This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-17046201
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85 | Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Northern Irish comedian Frank Carson best known for the catch phrases "It's a cracker" and "It's the way I tell 'em", has died aged 85. | Northern Irish comedian Frank Carson best known for the catch phrases "It's a cracker" and "It's the way I tell 'em", has died aged 85. |
| Carson had suffered from poor health and his family said he passed away at his home in Blackpool, Lancashire. | Carson had suffered from poor health and his family said he passed away at his home in Blackpool, Lancashire. |
| The comic rose to fame in the 1960s after winning talent show Opportunity Knocks three times. He went on to appear in The Comedians and Tiswas. | The comic rose to fame in the 1960s after winning talent show Opportunity Knocks three times. He went on to appear in The Comedians and Tiswas. |
| Plans are being made for a funeral in his home town of Belfast. | Plans are being made for a funeral in his home town of Belfast. |
| Carson had a successful operation for stomach cancer last year, but had told the BBC his health had been a problem for some time. | Carson had a successful operation for stomach cancer last year, but had told the BBC his health had been a problem for some time. |
| "I have had a bad five years," he said. | "I have had a bad five years," he said. |
| "First it was the pacemaker, then it was a new knee, then I had a hernia and then of course I had this problem." | "First it was the pacemaker, then it was a new knee, then I had a hernia and then of course I had this problem." |
| The family statement said Carson, "husband, father, Gaga and comedian set off for his final gig today". | The family statement said Carson, "husband, father, Gaga and comedian set off for his final gig today". |
| "He went peacefully at his home in Blackpool surrounded by his greatest fans - his extended family. We will be taking him home to Belfast to lay him to rest and celebrate his joyful life. | "He went peacefully at his home in Blackpool surrounded by his greatest fans - his extended family. We will be taking him home to Belfast to lay him to rest and celebrate his joyful life. |
| "It's quieter down here now. God help them up there!!" | "It's quieter down here now. God help them up there!!" |
| Papal recognition | Papal recognition |
| Born in Belfast on 6 November 1926 to a family of Italian descent, Carson was the son of a binman. | Born in Belfast on 6 November 1926 to a family of Italian descent, Carson was the son of a binman. |
| He grew up in the Little Italy area of the city and worked as a plasterer and electrician, and then joined the Parachute Regiment. | He grew up in the Little Italy area of the city and worked as a plasterer and electrician, and then joined the Parachute Regiment. |
| He served three years in the Middle East in the 1950s, before his attention turned to showbusiness. | He served three years in the Middle East in the 1950s, before his attention turned to showbusiness. |
| Spotted for his stand-up work, he was a popular performer on Irish television before moving to England. | Spotted for his stand-up work, he was a popular performer on Irish television before moving to England. |
| There, the comedian appeared in the TV music hall revival show The Good Old Days, before his appearances on Opportunity Knocks propelled him into the mainstream. | There, the comedian appeared in the TV music hall revival show The Good Old Days, before his appearances on Opportunity Knocks propelled him into the mainstream. |
| He went on to appear alongside fellow comics Charlie Williams, Bernard Manning, Mike Reid and Jim Bowen in the 1970s TV series, The Comedians. | He went on to appear alongside fellow comics Charlie Williams, Bernard Manning, Mike Reid and Jim Bowen in the 1970s TV series, The Comedians. |
| A familiar face on British TV for the next two decades, Carson's other shows included Who Do You Do? and variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. | A familiar face on British TV for the next two decades, Carson's other shows included Who Do You Do? and variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. |
| He became known for his self-deprecating sense of humour. | He became known for his self-deprecating sense of humour. |
| In 1975, Carson signed up to play Paddy O'Brien in Spike Milligan sitcom The Melting Pot, but the show was cancelled shortly after the first episode was broadcast. | In 1975, Carson signed up to play Paddy O'Brien in Spike Milligan sitcom The Melting Pot, but the show was cancelled shortly after the first episode was broadcast. |
| He later claimed Milligan had mocked his constant stream of wisecracks - by writing a joke of his own: "What's the difference between Frank Carson and the M1? You can turn off the M1." | He later claimed Milligan had mocked his constant stream of wisecracks - by writing a joke of his own: "What's the difference between Frank Carson and the M1? You can turn off the M1." |
| Carson continued to work following a heart operation in 1976, and was a frequent guest on children's series Tiswas. | Carson continued to work following a heart operation in 1976, and was a frequent guest on children's series Tiswas. |
| He was also at home on radio, appearing alongside David Frost and Leslie Crowther on 1980s BBC Radio 2 show Pull The Other One. | He was also at home on radio, appearing alongside David Frost and Leslie Crowther on 1980s BBC Radio 2 show Pull The Other One. |
| In 1987, Pope John Paul II knighted Carson into the order of St Gregory at a private audience in Rome, in recognition of his charity work in Northern Ireland. | In 1987, Pope John Paul II knighted Carson into the order of St Gregory at a private audience in Rome, in recognition of his charity work in Northern Ireland. |
| "He kissed me and said I was a wonderful man," Carson later told the Daily Mail. | "He kissed me and said I was a wonderful man," Carson later told the Daily Mail. |
| "I was in there for 17 minutes - the priests time it. President Reagan only got 11, so that was nice." | "I was in there for 17 minutes - the priests time it. President Reagan only got 11, so that was nice." |
| Despite his showbusiness career, the comedian also served as Mayor of Balbriggan in North Dublin twice. | Despite his showbusiness career, the comedian also served as Mayor of Balbriggan in North Dublin twice. |
| "It is my favourite place in the world," said Carson, who spent his honeymoon in the area, "it always brings back happy memories". | "It is my favourite place in the world," said Carson, who spent his honeymoon in the area, "it always brings back happy memories". |
| Following the ascent of alternative comedy in the late 1980s, the performer largely returned to his roots in stand-up, and was performing hundreds of shows a year as recently as 2008. | Following the ascent of alternative comedy in the late 1980s, the performer largely returned to his roots in stand-up, and was performing hundreds of shows a year as recently as 2008. |
| He moved to Blackpool in later life, where he became involved with the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party. | He moved to Blackpool in later life, where he became involved with the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party. |
| Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last year, Carson said he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered around the Corporation Street in Belfast, where he grew up. | Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last year, Carson said he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered around the Corporation Street in Belfast, where he grew up. |
| He leaves a wife, Ruth, daughter Majella and sons Tony and Aidan, as well as 10 grandchildren. | He leaves a wife, Ruth, daughter Majella and sons Tony and Aidan, as well as 10 grandchildren. |