Zippy and Me: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Infamous Puppet

by Ronnie Le Drew, Duncan Barrett, and Nuala Calvi

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Over the course of almost half a century, puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew has worked with the greats – from David Bowie in Labyrinth to Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol. But the role that defined his career was Rainbow’s Zippy, who he operated for more than twenty years.
Zippy and Me is the first time a Rainbow insider has told the true story of what went on under the counter and inside the suits: the petty squabbles between performers, wrangling with TV executives, and scandals such as the 'love triangle' between musicians Rod, Jane and Freddy. Not to mention the now infamous X-rated episode shot for an ITV Christmas party, which subsequently found its way to the Sun.

Interweaved with the dirt on what really went on behind the scenes is the story of Rainbow’s heyday in the 1970s and 80s, when its stars found themselves catapulted into an exciting showbiz world – scooping a BAFTA award and even performing for the queen – and the story of a young lad from a south London council estate who defied his parents' protests to became one of the most respected puppeteers of all time.

  • ISBN13 9781783526987
  • Publish Date 25 July 2019
  • Publish Status Active
  • Out of Print 6 June 2023
  • Publish Country GB
  • Publisher Unbound
  • Imprint Unbound Digital
  • Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
  • Pages 416
  • Language English