Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Roy’s Belfast life was good ..but not right
Comedian & TV host, 79 looks back on his life and career in BBC show
AS one of Northern Ireland’s most popular comedians and TV presenters, Roy Walker has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning six decades.
Now approaching his 80th birthday and still performing, a new BBC show sees him reflect on his childhood including the stigma directed at his mother, who gave birth to him out of wedlock, and spending his early years in foster care.
Roy said: “She worked in an ammunitions factory. It was a bit of a shock – she gave birth on the floor of the factory. She was only 17 and hardly knew she was pregnant.”
From an early age, the stage beckoned for the talented Belfast boy who was the star of school plays and sang with the choir at Saint Anne’s Cathedral.
Covering his varied career, the muchloved comedian talks about how he had a short stint working in the shipyards, was enlisted for National Service with the British Army, and at the age of 20, somewhat accidentally, became a Northern Ireland hammer-throwing champion.
Roy then delightfully traces his journey from Belfast’s comedy clubs to primetime Saturday night TV.
During the 1960s, the Talk Of The Town cabaret club opened in Belfast which gave Roy his first break as a singer.
SWOON
Fellow Northern Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket, who contributes to the film, shares memories of the time. He said: “When Roy came on he was immaculately dressed, good looking –and all the ladies would just swoon.” The film entitled Roy Walker – Beyond A Joke, also explores his relationship with his wife Jean Monaghan.
The couple, from different religious backgrounds, were forced out of their greengrocers in East Belfast during The Troubles and moved to the north-east of England, and it was here Roy began building his career on the comedy circuit.
From working men’s clubs to opening for Dorothy Squires at the London Palladium, Roy looks back on his highs and lows. He explains how Jean saved his career and how his big TV break came from an appearance on the New Faces talent show. In the 1980s, while presenting Catchphrase – the game show that attracted 15 million viewers at its peak – Roy became a household name with his catchphrase “say what you see”.
But it was also during this decade his wife Jean passed away after a short illness. On the night of her death he vowed never to go back on stage but later came to the realisation laughter truly is the greatest medicine.
This film features archive footage showcasing some of Roy’s best gags. It also features contributions from the likes of comedian John Linehan, radio DJ Chris Moyles and Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, who became friends with Roy while filming 100 Years Younger In 21 Days.
And Roy’s not ready to hang up the microphone just yet as he still wants to continue entertaining people.
He said: “It means a lot for me to come back here [Belfast], it means it is not over. I want to go on, Frank Carson worked till he was 87.”
Roy Walker – Beyond A Joke is a Doubleband Films production and is on BBC One Northern Ireland at 10.35pm tonight.
It was a bit of a shock.. she gave birth on the factory floor. She was 17
ROY WALKER ON STIGMA FACED BY HIS MOTHER