Mike Dennett, Ventriloquist Who Performed with Laurel and Hardy, Dies at 82

A ventriloquist and comedian from Blackpool, known for sharing the stage with the iconic comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, has passed away at the age of 82. Mike Dennett was merely 10 years old when he appeared at Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy’s Christmas Party at the Nottingham Empire on 21 December, 1952. This performance, occurring early in a career that spanned seven decades, was later described by him as its pinnacle. According to his family, Mr Dennett, who “brought laughter and light to so many,” died at his Blackpool home, surrounded by loved ones, following a brief illness. Mr Dennett’s family recounted that he had “spoken really fondly of Laurel and Hardy,” having been invited to their dressing room on that memorable day. He shared with his family that the renowned comedy double act introduced him by stating, “one day this young man’s name will be up in lights.” His family reiterated, “It was an absolute highlight of his career,” and expressed their belief that he might have been the last surviving UK artiste to have worked with Laurel and Hardy. In their tribute to Mr Dennett, his family stated: “Mike’s quick wit and infectious humour left a lasting impression on everyone who had the pleasure of seeing him perform alongside his long-time partner, Chic, over the course of a remarkable seven decade career.” They added that “Beyond the stage, Mike was even more beloved,” noting he was recognized for his kindness, authenticity, and unwavering devotion to his family. His family also conveyed that Mr Dennett’s “selflessness and love” would be “missed by all who knew him.” Mr Dennett commenced his show business career at the age of eight and, throughout his professional life, also performed alongside artists such as Lulu, Matt Monro, Shirley Bassey, Tony Christie, and Engelbert Humperdinck. He was married to Blackpool singer Darci Silver and resided in the coastal town for 41 years, in addition to performing there for 50 years. His family reported that Mr Dennett continued to perform with his ventriloquist’s dummy, Chic, pronounced “chick,” until his retirement at 78 due to ill health. He made television appearances on programs including New Faces in the 1970s and Guys and Dolls in the 1980s, as well as featuring in a BBC documentary focused on ventriloquism. Mr Dennett performed at various venues across the country, including Blackpool Central Pier and the Sheffield Fiesta, and internationally in Benidorm. He also had the distinction of performing for royalty, appearing before Prince Edward at an event held in Scotland. From his first marriage, Mr Dennett had four children: Michael, Russell, Hayley, and Sophie. He had three sons, David, Bill, and Scott, from his marriage to Darci. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His family mentioned that during his career, he participated in numerous charity performances, raising funds for diverse causes. Mr Dennett has also been recognized in an exhibition at Blackpool’s Showtown museum, where one of his show posters is displayed alongside those of performers like Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage. Mr Dennett’s funeral is scheduled to take place at Carlton Crematorium in Blackpool on 20 December, followed by a celebration of his life at the H&A club, a venue where he regularly performed. His family also announced plans for a fundraising celebration of his life to benefit Trinity Hospice, which provided care for him in his final days. For more from BBC Radio Lancashire, listeners can tune into Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and via Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.