Roy Skelton
Encyclopedia
Roy William Skelton was an English
actor and voice artist, whose voice was more familiar to television viewers than his name. Born in Oldham
, Lancashire
, he provided the voices for many characters on British television for nearly fifty years, most notably the characters of both Zippy and George
on Rainbow, which the actor first joined in the early 1970s and performed on until it was axed in 1992. However because of the characters' fame, he continued to voice Zippy and George in guest appearences on television and radio until his death, such as The Weakest Link
and TV Burp.
As well as providing the iconic Rainbow voices, Skelton also voiced several Doctor Who
villains including the
Dalek
s, Cybermen
and the Krotons
. He started performing the Daleks in 1967 (continuing the role from fellow voice actor Peter Hawkins
who he also replaced as Zippy on Rainbow) and notably performed in the Doctor Who specials, The Five Doctors
and The Curse of Fatal Death.
In 2002, he guest-starred in Sarah Jane Smith: Test Of Nerve
, an audio drama produced by Big Finish Productions
. In February 2008, he appeared as both Zippy and George in the first episode of the BBC One series Ashes to Ashes
.
Skelton died at his home in Brighton
, East Sussex
, on 8 June 2011, after suffering a stroke
. He is survived by his wife Hilary and his two daughters.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actor and voice artist, whose voice was more familiar to television viewers than his name. Born in Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, he provided the voices for many characters on British television for nearly fifty years, most notably the characters of both Zippy and George
George (Rainbow)
George is an effeminate anthropomorphic pink hippo and a character of the popular children's television programme Rainbow in the 1980s, voiced by Roy Skelton and operated by Malcolm Lord, Tony Holtham and later Craig Crane....
on Rainbow, which the actor first joined in the early 1970s and performed on until it was axed in 1992. However because of the characters' fame, he continued to voice Zippy and George in guest appearences on television and radio until his death, such as The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
and TV Burp.
As well as providing the iconic Rainbow voices, Skelton also voiced several Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
villains including the
Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s, Cybermen
Cyberman
The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of humanoids originating on Earth's twin planet Mondas that began to implant more...
and the Krotons
The Krotons
The Krotons is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from December 28, 1968 to January 18, 1969...
. He started performing the Daleks in 1967 (continuing the role from fellow voice actor Peter Hawkins
Peter Hawkins
Peter John Hawkins was an English actor and voice artist.- Career :Born in London and a native of Brixton, Hawkins' long association with British children's television began in 1952 when he voiced both Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men. In 1955–1956, He voiced Big Ears & Mr. Plod from The...
who he also replaced as Zippy on Rainbow) and notably performed in the Doctor Who specials, The Five Doctors
The Five Doctors
The Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programme's twentieth anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago PBS station WTTW and various other PBS member stations...
and The Curse of Fatal Death.
In 2002, he guest-starred in Sarah Jane Smith: Test Of Nerve
Sarah Jane Smith: Test Of Nerve
Sarah Jane Smith: Test of Nerve is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It stars Elisabeth Sladen reprising her role as Sarah Jane Smith. It was released 5 September 2002....
, an audio drama produced by Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
. In February 2008, he appeared as both Zippy and George in the first episode of the BBC One series Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes (TV series)
Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
.
Skelton died at his home in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, on 8 June 2011, after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. He is survived by his wife Hilary and his two daughters.