Mike yarwood
OUR nostalgia quiz this week focuses on Stockport impressionist Mike Yarwood – one of the most popular entertainers of the 1970s and 80s. His Yuletide special on Christmas Day 1977 recorded the biggest ever TV audience for a light entertainment broadcast – beating even Morecambe and Wise!
In his day, he was a trail-blazer. He elevated mimicry to an art and laid the foundations for a host of modern impressionists like Janet Brown, Rory Bremner, Alistair McGowan and Jon Culshaw.
How well do you know Mike Yarwood and the people he impersonated? Why not test your knowledge in our quiz and compare your score with friends?
Local entertainers feature strongly in Clive Hardy’s Around Manchester books from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. They’re packed with memories and unmissable pictures from the M.E.N. archive. The books are on sale now for £14.99 including postage and packing. Just go to inostalgia.co.uk or ring 01928 503777 to place your order.
Answers are at the bottom of the page. 1 Before making a name for himself as an impressionist, Mike Yarwood showed great early potential as a what?
A) Nightclub singer; B) Footballer; C) Boxer?
2 How large was the TV audience for Mike Yarwood’s 1977 Christmas Day TV special?
A) 16.4 million viewers; B) 21.4 million viewers; C) 26.4 million viewers?
3 One of Mike Yarwood’s most popular impersonations, Labour leader Harold Wilson, first became Prime Minister in which year?
A) 1964; B) 1967; C) 1970?
4 Mike Yarwood impersonated Tory leader Ted Heath in 1979 with Janet Brown as Margaret Thatcher. Heath famously owned his own yacht which featured in many sketches. What was it called?
A) Morning Cloud; B) Gypsy Rose; C) Admiral Ted?
5 Another Mike Yarwood subject, comedian Ken Dodd, went to the top of the UK singles charts in 1965 with what song?
A) Love is Like a Violin; B) Happiness; C) Tears?
6 In what year was Mike Yarwood born in Bredbury, Stockport?
A) 1931; B) 1941; C) 1951?
7 Which politician was parodied with Mike Yarwood’s well known catchphrase ‘Silly Billy’?
A) George Brown; B) Geoffrey Howe; C) Denis Healey?
8 Mike Yarwood impersonated Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales, in November 1981.
Actress Suzanne Danielle played Diana. Who is Suzanne Danielle’s famous golfing husband?
A) Nick Faldo; B) Sandy Lyle; C) Sam Torrance?
9 Which famous TV game show presenter was often parodied by Mike Yarwood with the catchphrase ‘I mean that most sincerely, folks’?
A) Michael Miles; B) Hughie Green; C) Les Dawson? 10 Harold Wilson famously hosted two episodes of the TV chat show Friday Night, Saturday Morning for BBC2 in October 1979. One of his guests was Mike Yarwood, along with political interviewer Robin Day. Often impersonated himself, what TV current affairs programme did Day host from 1979 to 1989?
A) Points of View; B) Question Time; C) Today?
“I remember a director saying that you get scenes in Coronation Street that are as good as any film or play. And that is true. It’s a happy place to be. I love going to work. You get job satisfaction and continuity, which is not usual for actors”
Coronation Street star William Roache, speaking as the show celebrates its 60th anniversary