Percy EdwardsMBE | |
---|---|
Edwards on Morecambe and Wise | |
Born | (1908-06-01)1 June 1908 Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
Died | 7 June 1996(1996-06-07) (aged 88) Hintlesham, Suffolk, England |
Occupation(s) | Animal impersonator, entertainer, ornithologist |
Percy Edwards MBE (1 June 1908 – 7 June 1996) was an English animal impersonator, entertainer and ornithologist.
Biography
When he was a child, bird impressions were often done with the assistance of hands on the mouth, however he was able to do them without. During World War II, Edwards worked at Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies in Ipswich.
Edwards became a household name after playing Psyche the dog in the radio series A Life of Bliss, which he reprised for its television adaptation. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1993 for services to ornithology and entertainment. In 2009, Sir David Attenborough presented a special BBC radio panel game, The Percy Edwards Showdown, dedicated to Edwards's life and career. He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Polstead, Suffolk.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960-1961 | A Life of Bliss | Psyche the Dog | 10 episodes |
1965 | Pet Pals | Animal Sounds | 6 episodes |
1966 | Hugh and I | Voices | Episode “Hold That Tiger” |
1971 | The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer | Bird impersonator | Film |
On the Buses | Bird Impressions | Episode “The Kids’ Outing” | |
1972 | His Lordship Entertains | Voices | Episode 4 “The Safari Park” |
1973 | The Morecambe and Wise Show | Jungle Sounds | 1 episode |
1976 | Wodehouse Playhouse | Bird Imitations | Episode “The Nodder” |
The End of the Pier Show | Various | Episode “The 9.36 to Didcot” | |
The Good Life | Animal Noises | Episode “The Happy Event” | |
1977 | The Goodies | The Dodo | Episode “Dodonuts” |
1979 | Alien | Alien Voices | Film, uncredited |
1981 | Hi-de-Hi! | Bubbles | Episode 7 “No Dogs Allowed” |
The Ark Stories | Animal Sounds | 11 episodes | |
The Island of Adventure | Kiki | Film | |
1982 | The Plague Dogs | Animal Vocalisations | Film |
The Dark Crystal | Fizzgig | Film | |
1983 | Fair Ground! | Captain Cutlass | 9 episodes |
Androcles and the Lion | The Lion's Voice | TV movie | |
1984-1985 | Hilary | Arthur | 4 episodes |
1985 | In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro | Baboon Voices | Film |
1986 | Sorry! | The Duck | Episode “My Family and Other Monsters” |
Labyrinth | Ambrosius | Film | |
1988 | Bad Boyes | Joey the Budgie | Episode “The Holiday” |
Bibliography
- Call Me at Dawn (1948)
- The Birdman's Pocket Book (1954)
- The Road I Travelled (1979)
- Country Book (1981)
- Song Birds (1986)
References
- Gifford, Denis (10 June 1996). "Obituary: Percy Edwards". The Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Percy Edwards Showdown". BBC. 4 March 2009.
- "BBC Archive (19th February 2017) "#Onthisday 1972: One-man vocal menagerie Percy Edwards showed off his range of animal impressions" - Twitter". Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "WW2 People's War - Joan Whitson". BBC History. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
- "Wogan's Radio Fun - Percy Edwards and Patricia Hayes". YouTube.
- "Percy Edwards - Biography". Imdb.com. Retrieved 4 March 2009.