Eyes And Teeth

Welcome to the last Episode of Eyes & Teeth Theo Worlds Greatest variety Show Season 15.

When I think about the Variety in the World and hosting a show that is based around variety there is one family that comes to mind and that is a family who have lived and breathed Variety for over 60 years. Think of the most successful and famous show business family in the world and you will instantly think of the Osmonds.

In 2016 my career I felt was made by one phonecall during a shopping trip in Eastbourne with my wife Nina I answered the phone to Tony Denton a Tour Promotor who wanted to ask if I would join The Osmonds on Tour this coming Xmas 2016.

Not only that but Jimmy Osmond wanted to talk to me later this day about joining him and his brothers in Branson Missouri for a stint at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre.

I couldn’t be more happy to accept the job. That Christmas was an incredible experience working not only in America, but with The Osmonds and a full incredible cast of talented people and I got to enjoy crazy golf every other day.
Christmas Parties, thanksgiving get togethers and road trips as well as visiting all the other Christmas shows on the strip in Branson just added to the memories of my time with these amazing people

In recent years Jay Osmond alongside a talented group of people including Jay’s wife Karen have written and produced an incredible Musical dedicated to the Osmonds and their fans. Today we talk about the musical and its inspirations, its stars, its success and its future

I could not end Eyes & Teeth without closing in style and today I welcome to EYES AND TEETH the worlds greatest variety show, the worlds greatest variety family the osmonds when I talk to Jay Osmond.

In part two Jimmy & I discuss the world of ventriloquists and its future as well as talking about the great vents out there today making the art look easy. It clearly isn't when you realise how many of us are left out there. Gary Wilner to Terry Fator, Darci Lynne to Jeff Dunham, Paul Zerdin to Ray Alan, listen in to a chat about what will be a book by Steve Hewlett and ventriloquists worldwide...
YouTube soundbite clips from: Ronn Lucas (MDA Telethon), (,Gary Wilner (ventg99), Paul Levent (Jack Sharpe), Senor Wences (The Ed Sullivan Show).
Welcome Jimmy Tamley to Eyes, Lips and Teeth.

Jimmy Tamley was my inspiration to become a vent act, to be part of showbusiness. He sparked that interest in me but not just to have an act on stage but he is part of me loving the vents before us, he showed me archives of vents and connected me with vent magazines and figure makers worldwide, I have alot to thank him for.
In the next two episodes Jim & I chat as we always do about the world of ventriloquism and he wanted to focus on subjects throughout my book Ventriloquest out in the near future so we talk and talk and talk without moving our lips. Welcome back Jimmy Tamley

Welcome to Eyes & Teeth - my MUM Sharon Hewlett

This episode in this final special season I talk relaxed to my mum about her growing up in London and me taking on showbusiness which she says has impacted her life in a fun way.
There are special little notes from my Lola & Larissa, her own mum Lilian, our nan as well as Shane Ritchie,  Paul Ross, Marti Pellow and his band Wet Wet Wet, Joanna Lumley, Mr Motivator, The Nolans, Mica Paris, Joe Mangle aka Mark Little, Tony Slattery, Carmel McSharry and most of these were recorded in 1995 across London in time for a mothers day. I created silly celebrity memories for mum over the years.

She loves "celebrity" so I try and bring as much of that to her as i can through my work.

Overall I just wanted to thank her and my dad Terry for their part in allowing me to follow my dream.

Welcome to Eyes and Teeth Jay Johnson

Jay Johnson is an International Success story in the art of ventriloquism highly respected in the land of Sitcom, stage performance, the acting world and the art of Ventriloquism. He was certainly on my Top 10 list greatest vents of all time so you can imagine how happy I am to have him guest on my podcast.

Jay has been seen on TV drama’s such as an episode of Mrs. Columbo,The Love Boat, Gimme a Break!, Simon & Simon, The Facts of Life, Empty Nest (reuniting him with his father from Soap, Richard Mulligan), and Dave's World.

Jay Johnson: The Two & Only! written and performed by Jay Johnson, opened on Broadway to rave reviews at the Helen Hayes Theatre on September 28, 2006. 

The show deconstructs and demonstrates Johnson's lifelong obsession with the art of ventriloquism. The show is a Valentine, not only to the art, but also to his mentor and friend Arthur Sieving, who created Johnson's first professional puppet. The show is aided and abetted by a cast of ventriloquated characters, including his Soap alter ego, Bob. Johnson won the 2007 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for the show. He is the only ventriloquist to ever be nominated and win an American Theatre Wing Tony Award or an Ovation Award.

The original Bob puppet featured on Soap was inducted into the Smithsonian Institute's collections of pop culture icons in May 2007. He currently uses a replica Bob for Jay Johnson: The Two & Only! 

Welcome to Eyes & Teeth Jay Johnson

Welcome to Eyes and Teeth and The World’s Greatest Variety Show

On my last tour date in Norfolk I swung by one of my favourite venues called The Thursford Collection. In the spring to Summer it showcases fairground attractions and steam engines of the highest calibre but in October its turned into a rehearsal space for the Thursford’s Christmas Spectacular which has attracted over 5.8 million visitors to date and is the largest Christmas show in the country.

I have had the pleasure of hosting this show in 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2019 and it boasts on its website a cast of 120 professional singers, dancers and musicians – most of whom are straight out of the West End. The three-hour performance delivers an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year-round favourites, with famous and much-loved chart toppers being performed alongside traditional carols. The website also notes that the finale of the show includes a fly over of white doves across the auditorium. So do not look up with your mouths open, lucky its not based in Eastbourne otherwise there would be a flyover of seagulls, and you wouldn’t want them swooping down to grab your sausage roll.

It's almost difficult to explain the feeling of being at Thursford as a punter and as a performer. You have to see it to believe it and although it sells out or nearly sells out annually still so many people know nothing about it. You can’t say that of people in the industry. Andrew Lloyd Webber knows about it and its all down to one man and his incredible team of creatives.

John Cushing is the show’s Producer, its brainchild, from choir to spectacular John joins me to discuss the process of getting a show like this on the stage as we go behind the scenes in his office where a carpet covered in CD’s is turned into one of the greatest shows to ever grace the stage in the UK. Welcome to Thursford, Welcome to Eyes & Teeth John Cushing.

Bobby Davro is an absolute legend in the world of British Variety and Television from the 1980’s onwards. I first met Bobby at the Wimbledon theatre when I was 16 and visiting puppeteer Simon Buckley who I had just recorded a TV show with in 1993 and he invited me to see his pantomime starring Bobby Davro. Bobby was gracious and always has been to me.

We have since worked many variety shows or charity events together and he has me in tears of laughter each time and he is one of the best impressionists out there.

Bobby tells me of his big break on TV where he ended his act with an impression of Elton John on the piano and this shot him to the title of a household name landing his own TV Series.

We talk of his collaboration with ventriloquist Ray Alan as well as many more including his friendship with an icon of his in Gilbert O Sullivan and this includes Bobby’s latest TV spot on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind

We talk about Dave Evans, Frankie Vaughan, Bob Monkhouse, Les Dennis, Peter Kay & Sir Ken Dodd.

One of my favourite subjects today was taking advice about daughters and Bobby explains it so well. I have to say I laughed a lot and I welled up on occasions, Bobby really does talk from the heart. He has been there and done it. His stage skills and advice is well worth taking in especially where learning routines and memory comes into it. This is something I struggle with.

It has taken me 2 years to tie Bobby down for this interview but it was well worth the wait. 

Welcome to the World’s Greatest Variety Show Bobby Davro 

Welcome to Eyes and Teeth Kevin Dean

Kevin and I became acquainted within the GOWR, the Grand Order of Water Rats, which is a Showbusiness charity over 130 years old which included members including Danny Kaye, Charles Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Tommy Cooper, Charlie Chester, Les Dawson, Keith Harris, and those still with us today such as Rick Wakeman, Alfie Boe, The Hairy Bikers, Steve Hewlett, WHO? Well it is a who’s who in the order, we look out for our fellow entertainers who have fallen on hard times and are involved in the Royal Variety Charity as well as countless nominated charities including childrens charities.

Its an entertainers way of giving back which is always great for us.

I digress, Kevin Dean and I have performed on many of these benefit shows, we are planning our own for the Rats in the near future but we got even closer during the lockdown years.

We recorded songs, and jingles, sketches and so much more and you can hear Kevin’s magic during this podcast as he is the producer of our very own Eyes and Teeth jingles and the theme tune itself, all from the head of KD productions.

So now it’s time for you to get to know the man behind the music and Two Metre Peter, welcome to Eyes & Teeth Kevin Dean

Desmondo & Cherry King

Welcome to Eyes & Teeth a lovely couple who I keep bumping into even into their retirement but who retires in this business? Hardly any of us, if showbusiness is in your blood then you will always want to share your talent and Des King with Cherry have entertained millions world wide up to just a few weeks ago. Des and Cherry tell me of their meeting and seasons they have performed in as well as great talents we have shared the stage with.

It's rare I get to record an actual podcast backstage, but this was just that and even with another act in the room so now and again you will hear magician and ventriloquist Sam Jones in the background now and again. We were performing in Peacehaven in a variety show and we had the best audience in.

The London Palladium pops up as well as Andy Eastwood, Jan Hunt, The City Varieties in Leeds, Hilary O Neil, Matt Daniel Baker, Keith Harris, David Nixon, Sir Ken Dodd, it really is a good old chat with friends before a show and a great example of why I wanted to start this podcast.

I remember talking the much missed Phil Butler just a few short years ago about his podcast The Green Room where he took the same idea but across comedy clubs. He was there first and I just loved the idea so I guess along with Ricky Gervais, Debbie McGee, Louis Theroux and a few more I have been inspired and eyes and teeth was born.

Most importantly Des shares with us his diagnoses of Prostate cancer and the latest news with that which is a very much needed listen too for young and old men alike

Welcome todays guests Des King & Cherry

Eyes & Teeth would not be here without the Royal Variety Performance, or TV Talent Shows and they were inspirations not just for a budding young ventriloquist wannabe in Basingstoke in 1987 but for 1000’s of comedy, variety and musical acts for nearly a century.

Today’s guest is not only related to Lord Bernard Delfont and Lew Grade but he himself has made a huge impact behind the scenes keeping the cogs of showbusiness agencies thriving and the Royal variety charity and Brinsworth House the success they are today.

Today we talk about Des O Connor, Arthur Worsley plus more ventriloquists, Freddie Starr and much more.

I am blessed to share laughter and drinks with todays guest within the Grand Order of Water Rats in several lodges we frequent throughout each year getting together. My time in the Rats and performances in Brinsworth House means I have an opportunity to give back to the business I have chosen to get me through my lifetime.

Because of that I am thankful to todays guest for looking out for us entertainers by showcasing us on the Command Performance or placing certain members of the business in a safe haven via the Royal Variety Charity.

Welcome to Eyes & Teeth The World’s Greatest Variety Show Ian Freeman.