Russ Abbot recalls 1984 success and his exit

comedyAug 24, 202613127

Russ Abbot says he worked 363 days in 1984 as he rose to dominate Saturday-night TV in the 1980s, drawing as many as 18 million viewers an episode. His sketch shows ran as Russ Abbot’s Madhouse from 1980 to 1985 and The Russ Abbot Show from 1986 to 1991, featuring castmates including Bella Emberg, Les Dennis, Dustin Gee and Michael Barrymore. When commissioners moved on from that style he moved into sitcoms such as Boomers and Last of the Summer Wine and took a serious role in the TV drama September Song. Abbot also had a string of West End musical roles, including Fagin in Oliver!, Roger de Bris in The Producers and Alfred P Doolittle in My Fair Lady. In 2016 he quietly retired and now divides his time between Barbados and the Algarve with his wife Trish, who says they have been married 60 years. The interview recalls stage and TV memories, including a photo of Abbot as Cooperman with Tommy Cooper and tributes to colleagues such as Dustin Gee, who died in 1986.

Marie Gardiner

@mariegardiner.bsky.social

Loved Russ Abbot as a kid. I had a Russ Abbot annual 😅. Nice to see he's living a quiet, happy life with his wife and doesn't seem to have become a wrong 'un.

701h ago

Quoting this

Sb4

How do we feel about him killing Captain Tom though

Mark Dorward2

Watched in Him live in Great Yarmouth , Where he did a sketch as Cooperman riding the Roller coaster at the town's Pleasure beach , where actually filmed in one of cars on the roller coaster and high speed crashed in a brick wall. His comedy timing at the time was brilliant.

Rob Corp

@robcorp.bsky.social

This is a really lovely interview with Russ Abbot. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

252h ago

Michael1

That was a lovely read. Thanks for sharing it.

Darren Whitfield1

It is but I did read it a bit Roy and Renée when he was talking to his wife. In a nice way. 😁 #WhatDidISayRoy

SiBt 🌱1

I've just read that. Great interview. They had one with Su Pollard last week.

Tim Bale

@timbale.bsky.social

Agreed! Was never a huge fan - although www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QEk... is an earworm and no mistake - but lovely to see a performer so happy in retirement after a successful career.

122h ago

Mykomment

@mykomment.bsky.social

I couldn't stand Russ Abbott's persona on TV. But....he seems a nice fellow, as does Trish. Nice story 🌞 #Chester #EllesmerePort ‘In 1984, I worked 363 days’: how Russ Abbot soared to success – then walked away www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

73h ago

Graeme Swanson

@swansonian.bsky.social

If I’m honest I was never a fan, even as a kid but he’s very hard to hate and I love how refreshingly unbitter he is for an old school entertainer. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

71h ago

Tom

@zenithedtom.bsky.social

It’s quite nice to read about someone who was massively successful, realised that tastes had moved on and then happily retired without losing their mind in the process

21h ago

@gj19eighty.bsky.social

I've unintentionally been a bit retro on here this AM, with Russ Abbot, Roger Cook and Les Dawson stuff within the hour. Rest assured the crest of a wave, cutting edge, trailblazing and radical content that you all crave will resume post haste

23h ago

globelimper.bsky.social

@globelimper.bsky.social

I think it reads very clearly that Trish is married to Russell Roberts, not Russ Abbot. Which is lovely in itself.

11h ago

Simon Craven

@simoncraven.bsky.social

Whether Russ Abbot was your cup of tea or not, this is a superb interview and well worth reading. It can be hard to get out of a long high profile showbiz career with everything intact, so I am glad Russ has made it

11h ago

Jimmy

@thatcareersguy.bsky.social

Enjoyed this. It is really difficult to convey just how big a star Russ Abbot was in the UK in the 80s. My grandparents were besotted with him. I remember in adulthood being sincerely confused that he wasn't well known worldwide.

1h ago