14 Facts About Rod Hull

Rodney Stephen Hull was a British comedian and popular entertainer on television in the 1970s and 1980s.

Rod Hull rarely appeared without Emu, a mute and highly aggressive arm-length puppet modelled on the Australian bird.

Rod Hull attended Delamark Road School and the County Technical School, Sheerness.

Rod Hull then began appearing on air, including as Constable Clot in Channel 9's Kaper Kops with Reg Gorman and Desmond Tester, a regular segment in its children's afternoon programming.

The 2003 Channel 4 documentary Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand states that "In fact, Emu was a Channel Nine creation".

Rod Hull returned to the UK in 1971 and signed with International Artists.

Rod Hull used Emu to create havoc while not accepting blame for it.

Rod Hull used the puppet to make violent attacks on people nearby.

In 1972, Rod Hull destroyed The Queen Mother's bouquet of flowers during the after-show line-up at the Royal Variety Performance.

Rod Hull later starred in the television series Emu's Broadcasting Company, Emu's World, EMU TV and Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show, taking his television career up to 1991.

Rod Hull saw himself, according to the makers of the programme, as a talented performer who could have developed a more varied career in the entertainment industry had he not been repeatedly forced to perform with the Emu.

Rod Hull married his first wife Sandra Carter in 1958; they had two daughters, Deborah and Danielle.

Rod Hull was a fan of the football club Bristol Rovers, and he recorded a song called "Bristol Rovers All the Way" in 1974, with the squad of that time.

Cher, who had been instrumental in his success, moved back to her home country of Australia with their children, while Rod Hull remained in England and relocated to a shepherd's cottage in East Sussex.