Ronnie Le Drew, best known for operating the puppet Zippy on the classic children’s television programme Rainbow, has died aged 78 after a short illness. The news was confirmed by the British Puppet Guild, of which Le Drew was president.
The Canadian-born British puppeteer was also known for working on 1986’s Labyrinth alongside David Bowie as well as 1986’s Little Shop of Horrors and various Muppet movies including in 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol. He worked on various iterations of Sooty, alongside Harry and Matthew Corbett, usually as Sweep, Sooty’s sidekick.
He trained at London’s award-winning puppet theatre the Little Angel Theatre, with which he enjoyed a long association, eventually teaching there. He also co-founded the London School of Puppetry with his partner Caroline Astell-Burt.
In the statement announcing his death, the British Puppet Guild said: “We are saddened to announce the death of our president and friend Ronnie Le Drew, following a short illness. Ronnie has been our president for 10 years, possibly the most active and supportive president we have ever had or will have. Attending nearly every event whether it be online or in person, often performing when asked and always willing to chat, tell stories and entertain in whatever way he could.”
Le Drew’s son, John, wrote via his father’s social media channels: “We’re devastated to announce that dad passed away this morning, after a brief illness. We’re all grieving and sorry for our loss of such a sweet beautiful man.”
The puppet duo of Zippy and George were initially voiced by Roy Skelton, who also voiced Doctor Who’s Daleks between 1967 and 1988. He died in 2011, aged 79, and contributed to the enduring popularity of brash mouthy know-it-all orange Zippy, and the rather more shy and retiring pink hippopotamus George.
The programme launched in 1972 and was made by Thames Television continuously until 1992, with David Cook as the original presenter, and Geoffrey Hayes taking over in 1974. A revival by Tetra Films from 1994 to 1997 featured Le Drew also performing as the voice of Zippy, as well as operating the puppet.
Rainbow was conceived as a British equivalent of Sesame Street, with a bunch of friends exploring different educational topics together – often via the medium of conflict between Zippy, George or Bungle the bear, which Hayes, who died in 2018, would reconcile.
Le Drew was working until recently, having just appeared on YouTube channel My 70s TV Childhood, talking about his career and the job as Zippy, which he described as “a six-week contract that lasted 20 years”.
