Bernie Clifton

Bernie Clifton (born 30 April 1936 as Bernard Quinn in St Helens, England) is a British comedian and entertainer. He began his teenage career singing with a dance band before working the pubs and clubs, doing shows in Blackpool and then progressing on to television where he appeared on the BBC television series Crackerjack with Michael Aspel, Peter Glaze, Don Maclean and Jan Hunt in the 1970s. He was the main character in a 1989 CBBC show with a magic theme called Tricky Business, which also featured Leslie Schofield and the magic of Paul Zenon. Later he became a radio presenter for BBC Radio Sheffield. He has made many appearances on BBC TVs long running variety programme The Good Old Days through the 1970s and 80s.

His act includes singing, trombone playing, humorous anecdotes and comedy routines involving elaborate stage props and costumes, the most famous being an ostrich called Oswald which he "rides". Clifton plays the trombone, and has performed at the Beijing Olympics and in Las Vegas as a member of the Pukka Pies England Band, supporting major sporting events. Since 2010 Clifton has made occasional television appearances playing himself, such as in the BBC's Love Soup. He guest-starred in the Sooty Christmas Show. In 2016 he appeared on the fifth series of The Voice UK but failed to progress past the blind auditions.

He lives in Barlow, Derbyshire. His interests include flying microlight aircraft. He has been a headline act for The Hiss & Boo Show, which tours the UK.

External links

• Bernie Clifton at the Internet Movie Database
• http://www.bernieclifton.co.uk/