Des O'Connor
@DesOConnorCBE
Followers
16K
Following
2K
Media
77
Statuses
571
The Official Des O'Connor Twitter, now managed by his youngest daughter. Let's relive the life, laughter, and legacy together.
Joined December 2016
Des’ youngest daughter here. Today would have been Dad’s 90th birthday. I helped him set up this account some time ago. I used to pop over to his place and read out any messages tweeted to him and he'd dictate, from his armchair, exactly what he wanted to respond.
968
417
33K
Thank you for all your wonderful birthday wishes. Having a lovely day with close friends and family. @msmelaniesykes Love to you all ! x ps you're only as young as the woman you feel : )
314
133
6K
New to the web, Dad was thrilled to discover another way to interact with an audience. “Read another one”. Our Twitter trawls became a routine and often led to fits of giggles. Happy Birthday Dad. Here he is in 1964 describing what it feels like to lose followers in real-time.
75
124
4K
Talking barnets, nerves, and Eric Morcambe:.Rik Mayall on Des O’Connor Tonight (1998)
77
362
3K
Des's youngest daughter here, just popping on to say a Happy Birthday to the man who made everyone feel like his best mate and who never failed to make me giggle, even now. Here's one of my favourite sketches, it was one of his too (with the wonderful Jack Douglas).
177
141
2K
Touring with Buddy Holly is something I'll never forget. 31 gigs in 33 days. One of my favourite memories was in Harrogate, I had to go into his bedroom one morning to try to get him up. I pulled him by the feet and he said to me ‘don’t do that Des, I’m tall enough as it is!'
65
338
2K
Having a lovely birthday with the family. But it’s a bit strong having to pick up the bill!
209
90
2K
I had a number 1 in 1966. I quite fancy my odds.
#ENGSWE 1966. Real Madrid won European cup.Burnley qualified for Europe.Man City won their league.Chelsea finished 5th. 2018 . Real Madrid European cup.Burnley qualified for Europe.Man City won their league.Chelsea finished 5th . #justsaying.
58
192
1K
Take a peek at who was sharing a dressing room on this very night back in 1966 for the Royal Variety Performance at The @LondonPalladium.
94
80
964
I've had a browse and it looks like you don't know mine?
omg he knows our name ❤️
25
106
866
Happy Christmas everybody! .Hope you're all having a wonderful day. My favourite part of Christmas dinner? Going to someone else's place who does all the cooking.
79
47
877
A lovely surprise to see this one today! Thanks for stopping by Mel.
36
26
710
Congratulations to my daughter who sold out her first headline show on Saturday. I couldn't make it but she sent me this to let me know I was there in spirit!
34
24
660
At the unveiling of The London Palladium Wall of Fame today. Hugely honoured to be in such wonderful company. Here's me, Tommy, Andrew, Jimmy and Cliff.
46
50
631
This picture was taken in Denmark street. We went shopping together quite a few times. I remember in Coventry we took him to the Austin Healey factory and he saw the two tone, drop head sports car and said, ‘I’ll take two of those’. I don’t know if he ever did get them home.
24
101
535
Buddy was passionate about his music but he also loved making the crowd laugh. Sometimes I'd give him gags, silly gags but delivered in his slow strong Texan drawl he made them funny. In return he showed me a few things on the guitar. I feel privileged to have worked with him.
23
50
523
That was in Denmark Street. We went shopping quite a few times. We went shopping in Coventry and he bought two sports cars!
March 12th 1958: While back in London @DesOConnorCBE takes Buddy shopping for a guitar. He recalls that Buddy “went into a music shop and must have tried about 17 guitars. They all sounded the same to me, but he picked up a [guitar], said it had a good tone and bought it”.
29
103
467
“Had a wonderful night celebrating Bonnie’s birthday . So happy to share it with her family and special friends.”
40
19
449
Thank you for all those lovely birthday messages. Very kind. I had a wonderful day!.
27
8
423
Clowning around with Lonnie Donegan at Blackpool. Sometime in the late fifties.
14
21
380
Thanks everyone for all the kind wishes, you’ll be glad to know I’m back on the mince pies again! Happy New Year to you all!.
31
16
386
Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! And thanks for all your lovely and funny messages this year. I’m beginning to like this Twittery thing!.
55
18
375
Just wanted to say thank for all my lovely birthday messages and kind wishes. You’ve certainly helped to make my birthday. And I have all of my family around me to share this evening, for the first time in a long time.
55
15
363
My grandmother was of Irish descent. She fell down the stairs in Belfast. Happy St Paddy’s Day.
13
49
318
In just a few weeks, my youngest daughter will be fighting in her first ever boxing match! She’s fighting to raise money for a great cause. Let’s hope her initials aren’t K.O. for nothing!.
On 19th March I will be fighting in my first ever boxing match alongside @PrideBoxingUK. I'm doing this to raise money for @aktcharity, to help protect vulnerable LGBTQ+ homeless people. 🏳️🌈.To help me reach my target of £1000 click: 🥊.#prideboxing #LGBTQ
36
22
298
15
33
282
Des aged 19, leading a team of entertainers at Butlins (1951).
12
7
254
Lovely picture of my youngest daughter. Musician and artist.
24
8
253
Brilliant show tonight from @McInTweet. He's just as lovely off stage as he is on it and just as funny too.
9
10
256
Seeing this image for the first time. Such lovely, fond memories.
14
35
239
Here's my lovely wife Jodie and I with Andrew at the Palladium after the unveiling of the Wall of Fame. Again, incredibly honoured.
15
9
227
Happy Holiday! It's Christmas Day 1996 and you've tuned in to Des O'Connor's Christmas with the Stars.
7
18
224
A door on the toilet.
3
52
169
That extra hour’s kip was good wasn’t it? Tarby & I are fresh as two daisies ready for our show tonight in Reading! See you at @Thehexagon!
19
18
189
On the red carpet with @TheoPaphitis at the fantastic Comic Relief Gala Ball which raised more than £500k on Red Nose Day.
19
15
193
Jimmy and I will be bringing our show to Wolverhampton in April next year! Hope to see you there.
Direct from the London Palladium, @DesOConnorCBE and #JimmyTarbuck, two legends of TV, showbiz and the Royal Variety come together with music and video to reminisce and entertain on 27 April 2019!. Tickets on sale to friends/members 11am Sat 15 Dec and public Mon 17 Dec.
15
11
185
We're at it again! .September 29th.
🎤 Two legends of television, show-business and the Royal Variety Performance, @DesOConnorCBE and Jimmy Tarbuck come together to reminisce and entertain on Sunday 29 September!. The fabulous duo present another night of music, memories & laughter!.
17
16
168
Happy Birthday to singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress @MariahCarey! .Here she is at just 23 on the first show that introduced her to the British public, Des O'Connor Tonight, in 1994.
4
52
167
So has my hole.
I'm watching @HarryHill stick his sausage in @DesOConnorCBE hole??? 😲 Sunday night tele has changed 😂 #alienfuncapsule.
4
65
138
Remembering the late great Victoria Wood, who would have been 70 today. Here is a clip from 1997, talking all things domestic.
5
25
144
It's Mothering Sunday 1974 and Jack Douglas is on the Des O'Connor show to sing a song for his mother, but he needs some help.
13
29
146
Loving the gigs with my pal Tarby! Next up Leicester and Southampton!.
Des O'Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck are now on tour. Join these legends of television for a true once in a lifetime performance this Friday 9 November @DesOConnorCBE #standingovation More info ➡️
16
14
141
Congratulations to my daughter @Tarantwina who just informed me that she's received her first play on @BBC6Music from DJ @FreshNet. The track is called ‘I Am A Loner’ and funnily enough was written, produced and recorded all on her own. I'm very proud.
16
15
137
Looking back at an old routine with the wonderful Jack Douglas. Not sure of the exact date, 1974 maybe. Click to watch the full sketch.
21
21
134
Thanks to @HarryHill for the laughs on #AlienFunCapsule. I'd love to talk more but the men in white coats are waiting to take us away now.
15
19
117
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful clips, photos and memories of Dad. All of that warmth, love and laughter is part of his legacy. Speaking of laughter, my big sis Karen tells me this sketch was one of his favourites.
12
10
123
I got heckled at my last show. A man shouted 'are you wearing a wig?' .I said, 'why would I buy a wig with a hole in the back?' #truestory.
7
24
112
Thanks for all your kind messages about the Palladium show on ITV the other night. They gave me a plaque to commemorate my first 1000 solo performances there in 1972.
5
6
117
Yes I remember! Spartacus!.
@DesOConnorCBE @holmesjsamuel Do you remember your time in Barbados playing charades with the Pythons? @montypython.
7
11
110
I've just been reminded of @JerrySeinfeld's first ever appearance on British television, on my show back in 1981. Wonderful young talent. #DesOConnorTonight
9
20
106
Thank you to each and every one of you for staying with me on here. Your kind words, stories of times you met my Dad, and favourite clips of shows have been more of a comfort than you know and I hope you won’t mind if I carry on sharing too. He made the world a little brighter.
7
3
110
Well bang the gong, the guys at @ChallengeTV are dishing up the first five series of Take Your Pick starting next Saturday at 2pm.
15
18
104
I always found Dolly Parton very funny. I said 'you've got very small feet' and she said 'nothing grows in the shade'.
6
17
101
Secured to the rock with two large elastic bands was an autograph book and a note which read 'We love you Buddy. Please sign our book. All our love, Sylvie and Sharon.' Now that's what I call rock 'n' roll.
2
9
99
A magical moment from last night’s show at @TheatreRoyalNew with Tarby. Thanks for making it so special Newcastle! You’ve made my month.
7
16
102
"Good times never seemed so good".A couple of diamonds sing a duet of Sweet Caroline on the Des O'Connor Show in 1991. Happy Birthday to @NeilDiamond 💎
10
8
100
Bout to hop on a train to Newcastle for my show at @TheatreRoyalNew tomorrow and I see this. @BradleyWalsh are you Chasing me?
8
12
96
Thanks to everyone who came down to @Thehexagon last night! It was a cracking night! Here’s a photo of Tarby and I after we came off stage.
5
7
103
Better than tomatoes.
@DesOConnorCBE have you enjoyed having all these questions thrown at you Des?.
3
5
90
We've just heard my youngest daughter and her band sounding haunting and original on the radio just now!.
I'll be performing 'Reeling' live on @BBCRadio4 at 18:15 this evening alongside music from @Jon_Hopkins_ and chat from Clive Anderson, Jim Broadbent, @MeeraSyal, @JackieHagan and @sarajcox. This will be my first time playing my stuff live with my band! #BBCLooseEnds 🖤.
6
3
91
Colston Hall! 60 years ago.
March 23rd 1958: Here is the poster from the Bristol shows @Colston_Hall - thanks for sharing @Steve13mac :-)
12
5
79
I like comics that don't resort to swearing or insulting people. I think that's cheating.
@DesOConnorCBE What comedians do you like these days? You gave so many their big break.
6
10
86
Another memory was at Hammersmith, we were chatting in his dressing room, when suddenly a rock the size of a small brick came flying through the window, shattering the glass everywhere. Fortunately both the rock and the glass missed us. I picked it up and couldn't believe my eyes.
7
16
85
Nope but funnily enough I scored a goal for Millwall at Cold Blow Lane.
@DesOConnorCBE Des, did you once own a race horse called 'Millwall'?.
6
30
82
Happy Heavenly Birthday to Jack Douglas. To celebrate, here's a thread. 🧵
1
6
82
My grandmother was of Irish descent. She fell down the stairs in Belfast.
@DesOConnorCBE I didn't know your grammar was French? I thought she was English!😀.
7
9
75
On the night it was one of the mildest moments. We had Oliver Reed & Freddie Starr on the same show. I think it was a plot to get me off TV.
@DesOConnorCBE Was Stan Boardman’s Fokker routine a genuine surprise or did you know it was coming?.
4
7
77
Turns out a "criminal record" is not what Eric Morcambe had reported all those years ago. (Thanks @prodnose)
8
6
72
Tarby and I are bringing our live show to the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough on 16th June. Get your tickets here Come and have a giggle
10
14
79
I loved doing my 'Audience With'. My daughter walked around with a video camera afterwards interviewing all the guests. They were all saying such nice things. Very special night.
5
2
73
She would say the funniest things sometimes knowingly and sometimes not. It shook me up a bit. Wonderful sense of humour.
3
4
69