Willie Rushton

George William " Willie" Rushton ( born August 18, 1937 in Chelsea, † 11 December 1996, Kensington) was a British cartoonist, satirist, comedian and actor.

Rushton was one of the founders of Private Eye with his Shrewsbury school friends Christopher Booker, Richard Ingrams and Paul Foot and initially had the task of layout creating. He was a cartoonist until his death. He became famous for his appearances in That Was The Week That Was and other TV shows with David Frost. Later he joined as Plautus in Up Pompeii on TV! and read stories for Jackanory - especially noteworthy is his handling of Winnie the Pooh.

Towards the end of his life he came often as a guest on numerous television shows in different quality like Through the Keyhole. He borrowed the animated series The Trap Door his voice, as well as some television commercials.

For 22 years he was a player of the long-running BBC Radio 4 radio show I'm Sorry I Have not a Clue. He had been the third season a regular member of the group, and remained so until his sudden death in 1996. Since no permanent representation was found for him, but ever-changing guests have taken his seat.

Rushton also illustrated Auberon Waugh's " Way Of The World" column in The Daily Telegraph from 1990 until his death.

While he worked for Private Eye, he was a candidate in 1963 ( under the slogan " Death to the Tories ") at the Kinross and West Perthshire - election in 1963 against Alec Douglas -Home ( known in Eye as Baillie Vass ) who stood for election, to become prime minister. The night before the election, he withdrew his candidacy supported the candidate of the Liberal Party, which appeared as the most credible challenger; that was too late to take his name from the ballot and so Rushton received 45 votes.

He was a popular choice as a speaker for audio books, especially those for children. He took on 18 of the books by Awdry Railway Stories series; also took on the adaptations of Asterix books and Alice in Wonderland.

Rushton died due to complications following heart surgery on 11 September 1996.

Commemoration

Rushton is honored with a blue plaque at Mornington Crescent Underground Station, a reference to the game Mornington Crescent in I'm Sorry I Have not A Clue.

BBC Radio 7 broadcast a week of his 11th death anniversary five episodes of the program, every day of the week ( 11 to 15 December 2006). The programs were those that had been added as the last with him.

Bibliography

  • Spy Thatcher: An Insult to British Intelligence
  • W. G. Grace 's Last Case
  • SuperPig
  • Pigsticking: a joy for life
  • Humphrey - The Nine Lives of the Number Ten Cat ( Pavilion 1995)
Chelsea (London) December 11 Alec Douglas-Home Liberal Party (UK) Mornington Crescent tube station Mornington Crescent (game) Integrated Authority File
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