Comedy icon Rod Hull led a troubled life – one you might not have been able to glimpse from watching him with his emu puppet on TV over the years. Best known for his appearances in the 70s and 80s, Hull rose to fame on ITV’s Saturday Variety and soon made it to the Royal Variety Performance in 1972, where he performed in front of the Queen Mother.

Known for causing chaos with his puppet in tow, his antics caused chaos – attacking chat show host Michael Parkinson until he fell out of his chair and even destroying the Queen Mother’s bouquet of flowers during the Royal Variety after-show. It earned the nickname “that bloody bird” from Parky, while Billy Connolly threatened Hull: “If that bird comes anywhere near me, I’ll break its neck and your bloody arm!”

But away from the glitz and glam

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