EastEnders star Bobby Davro shares health update after stroke before Edinburgh Fringe gig
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BOBBY Davro has revealed how making his debut at the Edinburgh Festival helped him recover from a stroke that prevented him from doing some of his famous impressions.
The 1980s comic had a successful sold-out run at the Fringe last year just months after surviving the life-threatening condition.
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Bobby has now fully recovered from his stroke and ready for a second stint at the Edinburgh Festival.
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Bobby took part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.
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Bobby with Dani Behr, Dane Bowers and Leyla Morse in Channel 4's Come Dine With Me..
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Bobby's fiancee Vicky Wright died from cancer in 2023. She was 63.
And as Bobby prepares for a second stint in the capital, he says: 'Laughter is the best medicine, that's what they say, unless you've had a stroke then statins are much better.
'But I didn't do any impressions in Edinburgh last year because I had my stroke in January and some of my impressions had suffered.
'My voice has come back properly now so the impressions are coming back. I'll be doing Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr, Jimmy Carr and some of the old favourites like Dave Allen too.'
Born Robert Nankeville in Middlesex, Bobby became one of the biggest telly comics of the 80s with his own ITV Saturday night shows including Bobby Davro on the Box, TV Annual and TV Weekly.
He also showed off his incredible mimicry on the popular sketch show Copy Cats with favourites including a Mickey take of kids' TV characters Bungle, Zippy, George and Geoffrey from Rainbow.
In later years he has taken part in numerous TV talent and reality shows including Channel 4's Come Dine with me in 2009 and Dancing on Ice in 2010 while in 2015 he came fourth in Celebrity Big Brother.
But Bobby admits he's enjoyed returning to his comedy roots in Scotland after a tough time which also saw his fiancee Vicky Wright - daughter of Wolverhampton Wanderers and England footballer Billy Wright - died from cancer in 2023. She was 63.
He says: 'It was really quick, eight months, but extremely painful to be there.
'That's why work is so important because even in my darkest days, when my father died (Olympic runner Bill Nankeville), I had to work the next night. The same when Vicky died too, I had to work.
'But when you work then you don't have time to think about your grief or your problems, you're out there thinking about the show.
'I love working, I've always said this has never really been a job. I'm just an old school entertainer. I sing, do impressions and stand-up.'
One area he tends to shy away from though is politics - even though it would be a rich seam of material.
He explains: 'I do a bit of Donald Trump and Keir Starmer now and then, but I'm not a political guy.
'I did an interview with Nigel Farage recently and found him to be really nice and I like his viewpoints.
'And yes I do think this country is in a hell of a mess at the minute, but that's as far I want to go with it.'
He adds: 'But I have noticed that the left and the liberals say they have empathy and compassion - but only if you agree with them.
'The minute you don't then they want you f***ing cancelled. But I'm a great believer in free speech. And jokes aren't hurty words, jokes aren't violence - they're just funny.'
The comic also had a straight acting stint in EastEnders in 2007 as Vinnie Monks, the love interest of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry).
Bobby, who had three children with ex-wife Trudi Jameson, says: 'I did the EastEnders thing, and I was enjoying that.
'But then I had a pantomime offer and I make a good fee doing those, but EastEnders wouldn't let you do both.
'At the time I needed the money as my kids were still going through school, but I would go back to EastEnders if asked.
'I also did a play in London called Not a Game for Boys, which was a really good piece. I've got a very good memory for learning my lines.
'Although after the stroke I had a bit of brain fog and struggled with learning new stuff a little bit. It's come back now although I forget names sometimes. But I really would like to do more acting.'
Away from the stage, Bobby, 66, has become a grandad for the first time after daughter Brittany gave birth to baby boy Bohdi (corr), while he's also found love again.
He says: 'When Vicky died, which was two years ago May, I just wasn't really interested in anyone else.
'But I've just met somebody who I've started a relationship with. Her name is Kelly but I'm going to keep everything else about her private because we're just starting out.
'As for Bohdi, he's fantastic. I'm so happy.'
But right now Bobby is looking forward to his month-long stint in Edinburgh with his new show Funny Magnet, on the back of last year's run of Everything is Funny if You Can Laugh at It, which earned him rave reviews.
He says: 'I was playing a small venue that only holds about 300 people, but I was getting full houses and it's nice to see people queuing around the block to get in.
'I like seeing other shows too. Last year I went to see The Last Laugh, which was a wonderful play about Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe.
'I also watched Jasper Carrott and Alastair McGowan who are good friends of mine. I don't mean to be disrespectful to other comics, because there's some very good young ones out there, but some of what they do is a bit too surreal for me.
'I'm a gag man, I love gags. Some of the jokes I've been telling for 30 years, but they still work and people still laugh.'
And at least his medical woes, when Bobby collapsed on stage at the Coulson Comedy club in London last year, have given him plenty of new material.
He quips: 'After my stroke I've got to take one tablet now every day for the rest of my life - the problem is they've only given me six tablets.'
*Bobby Davro: Funny Magnet is on from August 1-24 at Frankenstein Pub – Bier Keller (venue 304) at 9pm.
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