Derek Roy

Who was Derek Roy?

Derek Roy was an English comedian, whose public profile was at its greatest in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

His BBC Radio show, Hip Hip Hoo Roy, was written by amongst others Spike Milligan, and was the show where Milligan's Goon Show character Eccles first appeared. Roy's unsuccessful star-vehicle Happy Go Lucky also gave the first writing break to Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who would soon team up with the show's last producer Dennis Main Wilson to create Hancock's Half Hour.

Roy also hosted Variety Bandbox, a talent show that made known such performers as Michael Bentine, Jimmy Edwards, Tony Hancock, Alfred Marks, Morecambe and Wise, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Graham Stark and Harry Worth.

Roy was a resident of the large Art Deco apartment block, Du Cane Court, where he is remembered by the older residents: "He was short, plump, and wore glasses; and besides being a stand-up comedian, he featured on an amusing radio variety show. He was well liked, well known and very vulgar. He lived in B11 and had a large dog which he would take on stage as part of his act".

He appeared in the film, Dance With Me, alongside Anne Shelton and Max Wall.