Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePuppeteer Ronnie Le Drew the Muffin the Mule puppet (PA)Ronnie Le Drew, the puppeteer and TV presenter famous for voicing Zippy on the children's show Rainbow, has died at 78 following a short illness. Le Drew was a Canadian-British star who brought the squawking character to life on the beloved ITV series, which was the UK's answer to Sesame Street. He served as president of the British Puppet Guild for 10 years, with the organisation praising his active and supportive role. His extensive career included roles in other children's series like Playdays and The Sooty Show, where he played Sweep, and puppeteering in films such as Labyrinth and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Le Drew also taught at London's Little Angel theatre for three decades and released his autobiography, Zippy and Me: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Infamous Puppet, in 2019. In fullRonnie Le Drew death: Puppeteer behind Rainbow character Zippy dies, aged 79More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Zippy puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew dies aged 79
Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePuppeteer Ronnie Le Drew the Muffin the Mule puppet (PA)Ronnie Le Drew, the puppeteer and TV presenter famous for voicing Zippy on the children's show Rainbow, has died at 78 following a short illness. Le Drew was a Canadian-British star who brought the squawking character to life on the beloved ITV series, which was the UK's answer to Sesame Street. He served as president of the British Puppet Guild for 10 years, with the organisation praising his active and supportive role. His extensive career included roles in other children's series like Playdays and The Sooty Show, where he played Sweep, and puppeteering in films such as Labyrinth and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Le Drew also taught at London's Little Angel theatre for three decades and released his autobiography, Zippy and Me: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Infamous Puppet, in 2019. In fullRonnie Le Drew death: Puppeteer behind Rainbow character Zippy dies, aged 79More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
