puppets for £8,860 at Chippenham Auction Rooms in Wiltshire.
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Hull married his first wife Sandra Carter in 1958; they had two daughters, Deborah and Danielle.
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Hull moved to Australia in 1956. His first job in television was as a lighting technician with
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and television commercials, made personal appearances and occasional TV appearances. Comedians
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By the 1990s, Hull was seen less frequently on TV, although he continued to appear in
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Later he worked with Marilyn Mayo as co-host of a children's breakfast TV programme,
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had planned to revive their "not Rod Hull" character for their contemporary series,
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Hull and Emu were also the subject of the song "No One Knew the Real Emu" by
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184:. He then began appearing on air, including as Constable Clot in Channel 9's
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included a "not Rod Hull" character in their 1996 television sketch show
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910:"Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand | No 57: The History of a House"
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538:, contemporary comedian with ostrich puppet based comedy routine
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This Is Your Life - Rod Hull - 3rd February 1983 VHSRip UK
499:. Toby Hull and Emu later appeared in their own series on
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that provided his springboard to national recognition.
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266:took over Hull's co-hosting position in Australia.
551:Arthur! and the Square Knights of the Round Table
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554:, Australian series for which Hull was a writer
234:His first UK television appearance came on the
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428:, Amelia, and Oliver. Catrina appeared in his
1145:"Rod Hull's Emu smashes estimate at auction"
1282:Royal Air Force personnel of the Korean War
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343:, taking his television career up to 1991.
321:He later starred in the television series
135:, a mute and highly aggressive arm-length
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991:Daily Mirror - Sat, 23 Oct 1993 - page 18
883:The Curmudgeonly Lee & Herring Pages
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1000:Daily Mirror Wed, 13 Oct 1993 - Page 9
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37:Rod Hull with his puppet sidekick, Emu
716:The Autobiography: The Crafty Cockney
622:from the original on 12 December 2021
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713:Bristow, Eric (15 September 2009).
686:
13:
1227:20th-century English screenwriters
908:Banks-Smith, Nancy (4 July 2003).
584:McGown, Alistair (17 March 1999).
469:This Morning with Richard Not Judy
464:This Morning with Richard Not Judy
408:He was a fan of the football club
163:, he qualified as an electrician.
159:. After national service with the
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719:. Random House. pp. 160–62.
346:In 1983 he appeared in the US on
340:Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show
139:modelled on the Australian bird.
1222:20th-century English male actors
1010:Pierre Perrone (19 March 1999).
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1277:People from the Isle of Sheppey
1242:English male television writers
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1119:"Rod Hull dies in rooftop fall"
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1040:"Rod Hull's death 'accidental'"
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1257:English male television actors
1217:20th-century English comedians
938:"The Unforgettable Rod Hull".
814:"Parkinson: the greatest hits"
787:"Obituary: The man behind Emu"
767:"Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand"
759:
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389:A 2003 Channel 4 documentary,
269:Hull and Emu were regulars on
1:
812:Heslop, Katy (27 June 2007).
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359:
142:
1237:Accidental deaths in England
1232:Accidental deaths from falls
1173:The Rod Hull Tribute Website
973:"Bristol Rovers All The way"
956:"Bristol Rovers All The Way"
642:Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand
391:Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand
297:Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand
219:Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand
171:
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16:English comedian (1935–1999)
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663:"The Super Flying Fun Show"
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10:
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1267:English television writers
324:Emu's Broadcasting Company
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260:The Super Flying Fun Show
244:Royal Variety Performance
206:The Super Flying Fun Show
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72:
42:
30:
23:
1178:BFI: List of series made
1092:"Our Last Album? (2004)"
506:In June 2018, puppeteer
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302:In 1972, Hull destroyed
457:Prior to Hull's death,
1252:English male comedians
879:"Rod Hull vs Rod Hull"
591:British Film Institute
497:Theatre Royal, Windsor
382:, played by the actor
249:
1272:Male actors from Kent
543:Super Flying Fun Show
147:Hull was born on the
99:Entertainer, comedian
1012:"Obituary: Rod Hull"
849:"Rod Hull & Emu"
586:"Rod Hull biography"
415:In 1986 Hull bought
1287:Comedians from Kent
129:Rodney Stephen Hull
47:Rodney Stephen Hull
1262:English puppeteers
1070:RichardHerring.com
944:. 1 February 2012.
747:. 20 November 2017
275:Razzle Dazzle Show
198:Clot in the Clouds
941:The Unforgettable
726:978-1-4090-6316-2
689:"Hudson Brothers"
667:Nostalgia Central
446:Manchester United
417:Restoration House
308:Michael Parkinson
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859:on 9 March 2010
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793:. 18 March 1999
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370:Richard Herring
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273:Hudson Brothers
258:When Hull left
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161:Royal Air Force
149:Isle of Sheppey
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1153:. Retrieved
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1066:"Warming Up"
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1048:. Retrieved
1046:. 5 May 1999
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914:The Guardian
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891:. Retrieved
887:the original
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857:the original
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831:. Retrieved
819:The Guardian
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105:Notable work
78:(1999-03-17)
18:
1212:1999 deaths
1207:1935 births
1024:22 November
920:22 November
893:25 February
863:25 February
797:25 February
698:22 November
626:30 November
598:25 February
442:Inter Milan
384:Kevin Eldon
379:Fist of Fun
374:Stewart Lee
330:Emu's World
310:during his
88:East Sussex
1201:Categories
1129:29 October
1076:29 October
1050:29 October
822:. London.
559:References
492:Cinderella
360:Later life
211:Kaper Cops
190:Reg Gorman
186:Kaper Kops
143:Early life
84:Winchelsea
53:1935-08-13
1155:3 January
853:POVonline
828:0261-3077
421:Rochester
366:pantomime
312:chat show
293:Channel 4
215:Channel 4
172:Australia
167:TV career
157:Sheerness
90:, England
67:, England
1188:Rod Hull
1149:Sky News
1123:BBC News
1044:BBC News
1020:. London
916:. London
833:11 March
791:BBC News
693:Tvparty!
648:11 March
620:archived
514:See also
485:His son
478:(2004).
299:(2003).
116:Children
25:Rod Hull
1103:11 June
1097:Discogs
978:YouTube
965:11 June
772:YouTube
751:11 June
745:Chortle
672:11 June
495:at the
288:Chortle
226:Britain
826:
723:
453:Legacy
335:EMU TV
182:Sydney
137:puppet
960:45cat
436:Death
238:show
188:with
1192:IMDb
1157:2019
1131:2008
1105:2024
1078:2008
1052:2008
1026:2013
967:2024
922:2013
895:2010
865:2010
835:2024
824:ISSN
799:2010
753:2024
721:ISBN
700:2013
674:2024
650:2024
628:2019
600:2010
501:CITV
487:Toby
444:vs.
426:Toby
372:and
337:and
271:The
192:and
153:Kent
121:Toby
73:Died
65:Kent
43:Born
1190:at
419:in
279:CBS
250:Emu
236:ITV
180:in
133:Emu
110:Emu
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