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Val Doonican

Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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in UK TV Shows #1
I know it was very unfashionable if you were young in the seventies to like this, but I actually found his shows good entertainment, esp his Irish novelty songs like O Rafferty's Motor Car and he tended to have decent guests like John Denver and Crystal Gayle. Some of my best friends are songs.
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Comments

  • biscuitfactorybiscuitfactory Posts: 29,392
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    #2
    I loved Val,Glenn A :)

    My uncle used to have an album of the comedy songs of val Doonican and every time we went round to his house ( late 60s) we put it on.
    Delaney's Donkey,O'Rafferty's Motor Car,Paddy McGinty's Goat..loved them all.

    Happy memories.
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    #3
    He may not have been the coolest person in showbiz but he always came over as a really likeable bloke a bit like a favourite uncle.
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #4
    biscuitfactory wrote: »
    I loved Val,Glenn A :)

    My uncle used to have an album of the comedy songs of val Doonican and every time we went round to his house ( late 60s) we put it on.
    Delaney's Donkey,O'Rafferty's Motor Car,Paddy McGinty's Goat..loved them all.

    Happy memories.

    The World of Val Doonican, there's still a copy in the house. One of showbiz's genuine nice people, my grandmother met him in the late 60s and said he was genuine.
  • Westy2Westy2 Posts: 14,516
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    #5
    Wonder what he makes of whats been going on recently?
  • RainbowsEndRainbowsEnd Posts: 1,030
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    #6
    This thread has brought back many happy memories of his show, songs and my childhood. My brothers and I used to find saying his name backward the funniest of things. Try it! Amazing how you can remember things from 45 yrs ago all of a sudden!
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #7
    RainbowsEnd wrote: »
    This thread has brought back many happy memories of his show, songs and my childhood. My brothers and I used to find saying his name backward the funniest of things. Try it! Amazing how you can remember things from 45 yrs ago all of a sudden!

    Yes, 20 million people loved his shows and he discovered the legendary Dave Allen. Also popular guests seemed to be Lynsey de Paul( now which show didn't feature her in the seventies) and The Kings Singers.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #8
    i liked val doonican, thought he had an excellent singing voice, so pure, so rich.
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #9
    mushymanrob wrote: »
    i liked val doonican, thought he had an excellent singing voice, so pure, so rich.

    Yes he could switch easily from a difficult ballad to a comedy song. I know the punk rockers and the trendies hated this show, but the ratings suggested he was very popular. Some of my best friends are songs, now my special guest Miss Lynsey de Paul, would you like to sing a duet with me, Lynsey?
  • ftvftv Posts: 31,668
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    #10
    Does this thread mean he's dead:eek:
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,376
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    #11
    Westy2 wrote: »
    Wonder what he makes of whats been going on recently?

    True . For a moment I thought he'd joined the list of offenders .
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #12
    ftv wrote: »
    Does this thread mean he's dead:eek:

    No I just wanted a nice discussion about a very popular show from the past.
  • The_SleeperThe_Sleeper Posts: 201,728
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    #13
    Glenn A wrote: »
    No I just wanted a nice discussion about a very popular show from the past.

    Never mind the show or the guests, his cardigans were legends !!! :D
  • GwylfaGwylfa Posts: 799
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    #14
    Loved his shows and saw him live once at Coventry Theatre. The Christmas Eve shows on BBC 1 were legendary. There was also a 'World of album' volume 2...I have it!!( Amongst many other recordings of course!).
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #15
    The_Sleeper wrote: »
    Never mind the show or the guests, his cardigans were legends !!! :D

    Oh yes and his rocking chair and the mock stained glass window. At his height Doonican had 25 million viewers and his show was only cancelled as he wanted to retire.
  • IggymanIggyman Posts: 8,021
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    #16
    Seems to be a very talented artist as well:

    http://www.valdoonican.com/painting.htm

    http://www.valdoonican.com/int.htm
  • big brother 9big brother 9 Posts: 18,153
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    #17
    aahh the memories
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,376
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    #18
    ftv wrote: »
    Does this thread mean he's dead:eek:

    I thought he'd died ages ago as we never seem to see him on TV at award evenings etc.
  • CaxtonCaxton Posts: 28,881
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    #19
    Good old Val, Mr. Clean, rocking in his chair, at least they have nor arrested him yet like many stars of the 60s :D If they ever arrest him I will be amazed.:cry:
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #20
    Caxton wrote: »
    Good old Val, Mr. Clean, rocking in his chair, at least they have nor arrested him yet like many stars of the 60s :D If they ever arrest him I will be amazed.:cry:

    I very much doubt there's any skeletons in his cupboard. He's been married for decades and was never known to hang out with creeps like Jimmy Savile.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 371
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    #21
    I loved watching Val Doonican with my parents when I was a child. My favourite bit was the end of his shows when he sat on his rocking chair wearing a lovely jumper and he sang a ballad. My favourite back then was Scarlet Ribbons, although now I'm particularly fond of Elusive Butterfly. These songs bring back such very happy memories of my childhood. My dad died when I was only nine, but listening to Val reminds me of Dad, and also my late uncle, who honestly looked exactly like Val Doonican.
  • CaxtonCaxton Posts: 28,881
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    #22
    Glenn A wrote: »
    I very much doubt there's any skeletons in his cupboard. He's been married for decades and was never known to hang out with creeps like Jimmy Savile.

    Rolf Harris for starters, would he have been mixed up with creeps like Savile?
  • Patsey10Patsey10 Posts: 302
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    #23
    SparklingEyes wrote: »
    I loved watching Val Doonican with my parents when I was a child. My favourite bit was the end of his shows when he sat on his rocking chair wearing a lovely jumper and he sang a ballad. My favourite back then was Scarlet Ribbons, although now I'm particularly fond of Elusive Butterfly. These songs bring back such very happy memories of my childhood. My dad died when I was only nine, but listening to Val reminds me of Dad, and also my late uncle, who honestly looked exactly like Val Doonican.

    We always watched this as a family when my sister and I were children. I love 'Elusive Butterfly too. My mum taught me and my sister Paddy McGinty's goat and then went on to teach it to my son and daughter. Happy memories :)
  • VerenceVerence Posts: 104,588
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    #24
    Alexis07 wrote: »
    I thought he'd died ages ago as we never seem to see him on TV at award evenings etc.

    BBC4 did a documentary about him a few years back whih featured the guy himself being interviewed
  • Glenn AGlenn A Posts: 23,877
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    #25
    He retired when he was 60, feeling his show had run its course. Most of the time now he spends between his home near London, where he plays golf, and in Spain.
  • TrishaSTrishaS Posts: 3,178
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    #26
    This brings back memories :) loved Val even tho I was a bit young and he wasn't "cool" just something very calm and kind about him. As someone said, like a favourite uncle :)
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