Paul Elliot, known as Paul Chuckle, has spoken out about ‘the worst day of my life’ – when he was forced to perform on stage on the day of his baby daughter’s funeral.
The comic, one half of the stand-up duo The Chuckle Brothers, was torn apart by grief when his three-month-old daughter Nicola died from a rare liver problem in 1975.
On the day of her funeral, Paul, 72, was forced to go on stage in Glasgow and make an audience laugh because show organisers refused to release him and his late brother Barry from their contract.
Struggle: Paul Elliot, known as Paul Chuckle (right), has spoken out about ‘the worst day of my life’ – when he was forced to perform on stage on the day of his baby daughter’s funeral
They threatened not to pay them if they didn’t complete the fortnight of shows they were booked for and the siblings were too hard up to refuse.
Paul told The Mirror: ‘Imagine having to bury your daughter, then a few hours later get up in front of loads of people and make them laugh.
‘It was the lowest I have ever been. It was really tough, but we did it. We had to do it to get paid, but I don’t think we were very funny that night.’
Grieving: The comic (pictured at his brother Barry’s funeral), one half of the stand-up duo The Chuckle Brothers, was torn apart by grief when his three-month-old daughter Nicola died
Paul and his brother Barry, who died in August 2018, originally toured as the Harman Brothers and went on to win TV’s Opportunity Knocks in 1967.
It wasn’t until the 80s when they got their break performing on the BBC children’s show Chuckle Hounds.
The pair were then given their own show, ChuckleVision, in 1984.
Comedy duo: Paul and his brother Barry (pictured on ITV’s New Faces in 1975), who died in August 2018, originally toured as the Harman Brothers and went on to win TV’s Opportunity Knocks in 1967
Their roaring success came to an end when Barry died at the age of 73 after secretly battling bone cancer.
Again, Paul didn’t take much time to grieve and returned to stages making people laugh just weeks later.
He is now back on screens for the first time since his brother’s death in the BBC’s The Real Marigold Hotel.
Big break: It wasn’t until the 80s when they (pictured on Opportunity Knocks in 1967) got their break performing on the BBC children’s show Chuckle Hounds
However, he is desperately missing Barry. He said: ‘It was eight months after Barry passed away and I knew Barry would have loved a show like that.
‘A couple of times I thought, ”I wish Barry was here”. It would probably have been more fun, because we bounced funny lines off each other all the time.
‘That’s the worst thing, knowing I”m not going to have a laugh with Barry anymore.’
Paul did reveal that he believes he can feel Barry’s presence when he performs on stage – the time when he misses his brother the most.
Before Barry died, Paul also lost his sister Shiela and brothers Brian and Colin.
Watching over: Paul did reveal that he believes he can feel Barry’s presence when he performs on stage – the time when he misses his brother the most
His last remaining brother, Jimmy, also died last year.
Paul opened up on last Thursday’s episode of The Real Marigold Hotel and revealed he has been battling with a life-threatening condition for most of his life.
He developed the condition, lymphedema, after he was roughly tackled in a football match when he was 14.
His leg doubled in size from swelling and he was forced to forget his hopes of playing professionally.
Paul revealed he hasn’t played football once since the incident.
Life-threatening: Paul opened up on last Thursday’s episode of The Real Marigold Hotel and revealed he has been battling with a life-threatening condition for most of his life
However, if he hadn’t had the accident, he and Barry may not have started their comedy partnership in 1963.
The pair were due to return to TV in 2018 with a new Channel 5 show but Barry then revealed his bone cancer had spread to his lungs.
Paul went on to speak about the days in the lead-up to Barry’s death.
He revealed that Barry hated doctors and that was part of the reason he never revealed his secret.
New beginnings: The pair were due to return to TV in 2018 with a new Channel 5 show but Barry then revealed his bone cancer had spread to his lungs
Paul said he saw his brother on the Wednesday before he died and he was sitting and chatting normally but when he went over again on Saturday his condition had rapidly worsened.
As Paul left on that Saturday he told his brother he would see him tomorrow. But the next day received a phone call at 7am to tell him that Barry had died.
After his brother’s death, Paul carried on performing but due to coronavirus lockdown all of his shows have been cancelled.
Paul himself recently recovered from Covid-19 and said that he has been struggling financially as a result of lockdown.
But he said: ‘I’m a laid-back person, whatever happens, happens.’
Cancelled: After his brother’s death, Paul carried on performing but due to coronavirus lockdown all of his shows have been cancelled
Source: Daily Mail – Articles
