From leaving school at 16 to being married for 60 years, 78-year-old retired comedian Russ Abbot shares details of his journey: ‘So we started in the caravan…’ |
Russ Abbot was one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry at one time; recently, he opened up about his life. The retired comedian, actor, and singer shared details about his life away from the limelight and how he misses the glitz and glamour. He also opened up about his bond with his partner, Trish, over the years.
Russ Abbot opens up about his fame
Russ Abbot, the 78-year-old veteran comedian, singer, and actor, weighed in on what it was like to live with the level of success he achieved. After leaving school at the young age of 16, Abbot joined the group Black Abbots and had a six-week residency at the Royalty Theatre.At the time, he went by his full name, Russell; however, his manager, Mike Hughes, did not think that his full name would survive the test of time. This was also around the time when he started working on ‘The Comedians.’ Talking about the party and how he came to be known as Russ Abbott, he shared with The Guardian, “He said, ‘Think about it, if your bill is in alphabetical order, you’ll always be top of the bill.’ He said, ‘Abba could top you, but that’s about it.’ That’s clever, isn’t it?”The star also opened up about how fame changed his and Trish’s life as a couple. When asked about whether it had any major impact on their life, the 78-year-old admitted that at best, the space they live in has been upgraded. From a caravan to a 5-star hotel, Abbot shared that not much had changed, adding, “Just in the sense we moved up the ladder homewise, didn’t we, Trish? So we started in the caravan. Trish’s dad had a win on the pools that paid for the caravan as a wedding present. Then my dad got us a place with £1-a-week rent. Two up, two down. Then we got a £10,000 bungalow and sold it for twice the price.”
How did Trish and Russ Abbot meet?
Did you know that Trish and Russ Abbot have been happily married for the past 60 years? During the interview, Abbot revealed that Trish had initially been interested in another band member, not him. He shared, “She came to the stage door of the British Legion in Ellesmere Port as I was packing my drums up. We had a bass player in those days called Paul Dodd. He ended up a policeman. Trish says, ‘Is the bass player around?’ I said, ‘No, he’s gone, love.’ She said, “Oh, that’s a shame; I wanted to say hello to him.” He shared that since his bandmate was not there, he took her out for a drink at a nearby bar, and the rest is history. “I said, ‘Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.'” Then I said, “Let me give you a lift home.” She said, “I only live across the road.” I said, “You can’t walk alone at this time of night.” So I left with a kiss and a cuddle. And it all started from there, didn’t it, Trish?” Abbot shared, while Trish, who was also accompanying him for the interview at the time, added that Abbot was the typical “boy next door” personality at the time.The two had four children, and while he was dealing with a lot of hardships in life, including the loss of his mother, who had been battling dementia for some time, his wife was one of the biggest support systems he needed. “In 1984, I worked 363 days,” he shared, further talking about how his wife helped him out a lot and handled everything. He shared, “Trish raised them all. I was always away, summer season tour or pantomime. Pantomimes, gosh! You’d get home Christmas Eve, put the presents under the tree, go to bed, have breakfast, watch the kids open the toys, and then go back to do a matinee.”
Who is Russ Abbot?
Russ Abbot is a beloved musician, comedian, and actor who dominated the British Saturday-night TV scene during the peak of his career in the 1980s. He started his career in the entertainment industry with the Black Abbots, a musical band where he played the drums. He also had a successful solo career, with one of his most popular songs, ‘Atmosphere,’ hitting the top spots on multiple song charts. He retired in 2016 and has been leading a quiet life, focusing on his family life.
