Zippy and Me: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Infamous Puppet

by Ronnie Le Drew, Duncan Barrett, Nuala Calvi

Over the course of almost half a century, puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew has worked with the greats – from David Bowie in Labyrinth to Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol. But the role that defined his career was Rainbow’s Zippy, who he operated for more than twenty years.

Zippy and Me is the first time a Rainbow insider has told the true story of what went on under the counter and inside the suits: the petty squabbles between performers, wrangling with TV executives, and scandals such as the 'love triangle' between musicians Rod, Jane and Freddy. Not to mention the now infamous X-rated episode shot for an ITV Christmas party, which subsequently found its way to the Sun.

Interweaved with the dirt on what really went on behind the scenes is the story of Rainbow’s heyday in the 1970s and 80s, when its stars found themselves catapulted into an exciting showbiz world – scooping a BAFTA award and even performing for the queen – and the story of a young lad from a south London council estate who defied his parents' protests to became one of the most respected puppeteers of all time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Tv, Autobiography

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2019

Reviews

[Rob Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great autopiography from a great puppeteer, with lots of Rainbow nostalgia for us Eighties kids. A few bits of the book are not for the children though!

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit to be trepidatious about reading this, I am of the age where Rainbow formed a psychedelic part of my childhood,and was worried that behind the scenes revelations would unravel those golden days !

Puppetry formed a huge part of television for children in the 70's/80's and as there was such a paucity of kids tv, the ones we watched were magical and memorable and meant an awful lot to us -imagine, if you will, no repeats, no way of watching a show again, you had to be there and watch it live and if you were lucky, act the stories out with friends and toys.No 24 hr entertainment, no dvd's , a limited timeslot then back to boring grown up stuff. Puppets were the stuff of legend and Rainbow stood head and shoulders above anyone else at that time .

But, we kids never thought about the people inside those felt creations-we saw puppets and never questioned why all the characters slept in the same bed, why you never saw their legs, did you even need a permit for keeping whatever Zippy was and how did George get his eyelashes to look like that?

'Zippy And Me' is an incredible book. Finely tuned and well balanced, it does not tear down childhood memories and leave you sobbing in a corner at the idea of the X rated scenes, it adds layers to the myths that filter into to your lives as an adult about your childhood heroes (though the original Bungle will pretty much make most of those who remember that abomination shudder!) It does the impossible for those who grew up in the 80's and have had most their memories tainted, by the horrendous things that people who will not be named did.It gives you resonance, depth and warmth and sheer great storytelling, all shot through with a gentle sense of humour that lets Ronnie's voice shine.

The determination that Ronnie had to pursue his dream, saving his money to buy his first theatre, painstakingly cutting out figures with sister and colouring them in to perform shows for his friends in the bombed out remains of 60's London, despite huge opposition from school and his family, is just everything.

His parents wrote to his teacher trying to dissuade him from this , and his response is hilarious and also wonderful adroit-



''Thank you for your letter.I can entirely see your point of view.For my part,I merely endeavour to get young people to think both deeply and widely about their choice of career.In this connection it is difficult for them to take the long view as they have little knowledge of life.Aristotle tackled this question over 2,000 years ago.One of the important questions in taking the long view is prospects.This was the particular point which worried me about Ronnie's choice.''

Ronnie agreed a 6 month period with his parents and teachers in which to establish that he could make a career and a living in puppetry, and despite family tragedies, and terrible odds, he not only proved himself right, he made a career which has lasted from then till now and hopefully will continue into the future.

Zippy had a zip for a mouth, we are still unsure what creature he was but he was angry, annoyed, hilarious and very naughty-he said the things that us children only wished that we could whilst I bet parents watching would've wished they could zip our mouths as easily! George was a goody two shoes, Bungle was always confused but Zippy was a smart mouth who also had rare moments of pathos where his loudness was because no one seemed to listen to him, and sometimes that left him sad.

As children, we only see the puppets,we don't think about the people inside them and as adults, we realise that that was the magic of the puppeteer.There is no Zippy without Ronnie Le Drew, yet whilst Zippy made Ronnie as name ,he had a life, a profession and skills with which he has created lasting memories for generations. By blending his memoirs and his career projectory, he takes us backstage and shows us where the magic is made at a point in entertainment history where legends were created.

His is a story that will enchant generations as he starts in the Little Angel theatre in Islington, then moves to the BBC,ITV and then Hollywood,following his dream. Not bad for a dolly waggler!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this memoir of the puppeteer Ronnie le drew who did zippy from the children show Rainbow and his life dealing with puppets, it was an easy going read funny in parts.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was slightly disappointed with this one - the promised scandals from behind the scenes at Rainbow weren’t that shocking and I found it hard to stay interested. Perhaps more a book just for puppetry enthusiasts.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book. Not only did it bring back amazing memories of my childhood, but it also made me appreciate the hard work that went on behind the scenes. I loved reading about Ronnie Le Drew' career away from Rainbow. However, he will forever be known as one half of the lovable Zippy, along with Roy Skelton.
Thank you to Unbound and it's crowdfunders for making this book possible.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for some great behind the scenes tales from the making of Rainbow then you're in for a treat. However, what you will also find is a wonderfully heartfelt story about someone following their dream and the ups and downs that entails. Delivered in an almost conversational manner the story coverd some real highs and lows not just in terms of career but also personal matters. Ronnie le Drew is one of those genuinely nice guys and im glad we finally get to hear his story. On a side note his live for the Little Angel Theatre shines through and ive been meaning to go for a while now. Thanks to this book its call is much louder now 😊

[Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very different type of read for me, as Autobiographies are not something which i would ordinarily choose to pick up. They’re often about celebrities, and for myself I have little to no interest in the private lives of ‘Celebs’, so I don’t tend to fond one which catches my interest.
In this case, I was intrigued for a couple of reasons, firstly my Nickname has been Zippy a few times now despite my initially having no idea why. I did then go and find some of Rainbow to educate myself and ended up finding the nickname fitting and hilarious.
So, I finally found an autobiography that interested me, and one I actually knew who the ‘Character’ was, and having seen the similarities I was excited to learn about the person behind the puppet, and I have to say that I am so glad that I did. The writing style is engaging, the links to how and why he got to being ‘Zippy’ was really interesting to see!
The story isn’t glamorised, it’s an honest representation and telling of a very real person who had a talent for entertaining millions of people over a lifetime, and continues to do so even now.
And Zippy is only a very SMALL part of the amazing things that this person has achieved in life, the brilliant puppetry, skills and passion behind his achievements!! If you haven’t seen Labyrinth, you really need to. I still laugh until I cry!!
Whether you usually would read an autobiography or not, I wholeheartedly suggest you do so with this! The easy writing style is wonderful and so relaxing to engage with, and if you have heard of Zippy, Rainbow or both, or even if you haven’t! This is a book that just goes to show, if you want something enough, you should keep on trying to get there.
Not only is this about how Ronnie became Zippy, but it is also about what he did after, and how he used his passion to found a school that helps and encourages others to follow their passions and skills as well, passing on his love of puppetry to future generations.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any excuse to walk down memory lane is fine by me, and this was a perfect example of an entertaining and enjoyable read which has me pining for the past and fun kids TV shows that I grew up with!!

Ronnie Le Drew is the puppeteer behind Zippy, one of the most loved UK puppets, and in his memoir he talks about his time on Rainbow - the good and the bad! - as well as how he got into the world of puppets, his childhood and the other work he used to do in TV, theatre and film. I loved how funny his stories are alongside some pretty tragic ones too that really affected him and those around him.

It was also fascinating to hear his stories about his time working on the Muppet films too and I'm now just itching to re-watch all of those alongside old episodes of Rainbow to see Zippy, Bungle and George again! A lovely memoir and one that was so much fun to read!

[Andy Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually do autobiographies but Rainbow has always had a place in my heart so a chance to look behind the scenes was too good to pass up. Turns out I made the right choice.

[Lee Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going through bit of a low patch, I fancied something easy and fairly light to read, and found this book really hit the spot. I'd seen Ronnie Le Drew doing a few interviews after Geoffrey Hayes died in 2018, and he came across as a very warm and friendly man with fond memories of Rainbow. I figured I'd probably like this...

...and I did.

Although much of the book talks about Rainbow, how it was made and what went on behind the scenes (which was often surprisingly dramatic and eventful), the book is primarily Ronnie Le Drew's autobiography, and there's much more to him than Zippy - puppetry is his lifelong passion, and he's become a highly respected performer and expert in his field. He explains how it all started as a child, and how he managed to get some big breaks to launch his career, despite his parents being wary and disapproving. Having overcome many obstacles, he performed Zippy for 20 years, in between working on a number of other big projects, including several Henson movies, such as Labyrinth.

The book is highly readable and I ploughed through it in just a couple of sessions. Much of it is quite positive and upbeat, reflecting Le Drew's passion and belief that puppetry can create a world of wonder and magic. Interspersed in that, though, is occasional tragedy and personal difficulty - his father died when he was 16, and only years later did it become clear he'd had an affair and another child. Various people in Le Drew's life died young, and in particular one of his close friends was murdered, along with the rest of her family. He also reflected on the difficult years he had after the original run of Rainbow was axed in 1992 - he suffered from depression and struggled to find work for a while, something which also famously afflicted Geoffrey Hayes. Ronnie and Geoffrey fell out for some time over Ronnie's decision to get involved with two Rainbow reboots in the nineties, which didn't feature Geoffrey, but it sounds like they later made up, and worked together on various tours cashing in on a Rainbow nostalgia binge.

Geoffrey Hayes died in October 2018, and this book didn't appear until the following year, but strangely there's no mention of Geoffrey's death in it at all. I can only assume publication was too far advanced by that stage to include mention of it, but it does feel like a pretty glaring omission, and something that should be fixed for future editions. Otherwise, it's hard to fault this warm, personal and interesting story of a career and a life that is much bigger than Zippy. But hey, let's be honest - bringing Zippy to life is no mean feat. Millions of children adored Zippy and his crazy antics, and I'm proud to include myself as one of them. Reading the story behind him (or underneath him!) was great.

[Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog) Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has an entertaining foreword by comedian Richard Herring about the time when he met Zippy and was so in awe. It’s an excellent way to begin this book and thus being thrust back into the rather simpler life of early childhood of watching Rainbow. Rainbow, for anyone who does not know, was a long-running children’s tv series with Geoffrey at the helm and then there were Rod, Jane and Freddy and some puppets called Zippy, Bungle and George. How I was glued to the television when this was on. I even still remember the theme tune, later I learnt that the theme tune was worked on by none other than Hugh Fraser who played Captain Hastings in Poirot and other tv programmes and has also written books. What we would not have been aware of as children, was that Ronnie Le Drew was the puppeteer for Zippy for over 20 years. It defined his career as a puppeteer, but that wasn’t his only role. Yes, Rainbow was a very fun and cool programme. but he has also worked with some other very cool people such as David Bowie on the film Labyrinth and Michael Caine in the film – A Muppet’s Christmas Carol.

Ronnie Le Drew’s enthusiasm for puppeteering comes across from the very first chapter. It oozes with this positivity and energy as he writes letters for advice and attends a puppet theatre. It isn’t all plain sailing though. The writing means readers will really get the sense of the shock of his dad dying. This has real emotional impact and will do, with any reader. It really is heart breaking to read as home life becomes more of a struggle. This could not have been easy for Ronnie Le Drew to have written and re-lived, even all these years on. There’s a real sense to be had in the devastating loss of his job at Little Angel too. The one place he could go that seems like it felt a safe place and one, he describes as a place of solace. The writing of this time feels like it is heartfelt. Ronnie Le Drew has captured me as a reader. I am interested in his life. I feel like I care and care enough to really smile when I see his life start to change for the better, the more into the book. This is the power of his writing. The book has become, for me, at this point, more than just the fact it is really cool to read about Rainbow. I’ve been captured by every aspect before that job too, headed up by Pamela Lonsdale. It is fascinating to read how it all began and how Ronnie Le Drew landed the job. There’s an air of down-to-earthness about it all. I rather like that. Still, the puppeteer, when Rainbow wasn’t being filmed, due to the end of series one, he went back to where he began, at Little Angel, where there were spats, but rectified. I really got the sense that Rainbow excited him when the calls came for even the second series, but he wanted to play it coolly and professionally. There’s plenty to discover in this book, such as Matthew Corbett from the Sooty Show, as worked on Rainbow for a while and Le Drew began working as Sweep and there’s some great stories from this time too.
There’s a real sense of the physical demands on a puppeteer, which really might be overlooked when being a child especially, just watching on at favourite characters. So, there’s a real behind the scenes feel to what is written within the book. What appeared to be seamless, wasn’t the case at all. It is however, more interesting that the puppeteers were overlooked by the producers. The real frustration of this really comes out in the book. It gives readers a real insight. There’s also an insight into all the innuendo that went on within Rainbow, including in script form. There’s also an insight about the relationships and there’s a sense of real worry again from Ronnie Le Drew when so-called scandals came out about Rod and Jane. All the while, there is still a down-to-earthness about Ronnie Le Drew and how he saw his working life being a bit surreal.

It is interesting to read how doors opened into the more surreal world of American puppetry and films like Labyrinth and Little Shop of Horrors and yet he duly returned to Rainbow and also to the Little Angel Theatre. I get the sense it can’t have been easy re-living the splintering of Rainbow and also the failing health of John at the theatre. This however is far from a “poor me, sob story”. This, I get the feeling, is telling it how it really was, including the politics of the time, such as Margaret Thatcher (which now explains a lot about tv my brother and I watched growing up, suddenly disappearing, along with a lot of other things, that at that time just felt odd, but didn’t understand), was ensuring much was axed, something that even with the fact that the next job was on A Muppet’s Christmas Carol, still perhaps played on Ronnie Le Drew’s mind. There’s certainly a sense of this. Even though he worked with David Bowie and Jim Henson, there’s still a reality that always seems to kick in as Ronnie Le Drew seems surprised at getting roles. I have to say, it seems all quite endearing and I get the sense that this is all written from memories and the heart. There’s no bravado here. He doesn’t name-drop for the sake of it, it was a huge part of his life, working with, who we now would say were cool people.

It’s interesting to read about the move to Yorkshire and the feelings that came with that and failed revivals of Rainbow and how still other jobs came in, such as with Phillip Scholfield and then Rainbow again in a whole different format.

The book is full of ups and downs and many emotions, all captured beautifully in words on the pages. It isn’t just readable because of nostalgia and a natural curiosity about what happened to people who worked on Rainbow, but because of the sense that this is an ordinary man who did some extraordinary things within puppeteering and yet seems humble about it. This book is well set out and reads like a time-line of events and that works well for me. This is more than just Zippy and Ronnie Le Drew, this is a book that may inspire others who are in jobs that are precarious and indeed, into becoming puppeteers. It’s also a book about life, working relationships, family and all that comes with all of that. There’s warmth, there’s sadness and there’s fun within these pages. There’s revelations and reunions, none which seem sensationalised in any way, but are written with a dignity and in a matter of fact way. All in all, it is a brave and impressive book from an author who, we may not have all known his name, but who we were all so aware of as children and now also as adults because he has been working on modern puppets in advertising and other things that we all see. He has also never forgotten his roots. This is a fascinating read from someone who the public don’t really see, but all know the characters he has played in puppeteering and would give hope to anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps. Even for people not wanting to follow in his footsteps, it is absorbing and a book that shouldn’t be skimmed over. It has different levels of depth and emotion to it and it is interesting to read about all the comings and goings on Rainbow, but also what happened before and after the show ended.

I highly recommend this book. This book would interest anyone who has an interest in puppeteering or liked Rainbow or liked Seeing Things: A Memoir by Oliver Postgate, Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones.

[Terrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zippy and Me is an entertaining and easy-going autobiography by British puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew, the man beneath Zippy. Who’s is Zippy you ask? I had very little knowledge of the puppet before reading this book. I now know that the character was one of the stars of the incredibly popular children’s television program Rainbow.

To put this in perspective for Americans such as myself, Rainbow was the UK answer to Sesame Street. The yellow “Unique” achieved Elmo-like superstardom. Honestly, Zippy and his hippo puppet pal George may have a bit of an edge on poor little Elmo. These puppets saw an incredible second wave of popularity with college students after Rainbow was canceled. I don’t believe that there is any adult who would go to a nightclub to see Elmo. Cookie Monster maybe, but definitely not Elmo.

The Pain and Joy of Puppetry
Ronnie’s storytelling style is friendly and welcoming. The reader is invited into the author’s life as a puppeteer. Beginning with his childhood, performing puppet shows for neighborhood children, to finding his way to the famous Little Angel Theatre as a teenager. The more detail writing explains about working on a long-running hit TV series and feature films (Labyrinth and more!). Finally, it ends with a pleasing, happy note of satisfaction. Ronnie certainly had a remarkable puppetry career performing both marionettes and hand puppets on stage and screen.

The book is very enjoyable. While reading it I felt that the author was sharing his life story with me over tea, with the possibility of Zippy popping up from behind a counter at any moment. Wouldn’t that be something!

There is also a certain amount of encouragement to be found too. It’s nice to know that the man beneath England’s most popular puppet also felt the aches and pains of puppetry, both physical and emotional. Believe me, puppetry is absolutely no walk in the park.

Inspiration for Puppeteers
Puppeteers and performers, in general, are encouraged to read this book. While reading it, I found it to be very inspiring, showing that determination and hard work can lead to big things, that just might be what you always wanted to do with your life. In Ronnie’s case, this was puppetry. Thank you for taking the time to share your life story with the world, Ronnie.

[Stephen Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the course of almost half a century, puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew has worked with the greats – from David Bowie in Labyrinth to Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol. But the role that defined his career was Rainbow’s Zippy, who he operated for more than twenty years.

Zippy and Me is the first time a Rainbow insider has told the true story of what went on under the counter and inside the suits: the petty squabbles between performers, wrangling with TV executives, and scandals such as the 'love triangle' between musicians Rod, Jane and Freddy. Not to mention the now infamous X-rated episode shot for an ITV Christmas party, which subsequently found its way to the Sun.

Interweaved with the dirt on what really went on behind the scenes is the story of Rainbow’s heyday in the 1970s and 80s, when its stars found themselves catapulted into an exciting showbiz world – scooping a BAFTA award and even performing for the queen – and the story of a young lad from a south London council estate who defied his parents' protests to became one of the most respected puppeteers of all time.

I heard about this book on a 'Who are you?' segment on The Chris Moyles Show and subsequently found it in a Charity Shop a few days later.

Crammed full of stories, behind the scenes secrets and fascinating anecdotes, I absolutely loved this book.

I dont know if it was the nostalgia of my favourite children's programme and my favourite puppet, but it was nice just to relax and remember how life used to he for me as a kid.

It was great to also find out the Ronnie worked on Labyrtinth too, my favourites film, so I was heavily invested in this book from the beginning.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to take a trip down memory lane.

A truly great book!!!!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ll pardon the pun, I absolutely zipped through this book. I am of the Rainbow generation and have many happy memories of watching George, Bungle, Geoffrey and Zippy messing about in the Rainbow house.

This book pulls off the clever trick of luring the reader in with the promise of behind the scenes shenanigans at Rainbow - but actually providing a thoroughly gripping account of the discipline, physical pain and poverty involved in becoming a professional puppeteer. As well as Rainbow, Le Drew works on Muppet productions several times, even encountering David Bowie on the Labyrinth set. And it becomes clear that while I might have imagined operating Zippy, Roland Rat, Gordon the Gopher and the rest of my generation’s animal presenters was a case of sticking a hand in a glove and going for it, puppetry is actually a demanding job taken very seriously by those who practice it.

I was less interested in the latter chapters, in which the Rainbow characters perform at student unions for drunken audiences - while it’s clear that Geoffrey in particular needed the work and was glad to be back in front of an audience, it felt a bit cheap, given the innocent fun that Rainbow symbolised when I was growing up.

There’s also a thoroughly unexpected moment of tragedy which I can’t get out of my mind: Le Drew doesn’t shy away from sharing the worst moments of his life as well as the high-spirited antics on the Rainbow set. And he candidly talks about the unhappier side of his childhood, in which his dad’s scepticism about a career in puppetry, and his subsequent early death, left Le Drew so anxious about earning a living that he didn’t take a holiday for decades.

A really lovely book.

[Kenneth Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brings back child hood memories

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

You name it, he’s done it! Rainbow, Labyrinth, Muppets Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muffin The Mule, Roland Rat… fascinating!

[Tracey Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Zippy from Rainbow as a child yes he was annoying (bit like myself) I enjoyed this book and liked reading about the behind the scenes of Rainbow. I did not know that the author also done other puppetry (Labryinth, Sweep (my faver and I dont really like puppets) and also The Muppet Christmas Carol. Really enjoyable book.

[Bleu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mad and divine in equal measure.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has watched children’s television in the latter part of the twentieth century onwards may well have seen Ronnie Le Drew, or rather his skills as a puppeteer. After a career in puppet theatres, television and even films, this is a man who through sheer determination has made a living from what he terms being a “dolly - waggler” or an operator of puppets. From a childhood obsession when he would perform without an audience, through the determination to get paid work, he managed to build a career out of operating puppets of many kinds. Yet like many jobs in the creative arts, nothing was ever certain or long term; even a job which led to a strong fan base for a children’s television programme like Rainbow was not forever. Despite setbacks like the cancelling of the show and revivals that struggled, the character of Zippy has become a sort of icon, an ironic favourite of students as well as those who remember the original experience of watching the somewhat arrogant “Unique”. The other side of this fascinating book is the human story of a man who has seen life from the underside, stars of stage and screen close up, and who has lived in families of all sorts. Through years of association with vivid characters whose manual dexterity, vocal talents and acting ability brought them together yet also tore them apart, this book has taken the memories of a gentle man and made them into a fascinating account of an unusual yet fulfilling career. I became very involved in a well written story of a life which has never been ordinary, and was glad to have the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ronnie Le Drew did not come from a show business back ground, or indeed a wealthy one which may have permitted a youthful hobby to become an uncertain career. He grew up in a small flat, and his parents’ marriage was unstable, with revelations that took decades to emerge. Through sheer determination and persistence he obtained work of sorts at the Little Angel, which gave him the experience and training as well as the beginning of the technical knowledge which would stand him in good stead for the changing fashions and demand for puppetry. He also made friends who would be important to him for many years to come. Coincidences and good fortune meant that he found work in theatres, television and even with the famous Muppet movies, though there were challenges when projects didn’t come off, and there were opportunities that did not materialise. I was particularly interested in the references to the great Sooty, who was an obsession of my own children, so discovering Le Drew’s connection was of enormous interest.

When reading celebrity autobiographies, they can become an exercise in name dropping and boasting of great success. This book rather admits to the sadness of lost friends, the challenge of getting and maintaining work, and the reality of times when simply going to London to find work felt like too much. Le Drew tells the touching stories of his family, his wife and children. It also tells the story of his other families, those who supported him and gave him the chance of new tasks, new opportunities. This is a gentle and often funny book, with a few saucy moments when off camera. An enjoyable book, it succeeds in telling a very realistic story of a life well lived.

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing memoir! Seriously, this is the best and most interesting biography I have ever read and I'm not just saying that because I love Zippy from Rainbow. I read it over the course of 24 hours and I have never read a non-fiction book so quickly, so that tells you how good it is.

It's very much a story of Ronnie Le Drew's professional life and that's what makes the prose flow so effortlessly. Not that some personal lives aren't interesting but sometimes it is a bit like looking at somebody else's holiday photos and you can't wait to get to the end of the album. With just enough interesting snippets of Ronnie's personal life, the weighting of personal/professional in this book was absolutely perfect to hold my interest. After all, and no offence to Ronnie Le Drew, I think most people will be attracted to this book by the big mouthed orange puppet on the cover.

With Ronnie Le Drew's behind the scenes story, a lot of questions are answered in Zippy and Me. George is clearly a hippo but just what exactly is Zippy supposed to be? It makes much more sense now that the origin of Zippy's creation has been revealed by Ronnie Le Drew. I always felt that Zippy was different to the other characters and now I know why, with idea stealing TV executives sniffing about. Also, what was the story with Rod, Jane and Freddy? Not only are they amazingly prolific composers and talented musicians but their story is indeed as colourful as the rainbow.

I know he likes to take centre stage, but this story isn't just about Zippy. With Ronnie Le Drew's experience encompassing theatre, TV and film there are so many interesting stories to read in Zippy and Me. I had no idea that Phillip Schofield had tread the boards in musical theatre after his stint in the Broom Cupboard but perhaps the most interesting fact for me is Ronnie's famous finger. What an absolutely priceless story! I'm not going to spoil it so you'll just have to read Zippy and Me to find out where you will have definitely seen Ronnie's famous finger.

This nostalgia filled memoir tactfully reveals the stories behind the most iconic children's TV show of all time, whilst keeping the magic alive for Rainbow fans. With something for everyone, whether you're a fan of Rainbow or The Muppets, it's a fascinating insight into the puppetry world. I absolutely loved it and I devoured every single page with relish. One not to miss for Rainbow fans and it's very highly recommended.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Up above the streets and house, rainbow climbing high, everyone can see it smiling over the sky, pain the whole world with a rainbow….” Surely everyone over a certain age has heard of this song, and they must have also heard of Bungle, George and Zippy! I know I have, but to be honest I’ve never heard of Puppeteer, Ronnie Le Drew. Despite working with many of the greats, Ronnie’s defining moment of his career was when he played Rainbow’s character, Zippy for more than 20 years.

I loved the thought of reading this autobiography as I grew up watching Rainbow and loved the different characters. I also loved the idea of reading all the behind the scenes gossip and stories, especially those which hadn’t been made public knowledge before. There is nothing like an insider to spill the beans on what really happened on the set of one of Britain’s most famous children’s TV show.

The story though is of course Ronnie’s and it doesn’t just cover the Rainbow years, but follows his story right through from childhood and some of the other jobs he has done. Who would have known that he also worked on film sets and of course the most famous puppet show ever, The Muppets. The author’s story is a very interesting, and eye opening one with name dropping at every turn of the page! Of course, we all want to get to Rainbow chapters and to be honest I never would have guessed that the supposedly squeaky clean characters could have such sordid tales to tell!! It certainly made me look at one of my favourite childhood programs in a completely different light!

Filled with many humorous tales (which, as a warning, may offend some), this is an open and honest account of Ronnie’s life. I really enjoyed Ronnie’s story and found myself liking, not just the Rainbow tales, but all the rest of his life stories just as equally! If you’re after a bit of nostalgia and a trip down memory lane, then look no further! This book will be perfect for you!

[Sudakshina Bhattacharjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this book because it was such a treat to read. I know Ronnie through social media and his lovely, candid and humble manner comes across so clearly in the narrative.
An exemplary puppeteer, he takes readers through a deeply insightful journey of how the world of British puppetry evolved and then meshed into mainstream entertainment in Britain and Hollywood.
While aimed at children, Ronnie gives us a flavour of just exactly how much thought, strategy and creative techniques goes into producing TV shows and kids movies that involve puppets.
His work (and not him as he spells out) on cult classic children’s television show Rainbow is as memorable as it’s amusing. You will see the other characters, musicians and presenter in a whole new light after reading this!

[Soupsioux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with warmth and humility. An eventful life which, despite some rock star moments, he survived showbiz unnamed. He has managed to keep the same curiosity and passion as his youth. Cult childhood hero in Rainbow. Work on film, tv, music, theatre, Muppets, Labyrinth, and many celebrity encounters. Delightful. I was involved with the crowd funding for this book.

[Rob Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew that Harry Corbett off of Sooty was related to Harry Ramsden off of Fish and Chips, that Labyrinth was choreographed by Gates McFadden off of Star Trek TNG and that film director Joe Wright off of Pride and Prejudice comes from a puppetry background? Me now.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read but my view may be slightly biased by knowing Ronnie.

[The Witterings of a Cruise Ship Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic nostalgic read about my favourite childhood programme and puppet by the man behind Zippy !
A well recommended read if you loved rainbow !

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about a working puppeteer and the behind the scenes tales of a children's classic. A nice easy read.

[Philip Carman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting insight into the life of the puppeteer of Zippy.