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To casual television viewers, he was best known for two routines: one in the guise of a northern club compere whose microphone is working intermittently; another adopting the noises, gestures and movements of a chicken, using his outturned jacket to suggest the fowl's wings. He was the originator of
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He got his initial break at Hull's Perth Street club when a scheduled comedian failed to show, and
Collier raised his hand when an audience volunteer was requested. After a positive experience he decided to seek a career in entertainment. He initially began working the local clubs around Hull and
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he found work as a labourer. In 1948, while he was visiting Hull's Perth Street West club, an act failed to turn up, and
Collier volunteered to fill in. He felt natural on stage and started to work a few local clubs. While working at
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Collier's style was very much in the traditional northern-comic school, based on absurdist situational monologues rather than a 'series of jokes', and showed a notable influence of the 1950s star
155:, into the working-class family of Thomas and Mary (nÊe Dowling) Collier on Christmas Day, 1925, weighing 15 lb 4 oz. He grew up in the centre of Hull as the eldest of eight children.
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in 1971. Though occasionally appearing on television thereafter, he made his main reputation on the northern club circuit, and was highly regarded by many fellow comics (notably
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who achieved popularity following television appearances in the 1970s. He was best known for his 'faulty microphone' routine and for his chicken impressions.
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scene, becoming a full-time comic in 1962 and enjoying steady success through the 1960s.
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He came to national media attention after a successful appearance at the
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He died on 14 March 2013, aged 87, after a long battle with
355:"The Singing Chicken" / "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"
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and was attended by many fellow comedians including
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528:"Norman Collier's funeral attended by TV friends"
131:(25 December 1925 â 14 March 2013) was a British
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642:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in England
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472:"Norman Collier launches autobiography"
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578:Wainwright, Martin (19 March 2013).
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394:"When being funny's just a job ..."
478:. 23 February 2009. Archived from
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637:Comedians from Kingston upon Hull
554:Norman Collier, Singles & EPs
207:Royal Variety Command Performance
284:Welton, East Riding of Yorkshire
399:. 13 April 2009. Archived from
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652:Crystal (record label) artists
235:Wheeltappers and Shunters Club
158:At age 17, Collier joined the
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16:British comedian (1925â2013)
594:"Obituary - Norman Collier"
580:"Obituary - Norman Collier"
502:"Norman Collier dies at 87"
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602:. London. 15 March 2013.
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259:Personal life and death
175:'s chemical factory in
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358:Tembo Records TML 133
139:Career and reputation
534:. BBC. 27 March 2013
429:. BBC. 15 March 2013
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62:(2013-03-14)
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622:2013 deaths
617:1925 births
486:28 February
407:28 February
364:Produced by
306:Discography
271:, entitled
101:Lucy Seddon
611:Categories
552:Discogs -
448:Syd Little
375:References
322:Catalogue
300:Bobby Ball
288:Russ Abbot
273:Just a Job
215:Les Dawson
160:Royal Navy
80:Occupation
37:1925-12-25
588:. London.
91:1948â2013
74:, England
51:, England
538:27 March
532:BBC News
512:15 March
433:15 March
427:BBC News
342:CR 7036
319:Release
311:Singles
292:Roy Hudd
177:Salt End
166:. After
133:comedian
119:Children
83:Comedian
506:Chortle
340:Crystal
253:Al Read
153:England
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328:Notes
265:Welton
217:, and
96:Spouse
68:Brough
361:1988
345:1966
325:Year
247:Style
189:Goole
107:(
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573:IMDb
540:2013
514:2013
488:2013
456:ISBN
435:2013
409:2013
316:Act
298:and
145:Hull
57:Died
45:Hull
31:Born
571:at
243:.)
196:BBC
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