Bob Carolgees - Career

Career

In the early 1970s Carolgees ran a DJ and modelling school at 11A Lord Street in Liverpool. After a 5 week course DJs and models were tested in front of an audience at the Sportsmans Club in Central Liverpool. Carolgees first appeared in a guest spot on Tiswas on the 31 March 1979. Main presenter Chris Tarrant's first words to him were "I don't know who the f--- you are, but stand there, you're going to be on the telly, it's great!" Clowning around with a monkey puppet Charlie, Bob went down very well with the viewing audience and after being invited back for several guest spots he soon became a team presenter. Carolgees, in pyjamas and headband was also the Tiswas character Houdi Elbow, a comedy 'psychic' and small time magician.

As well as gaining national fame with these and Spit the Dog, he was also part of The Four Bucketeers who made the UK Top 30 in 1980, even making a Top of the Pops appearance.

Carolgees went on to work for eight years alongside Cilla Black in Surprise, Surprise and he was for nearly two decades one of the foremost performers to entertain the British armed forces around the world. He also fronted pop/game show Hold Tight!, produced by Granada Television for Children's ITV and game show Concentration.

In the 1980s, and at the height of his popularity, Bob featured in a series of Hellmann's Mayonnaise press and television commercials for eight years dressed as an overgrown schoolboy.

Bob now owns a candle shop — Carolgees Candles — in Frodsham, Cheshire. He temporarily came out of show business retirement to appear with all his old colleagues in Tiswas Reunited on ITV on 16 June 2007.