BBC: Comedian Dave Allen dies aged 68
Irish comedian Dave Allen, famed for his TV routines as he perched on a stool with drink and cigarette in hand, has died in his sleep aged 68.
He was most famous for his TV shows Tonight With Dave Allen and Dave Allen at Large, which featured his satires on topics including religion.
Damn!
I'll never forget Dave Allen's routine about cars that make noises like their names (my dad drove a Triumph-umph-uuummmpppphhh! at the time), nor the one about anagrams of famous people's names (Ronald Regan = Da Lon' Ranger, and Dave Allen = Anal Delve). Anagrams have held a puerile fascination for me ever since. And then, of course, there was his poking fun at the pope. Come to think of it, Dave Allen was a hell of an influence on me.
But I think the most fitting (in Alfie Noakes's sense of the word) tribute came on the BBC's website:
BBC: Dave Allen: Your tributes
…How fitting that we say goodbye to a funny, funny man on Red Nose Day. Thank you for making as [sic] laugh over so many years.
Alfie Noakes, North of England, UK
Listen, Alfie Noakes (if that is your real name), the word you're looking for isn't fitting, it's ironic… Dave Allen: funny; Red Nose Day: not funny. Got it?
Postscript: Check out the comments to find out who Alfie Noakes really was.
I thought Alfie Noakes rang a bell, years ago I'm afraid I listened to the Derek and Clive Live LP. (Pete and Dud ) Alfie Noakes was referred to on that if I recall correctly "he had a huge great penis". I did a google and yes that is where I heard the name
I half-suspected it was a piss-take, and I'm so glad it was. I think Dave Allen would have appreciated it.
THERE WAS A PRO FOOTBALLER WHO PLAYED FOR WEST HAM UNITED, HIS NAME WAS ALFIE NOAKES, MY DAD (A GOOD OLD COCKNY EAST ENDER) ALWAYS SAID "A BLOODY GOOD FULL BACK IF YOU ASK ME" HE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ENGLAND TEAM, HE USED TO LOVE WATCHING HIS ANTICS AT WEST HAM, ALSO TOLD ME HE WAS A POPULAR ALL ROUND SPORTSMAN / BOXER AS WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING, PLEASE POST HERE, THANKS.
Alfie Noakes was my dad, drop me an e-mail to osds@btopenworld.com & I will be pleased o cover ant questions
Regards
Jeff.