Redcoats Who Made The Big Time Back

Ted Rogers

Written by Rocky Mason

Ted was born in Kennington, south London in July 1935. He was married twice, to his childhood sweetheart Marge, with whom he had two daughters, and then to Marion Mitchell, with whom he had a daughter Canna, in 1986 and a son Danny, named after his comedy hero Danny Kay, in 1990.

After his National Service in the RAF Ted became a Redcoat at Clacton, and spent his first winter as a Redcoat entertainer at the Ocean hotel, Brighton. After seeing him perform he was invited by Sir Billy Butlin personally to join the Resident Revue at Filey, for the following summer. By Christmas 1958, Ted was understudy to Tommy Steele as Buttons in Cinderella at the London Colliseum and, after successfully taking over the role during the star's illness, was cast in the part when the production was staged in Bristol the following year. In the early 1960s he appeared doing stand-up comedy on the radio programme Billy Cotton Band Show alongside Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and Alma Cogan. He went on to become a familiar presence on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He appeared regularly on the comedy panel game Jokers Wild and quickly established himself as a highly paid after-dinner speaker.

Television games shows became a natural platform for stand-up comedians in the 1970s and Ted found the perfect role as the presenter of 3-2-1. The ITV series was not just a quiz show, where members of the public competed for cash and the chance to win a big prize: it had a variety element with comedians and star guests taking part in sketches. The show was an enormous success with Ted and his little companion Dusty Bin attracting audiences of 12 million every single show. The show ran for an astonishing ten years and when it was taken off was still getting a viewing public of 12 million. Ted once told me, dryly, "These days if a show gets 9 million they do a lap of honour!"

It should not be forgotten that Ted also enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic, touring America with Bing Crosby and appearing alongside other stars such as Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams and Engelbert Humperdinck, American audiences loved Ted's slick, laid back style of humour. Ted also appeared in the Royal Variety Performance shows and hosted TVs 'The Golden Shot'.

Ted was a dear and close friend and wrote a contribution for my book and I proudly re-write part of it here.

"As a former Butlin Redcoat I have always said that being a 'Red' was the greatest start that anyone aiming for a career in show business could have. I remember with great affection taking a crowd of campers out on a ramble and having a laugh a minute even after I got them completely lost. I remember being directed by the Chief Redcoat to speak to every single camper I met on the camp roads - and I did! What a great experience it was using a mic' to call bingo. It was fun arranging Tea Dances. (Especially for me - as I couldn't dance.) The thrill of compering the Miss She, Glam Grans' and talent shows and when you were deemed experienced enough, appearing on stage in the Redcoat Show then dashing to the ballroom to sing 'Goodnight Campers' and seeing grown ups cry because they didn't want to go home in the morning! Yes indeed Butlins was the best training ground possible for anyone with aspirations of going into the Entertainment Industry. Starting in May as a raw recruit and leaving in September with that Butlin polish of how to walk on and off stage properly and being able to entertain an audience in Bournmouth, Belfast or Butlins the greatest training ground in the world!"

Ted was regarded by musicians, stage crew, fellow acts and others who knew him as one of the nicest men to ever perform on the Butlin camps.

Ted was invited back to appear on the late night cabarets, doing four nights on two different camps each week, for no less than nine seasons!

I am sure people will agree that Ted took some pretty big steps after learning his trade as a Butlin Redcoat.