Merseyside Mirth Makers - Ted Robbins

Edward 'Ted' Robbins

Edward Michael Robbins was born in Liverpool on the 11th of August 1955 and grew up in Bebington, Wirral attending Wirral Grammar School.
His dad Mike Robbins, worked as a holiday camp compere, singer, manager of the Golden Garter cabaret club in Wythenshawe, Manchester, pub landlord, production line worker at Vauxhall, shopkeeper and even, briefly, a professional trampolinist.

With Des O'Connor and sister Kate

One of Ted's first jobs in entertainment was as compere for a performing dolphin show in Porthcawl, run by his dad. Ted tried nursing, teaching, worked as a Butlins redcoat in Blackpool, starred in a risque stage show with 1970's sex symbol Fiona Richmond but eventually carved out a name for himself in TV land as the nation’s best warm-up man. He would put audiences at their ease for entertainers Victoria Wood, Des O’Connor, Cilla Black, and for shows such as 'Birds of a Feather' and many more. Even TV shows such as Mastermind sought Ted’s golden patter to keep the crowd happy and he served as the voice over for Roy Walker’s 'Catchphrase' until the end of the 1990s.

As 'Den Perry' in Phoenix Nights

Another crucial figure came into Ted’s life through a chance meeting. He recounts the meeting ‘I was coming up from London on the train and I had my butty and my newspaper and I just wanted to nestle into a crook of the train and half doze. This plump lad blocked my way and said: “You’re Ted Robbins, aren’t you?”.’

The chatty stranger knew everything about Ted’s career. ‘He kept talking to me across the aisle and towards the end, he said: “Channel 4 have given me a show. Do you want to be in it?”.’
The stranger was, of course, Peter Kay. Ted took a role in the spoof documentary series 'That Peter Kay Thing', and then played the villain Den Perry in the hugely successful 'Phoenix Nights'.
‘That changed things for me so much,’ says Ted. ‘I’ve worked with two geniuses in my time. I think Peter’s a genius, and Victoria Wood was a genius. Victoria was so kind to me’. Ted performed to a live studio audience for Granada Television's TV show 'Wood and Walters'. His comedic talents also stood him in good stead when he was chosen to appear on one of the country’s best-known comedy shows ' Little Britain'.
One of his sisters is actor, comedian and singer Kate Robbins and they are first cousins once removed of Sir Paul McCartney. 

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