Bird
Flu
Has the dreaded bird flu finally hit Britain? The green feathered
dummy who regularly appeared as Keith Harris' ventriloquist
act has finally been silenced, laid up in bed looking so poorly.
Has the recent cold weather got to the squeeky bird or has
the world wide bird flu struck another victim?
Orville
facts: Orville appeared on BBC television
from 1982 to 1990 with "The Keith Harris Show",
featuring other puppets such as Cuddles The Monkey. Keith
Harris and Orville had a massive hit single with "Orville's
Song" which sold over 400,000 copies. "Orville's
Song" has been re-released, now entitled "I Wish
I Could Fly" and features a dance and disco version.
In 2004, Keith and Orville were launched into the sky in
a UK TV advert for Persil washing powder. Due to the adverts
success, it's rumoured that ITV bosses are in talks with Keith
Harris to bring Orville back to TV with a new variety show.
Orville was named after Orville Wright, one of the famous
Wright brothers who together achieved the first controlled
flight of an aeroplane. Keith has starred in every major theatre
in the UK.
Orville and Keith had a short appearance on the sketch comedy
series Little Britain as themselves as part of a group of
entertainers waiting to meet the royal family. They were interrupted
by a man with a pathetic sock puppet who claimed he was Keith
Harris and his sock was Orville.
The real Keith was naturally annoyed at this and the fake
Keith, after a few attempts at claiming to be other people,
was thrown out. The sketch was part of a series about a former
BBC news presenter's desperate attempts to meet the royals,
who he idolised. The sketches did not make the TV version
of the show, but are included in the deleted scenes portion
of the DVD.
In 2005, both Keith and Orville, appeared in the Five reality
TV show, The Farm and went on to win it. Keith and his faithful
sidekick Orville The Duck beat off fierce competition from
second placed Mikey in an incredibly close race to scoop the
title of Top Farmer. "Thank you," said an emotional
and almost speechless Keith to Colin and Justin, who were
almost as excited as he was. Keith won a prize of £50,000
and was handed The Farm Trophy by Farmer Ryan.
The Double act also appeared in the video for Tony Christie's
"Is This the Way to Amarillo", which was re-released
for Comic Relief.
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