The Krankies

Husband and wife duo Ian and Janette Tough talk famous pals and panto!

A Wee Blether With…

Ian: I was working as an electrician at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow in 1965 while Janette was doing pantomime there. One day I asked her if she’d like to go to the cinema. I paid for the film, but Janette was on more money than me, so she paid for the Chinese meal afterwards!

Ian: Performing at the Royal Variety Show in 1978 was a real highlight. It was the last one that was ever recorded live. We’d only just been discovered working in the clubs and they put us on as the surprise act. We basically stormed the show.

Janette: That was us our big break. That’s what got us our television show. Ian: We get the whole theatre company together and have Christmas dinner. The cast and the chorus line come from all over the UK and beyond, so it’s great to have everyone over and have a party. We don’t have children, so the theatre company are our family.

Ian: We go to Australia where we’ve got our apartment. We spend two or three months there, cycling along the Pacific Ocean, playing golf and swimming. It’s fantastic. Janette: We’ve been out there for so many years, we’ve got great friends to spend time with, too. We love it.