Charlie Drake's 1961 accident

Broadcasting of the Charlie Drake Show by the BBC was cut short by a serious accident that occurred in 1961, during a live transmission. Drake had arranged for a bookcase to be set up in such a way that it would fall apart during a slapstick sketch in which he was pulled through it. It was later discovered that an over-enthusiastic workman had "mended" the bookcase before the broadcast. The actors working with him, unaware of what had happened, proceeded with the rest of the sketch which required that they pick him up and throw him through an open window. Drake fractured his skull and was unconscious for three days. It was two years before he returned to the screen.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Charlie
• Drake
• Show
• accident
• 1961
• live
• broadcast

[kh23797]

I remember this. My family watched the credits suddenly roll early and Uncle exclaimed, "Well, something went wrong there! He was already out cold when he went out the window..." The country waited on tenterhooks to learn the extent of Charlie's injuries. [Personally, I never found Charlie Drake, Mr Pastry, Brian Rix, Bonehead, or other early TV slapstickers actually made me chuckle - I was just too embarrassed for them!]

[mikelheron20]

@26highstreet What a stupid comment.

[26highstreet]

Best thing that ever happened to Charlie Drake

[THISREALLYBORESME]

Whirlygig, I want to congratulate you on preserving this for posterity. CD is the most underrated comedic genius of the last century, and so little still exists of his work. Thank you - this, amongst all of the rude, boring, mundane rubbish on u tube, is an example of why it should exist.

[baldbollocks]

Absolute torture !!!

so little choices back then

[streettch]

Wonderful man!

[penfloyd]

ooh my gord!........

My boomerang won,t come back!

A time when the world knew how to laugh!!!

[noelcavo]

All my Family loved Charlie Drake he brought great Joy ,a very funny Man

[JapStrangler]

Legend...shoulda cloned him

[BillDFC]

Hello my darlings....