Radio and Television Personalities R

Harry Rabinowitz
1916 -

South African - born conductor who came to England in 1946 after conducting in Johannesburg. Pianist in 'Variety Bandbox' in 1947 and conductor of the BBC Revue Orchestra in 1953. Conducted the orchestra on BBC radio and TV entertainment shows like 'Hancock's Half Hour'. Head of music for London Weekend Television in 1970s. Conducted for West End musicals and recorded film scores. Many recordings and concerts.

Steve Race
1921 -

Musician who has also been a composer and a compere and musical director on radio and television. Became well-known as a disc jockey and presented radio's news programme 'PM' for a time.

The Radio Revellers
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Freddie Holmes, Arthur Reed, Al Fernhead and Stan Emeney started out in 1937 with only the first two named as original members. After the war they were in various vocal groups before being joined by Al and Stan. Many radio appearances, including 'Ignorance Is Bliss' and made some popular records in the forties and fifties.

Leslie Randall
1924 -

South Shields-born comedian, his first TV appearance was on 'New To You' in 1950. Had his own long-running series on ATV from 1955 with wife Joan Reynolds (qv) titled 'Joan And Leslie'. There was also an Australian series in 1969. Also played some film roles, notably Danny Boon in 'Billy Liar' in which he played ... a comedian!

Molly Rankin
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Scottish-born actress who appeared as Matron in radio's 'The Barlowes Of Beddington' and in many other radio roles.

Marion Rawicz and Walter Landauer
1898 - 1970 and 1910 - 1983

Polish-born Rawicz and Austrian-born Landauer were concert pianists who made successful careers in Britain after the war. Playing twin pianos they appeared regularly on radio and made several recordings playing classical and light music.

Margaret Rawlings
1906 - 1996

Japanese-born actress who was on TV in 'The Brains Trust' and acted on stage and films, as well as broadcasting regularly.

Rene Ray
1911 - 1993

Singer who appeared in some pre-war films, initially in singing roles, and later acted too.

Ted Ray
1905 - 1977

Comedian who was successful in variety before the war. Became one of Britain's best known comics with his own radio show 'Ray's A Laugh' from 1949 to 1961 which had some soon-to-be-famous people as members of its cast, including Peter Sellers (qv). 'The Ted Ray Show' on television ran from 1955 to 1959. Also a panellist on radio's 'Does The Team Think?

The Ray Ellington Quartet
1916 - 1985

Band formed in 1947, with Ray Ellington who sang and played drums, pianist Dick Katz, Bob Duffy on bass and Don Fraser on guitar. Marion Ryan was their singer. Other personnel were Coleridge Goode (bass) and Lauderic Caton or Laurie Deniz (guitar). Played jazz and formed the Ray Ellington Big Band in later years. Had a regular spot on 'The Goon Show' in the 1950's. Also in 'Mr Ray and Mr Ros' on radio with Edmundo Ros (qv).

Al Read
1909 - 1987

Comedian with a unique style who first broadcast in 1950. His 1950's radio shows observing life among ordinary people were very popular and he also appeared on stage in revue and variety. His TV shows were less successful. His signature tune was 'Such Is Life', his catch phrase 'Right Monkey!'

Ralph Reader
19103- 1982

After a show business career in the USA he returned to the UK where he choreographed dance routines in West End Shows and staged big events at the Royal Albert Hall. Became well known for producing 'The Gang Show', the annual Boy Scouts shows for which he wrote many of the songs, while continuing to stage other productions.

Brian Reece
1913 - 1962

Actor who played light comedy roles in musical comedies on stage and became popular in the title role of the radio series 'P.C. 49' in the late 1940's with Joy Shelton (qv) as his girlfriend/wife. Also in a few films.

Joan Regan
1930 -

Popular singer who appeared in 'Quite Contrary' and later had her own television show 'Be My Guest' in the 1950's. Several hit records and appearances in variety shows and in pantomime.

Beryl Reid
1920 - 1996

Comedienne and actress who appeared on radio's 'Educating Archie' with her character creations, the schoolgirl 'Monica' and Brummie 'Marlene', and in 'Good Evening Each'. In several TV comedy shows, 'Vic's Grill' with Vic Wise; 'Bold As Brass' with Jimmy Edwards (qv); 'Before The Fringe' with Alan Melville (qv) and, most notably, 'Beryl Reid Says Good Evening'. Also in some films.

Robert Reid
1924 -

Writer and journalist who joined the BBC in 1939 and appeared on TV in 1952 in 'Special Enquiry' and was a frequent broadcaster on factual and documentary programmes.

Joan Reynolds
1930 - 1983

Actress who, with husband Leslie Randall (qv), appeared in 'Joan And Leslie' and 'The Randall Touch' on ATV in the 1950's.

Joan Rhodes
1932 -

Strong-woman act who appeared regularly on TV and in cabaret and variety shows from the 1950's, bending iron bars and tearing telephone directories in half and then again into quarters.

Roy Rich
1911 - 1970

Regular appear-ances on radio and television. Compere of 'In Town Tonight' and produced record shows, commentated, and acted as quiz master and interviewer.

Robin Richmond
1921-

Organist who played the Hammond Organ and broadcast many times on radio and TV. 'The Organist Entertains' from the late 1960's featured this musician.

Robert Rietty
1923 -

Actor who app-eared in television plays and in episodes of series. Voice overs a speciality in films.

(Sir, later Lord) Brian Rix
1924-

Actor-manager who produced and acted in farces at the Whitehall Theatre and also appeared in farce on TV and in films. Much involved in charitable works. Married to Elspet Gray (qv).

Nancy Roberts
1882 - 1962

Welsh-born actress who became famous in the part of Gran in the UK's first TV soap 'The Grove family' from 1954 to 1957.

Max Robertson
1908 - 1972

Indian-born, broadcaster on BBC as an announcer and tennis commen-tator. A regular on BBC TV current events programme 'Panorama' in the 1950's.

Eric Robinson
1908-

Musician who was an official con-ductor for BBC Television and appeared in hundreds of programmes, inc-luding 'Music For You'. Brother of Stanford Robinson (qv).

John Robinson
1908 - 1979

Actor whose most notable role was as Professor Quatermass in the BBC science fiction series 'Quatermass II' in 1955.

Stanford Robinson
1904 - 1984

Brother of Eric Robinson (qv) he conducted for the BBC, including for the BBC Concert Orchestra. Also a composer and conducted at Covent Garden.

(Dame) Flora Robson
1927- 1987

South Shields-born actress who became a char-acter star in both the UK and Hollywood. Acted on stage and broadcast often, she played Mother Courage in a 1959 TV production of Brecht's play.

Nicolette Roeg
? -

Worked in cabaret, musicals and drama as well as radio and TV. In several early TV shows, including Granada's 'Two's Company' in 1956 and in episodes of 'Blakes Seven' and 'The Onedin Line'. Sister of film director Nicholas Roeg

Doris Rogers
1899 -

Actress who specialised in regional dialects, appearing in 'Life With The Lyons' from 1951. In several films and television dramas and series.

Paul Rogers
1917 -

Actor with many film and TV roles to his credit. Played Shakespearian roles earlier in his career and acted on Broadway.

Edana Romney
1919 - 2002

South African-born stage actress who had film and TV roles and had a series on BBC TV with Edgar Lustgarten (qv) 'Is This Your Problem?' from 1955.

Ronnie Ronalde
1923 -

Famed whistler from the days of music hall who first broadcast in 1947 on radio's 'Variety Bandbox' and also in 'The Voice Of Variety'. Made many records which sold well. 'In A Monastery Garden' was his most popular tune and also remarkable for his bird whistles.

Edmundo Ros
1910 -

Trinidad-born tympanist and later bandleader famed for his Latin-American music. Regular broadcaster and made many best-selling records.

Annie Ross
1930 -

Jazz singer who came from a theatrical family and is the sister of Jimmy Logan (qv). Performed on both sides of the Atlantic and is part of the trio Lambert, Hend-ricks and Ross as well as being a top solo artist.

Derek Roy
1922 -

Popular radio comedian and star of 'Happy - Go - Lucky' in the 1950's.

Lita Roza
1926 -

Popular singer with a hit record and who appeared in cabaret and was a vocalist with Ted Heath's (qv) band. Appeared in BBC TV's comedy series 'Sheep's Clothing' in 1957.

William Russell
1924 -

Sunderland-born actor with many film and TV appearances.