Hit comedian died penniless and risked paupers funeral | UK News
Beloved comedian Chris Sievey, who was the mastermind behind comedy persona Frank Sidebottom died just about penniless despite a profitable profession over 30 years. He rose to fame as half of band The Freshies in the Seventies and 80s before showing on North West tv with the long-lasting character Frank Sidebottom kids’s tv show TX.
The character, which had an over-sized head made of papier mache, shortly grew to become a beloved TV star, making Sievey a cult comedy legend with viewers. Sidebottom appeared on TV sporadically from 1985 to 2006. The broadcaster says of Sidebottom: “Even though he’s a fool and he’s a buffoon, in a way he’s an everyman. His approach to life was better than most other people’s approach to life.
“It was a utterly uncynical approach of dwelling. It was a approach of being pushed by your enthusiasm. And Chris was a bit like that.”
Sievey went on to appear on Granada Reports and No. 73 successor Motormouth, as well as appearing on Channel 4 show Remote Control. He also had stints on BBC Radio and BBC Radio 5 alongside Mark and Lard.
He died in June 2010 aged 54, just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer, but had struggled with alcohol issues before his death. He died virtually penniless and faced having a pauper’s funeral paid for by state grants.
A crowdfunding movement was started to pay for a service. The appeal closed with a final balance of £21,631.55 from 1,600 donations.
His former band members from The Freshies, attended the funeral, as well as comedian Charlie Chuck and Damon Gough from Badly Drawn Boy.
He was described as a “stay in the second man”, who did not worry about saving for a funeral.
One friend, Guy Lovelady, said: “It was just what he would have wished, it was great.”
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