28 Facts About Rikki Fulton

Robert Kerr "Rikki" Fulton was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, Scotch and Wry.

Rikki Fulton was known for his appearances as one half of the double act, Francie and Josie, alongside Jack Milroy.

The youngest of three brothers, Robert Kerr Fulton was born into a non-theatrical family at 46 Appin Road, Dennistoun, Glasgow.

Rikki Fulton's father was a master locksmith who changed trades, purchasing a newsagent and stationery shop at 28 Roebank Street, Dennistoun.

Rikki Fulton completed his education in 1939 and decided to start in the acting profession after a backstage visit at the Glasgow Pavilion Theatre.

Rikki Fulton spent five hours in the water before being rescued.

Rikki Fulton later joined the Coastal Forces for D-Day, travelling back and forth between Gosport and Arromanches with vital supplies.

In 1945, four years after signing up, Rikki Fulton was invalided out of the Navy due to blackouts, leaving with the rank of sub-lieutenant.

Rikki Fulton began his professional acting career as a straight actor, mostly appearing in repertory theatre and BBC Radio, including The Gowrie Conspiracy in 1947.

Rikki Fulton maintained a secondary job in the stationery business with his brothers.

Rikki Fulton starred in pantomime and Five Past Eight in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

In one of his first forays into television, Rikki Fulton brought the act to television in 1962's Scottish Television series, The Adventures of Francie and Josie.

In 1977, Rikki Fulton produced "The Scotched Earth Show" with Gordon Menzies for the BBC.

Rikki Fulton continued to perform regularly in pantomime and in straight theatre, mostly notably with the Royal Lyceum Company in Edinburgh and the Scottish Theatre Company based in Glasgow.

Rikki Fulton was named Scottish Television Personality of the Year in 1963 and 1979.

In 1981, Rikki Fulton played Oliphant in the Scottish Theatre Company's production of Robert Kemp's play, Let Wives Tak Tent.

Rikki Fulton performed in Bill Forsyth's Local Hero and Comfort and Joy.

Rikki Fulton performed in the lead role at that year's Edinburgh Fringe; the Festival re-booked it for the following year and it went on tour throughout Scotland.

Rikki Fulton made several guest appearances in other BBC Scotland programmes.

Alongside his Scotch and Wry co-stars Gregor Fisher and Tony Roper, Fulton made two appearances in Rab C Nesbitt; once in 1988 and 10 years later in 1998.

In 1992, Rikki Fulton was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire and a year later the Lifetime Achievement award from BAFTA Scotland.

In 1994, Rikki Fulton was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts from Abertay University, Dundee, in 1995 an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Strathclyde and in 2000 another honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of St Andrews.

Fulton was first married to actress Ethel Scott, who appeared with him on The Rikki Fulton Show in 1960 and 1961.

Matheson saw Rikki Fulton perform in a production of Noel Coward's Hay Fever, but it would be 17 years before they met in person.

In 1998, Rikki Fulton began to display symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

In 2002, after being diagnosed with the disease, Rikki Fulton remained at his own home and fronted that year's Alzheimer Scotland Christmas appeal.

Rikki Fulton grew to depend on Kate more and more until, eventually, it was decided he move into the Quayside nursing home.

The Reverend Alastair Symington, who was a close friend of Rikki Fulton, led the service, which featured tributes from Rikki Fulton's widow Kate Matheson and Tony Roper.