Danny Ross (comedian)

Publicity photo of Danny Ross

Ronald Crabtree (30 April 1930 – 2 February 1976) known by his stage name Danny Ross, was a British comedian best remembered for his role alongside Jimmy Clitheroe in the long running BBC Radio comedy show The Clitheroe Kid (1957–1973).[1][2][3]

Ross played the part of "Alfie Hall", the dim witted, mismatched boyfriend of Jimmy's posh sister "Susan" (Diana Day).[4] Alfie Hall was a name Danny Ross had used prior to The Clitheroe Kid, including during a television series in 1956 entitled I'm Not Bothered... which followed the exploits of milkman "Alf Hall" and his stuttering mate, "Wally Binns" (Glenn Melvyn).[5] The phrase "I'm not bothered..." was occasionally used by Danny Ross in The Clitheroe Kid as a catchphrase, in indecisive (but not unfriendly) responses when given a decision by girlfriend "Susan".

Danny had made his reputation in comedy by starring alongside Arthur Askey and Glenn Melvyn in The Love Match – a hit stage comedy presented for a summer season at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, in 1953, that led to the spin-off TV series Love and Kisses.[6][7] He had also starred in the George Formby role in the revival of the stage musical Zip Goes a Million, and later made a pop record of Formby's hit song "The Old Bazaar in Cairo".[8]

  1. ^ Andy Foster; Steve Furst (1996), Radio comedy, 1938-68: a guide to 30 years of wonderful wireless, Virgin
  2. ^ Jacqueline Morley (5 May 2008), Tragic end of Blackpool comic genius, The Gazette (Blackpool), retrieved 4 March 2010
  3. ^ Stephen Poppitt; Sandra Skuse (2006), Manchester Television Personalities, Manchester Film and Television Celebrities, archived from the original on 13 October 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "BBC - The Clitheroe Kid - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "I'm Not Bothered - ITV Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
  6. ^ "Production of The Love Match - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  7. ^ "Love and Kisses[11/11/55] (1955)". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Manchester Television & Film Stars and Celebrities". 1 January 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)