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The Guardian
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Clodagh Rodgers obituary
In 1970 the Eurovision song contest was won by Ireland, and so the 1971 event was to be held in Dublin. There was controversy, as a Catholic from Northern Ireland, Clodagh Rodgers, was chosen to represent the UK. She went ahead with her performance despite death threats from the IRA. There had been logistical problems, too, in the selection of her song, as viewers, who were supposed to choose the UK entry after she had performed the six possibilities on the It's Cliff Richard television show, could not because of a postal strike, and a studio panel had to make the selection. Rodgers, who has died aged 78, felt the panel had taken the easy option with Jack in the Box, a song in the boom-bang-a-bang Eurovision tradition. It echoed the theme of Sandie Shaw's Puppet on a String, the UK winner from 1967, and, indeed, Rodgers's first hit, Come Back and Shake Me (1969), where she describes herself as a plaything for her partner. She herself favoured Another Time, Another Place (later a hit for Engelbert Humperdinck). At the Eurovision final, despite wearing sequined hotpants, possibly because she had been voted having the 'best legs in show business', Rodgers came fourth. The winner was Séverine for Monaco, with Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue. Born in Warrenpoint, County Down, Clodagh was the daughter of Gertrude and Louis Rodgers, a promoter who arranged bookings for stars such as Adam Faith and Michael Holliday. She went to a Catholic school run by nuns, but she wanted to be a singer and from the age of 13 began appearing as a support act on her father's promotions. A recording artist, Mike Preston, noticed her talent and recommended her to Decca. She started recording in 1962 and her first television appearance was on Adam Faith's show, singing Brenda Lee's Let Jump the Broomstick. She later said: 'My voice was so strong at the time that I don't sound like a young girl singing.' Rodgers's parents moved to London to support her, and her father organised shows for American servicemen in Germany. She recorded for Decca until 1965, admittedly hitless, but she did appear in the pop films Just for Fun (1963) and It's All Over Town (1964). Rodgers had also supported Jim Reeves on some Irish dates and he was so impressed that he invited her to Nashville to take part in a Grand Ole Opry radio show. She did sometimes record country songs, later releasing a cover version of Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man (1971). In 1968 Clodagh married John Morris, a promotions man who had been at Decca, and he arranged a contract with EMI. Her first single with the label, an echo-drenched revival of Stormy Weather, was released under the name of 'Cloda Rogers'. She returned to her original spelling but, although Morris found her work in clubs and on TV pop shows, the singles did not sell. Everything changed when she met an American songwriter, Kenny Young, who had written Under the Boardwalk for the Drifters, and who had moved to the UK. He had written Come Back and Shake Me for Lulu, but after seeing Rodgers on the BBC show Colour Me Pop, he offered it to her, provided that he could produce the record. It reached No 3 in the UK and No 2 in Ireland. The follow-up, Goodnight Midnight, was also a Top 10 hit, but Biljo, named after Rodgers' dog, was less successful. However she had two solid-selling albums, Clodagh Rodgers and Midnight Clodagh (all 1969). The following year came one of her best singles, Everybody Go Home (The Party's Over), and a duet by Rodgers and Young recording as Moonshine, but neither made much of an impact on the charts. Rodgers took part in international song festivals prior to Eurovision, so the experience was not new to her. Although she continued recording after Jack in the Box, the single Lady Love Bug reached only No 28 in the charts, and Get It Together (1974) attracted little attention. A change of record company made no difference; however she toured with the Lazy Band, emulating the sound of Linda Ronstadt, in club dates around the UK. As well as her recording and singing career she appeared on TV variety shows, was the face of Bisto in their commercials, and starred in pantomime with Ronnie Corbett in Cinderella at the London Palladium (1971). Monty Python did a send-up of Jack in the Box, in a sketch in which Terry Jones thinks he is Rodgers after being in a car crash. Morris had success managing the Rubettes, who in 1974 had a huge hit with Sugar Baby Love, and in 1977 Rodgers released the album Save Me. Their marriage ended in divorce two years later. In 1984 Rodgers played alongside Joe Brown in an entertaining West End musical about a roadside cafe in the American south, Pump Boys and Dinettes. She married the guitarist Ian Sorbie in 1987, and the couple ran a restaurant in Paignton, Devon, until 1992, when they had to declare bankruptcy. Sorbie died from a brain tumour three years later. Rodgers played Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers in the West End in 1994, and returned to this role in a touring version (1995-98). A part in the TV police drama The Bill followed, but Rodgers soon quit the business, settling in Cranleigh, then Cobham, in Surrey. She is survived by her sons, Matt, from her first marriage, and Sam, from her second, and by three siblings, Lavinia, Louis and Frank. Clodagh Rodgers, singer, born 5 March 1947; died 27 March 2025
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Linda Nolan's funeral details revealed as family pay tribute to star's ‘remarkable life'
The family of Linda Nolan have revealed plans for the Irish singer and actor's funeral, which will take place this week on Saturday 1 February. Nolan, who rose to fame in the Eighties as the family-formed girl group The Nolans, died peacefully on 15 January 'with her loving siblings by her bedside'. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and went into remission the following year. In 2017, she disclosed that doctors had found a secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020. The family confirmed that she died after contracting double pneumonia over Christmas and New Year, explaining that it was one battle too much' for her weakened immune system. In a new statement, the Nolan family has now invited fans and friends of the late star to join them in celebrating her 'extraordinary life'. 'Linda was a beacon of light, strength and unwavering love who inspired everyone she met, in addition to millions around the world,' the family said. 'Her absence leaves an ache in our hearts, but her legacy will live on through the joy, hope and kindness she shared so freely.' The funeral service will take place at St Paul's Church in Blackpool at 10.30am, with those who knew her or whose lives she touched invited to attend and pay their respects. Nolan's family acknowledged that she was born in Dublin but 'made Blackpool her home – a town and community that she cherished with all her heart. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up It was here that she and her sisters were spotted while performing at the Cliff's Hotel in 1973 and booked to perform in businessman Joe Lewis's club, The London Rooms, in the West End. Changing their name to The Nolans after relocating to London, the group also toured with Frank Sinatra and were made resident guests on Cliff Richard's BBC TV show, It's Cliff Richard, which aired until 1976. 'She adored [Blackpool's ]people and they adored her in return,' her family said. 'The warmth and love the family has received from the community since her passing has been overwhelming and it has reminded them of how deeply Linda's spirit continues to shine.' 'St Paul's Church holds a deeply special place in Linda's heart,' the statement continued. 'It is where she married the love of her life, Brian Hudson, with whom she shared 26 wonderful years of marriage. Brian was Linda's rock, her soulmate, and the love of her life, just as she was his. 'When Brian tragically passed away in 2007, Linda found the strength to carry on, but her love for him never wavered. St. Paul's was also where Linda said her final goodbye to Brian, holding his funeral in the same church where they had exchanged their vows. 'Now, Linda will return to this sacred place to be reunited with Brian once more, finally at peace and back in his loving embrace.' Following the service, a private cremation will take place at a nearby crematorium, which will be attended by close family and friends only. 'The fans and public are welcome to gather outside the church – and in true Linda spirit – the more, the merrier!' the family said. It has also been announced that, 'in honour of Linda's compassionate and giving spirit', the family is endeavouring to raise as much money as possibly for Trinity Hospice, which provided 'exceptional care not only to Linda in her final days' but also to her sister, Bernie. Messages of condolences, memories and photos can also be shared to her memorial page, along with donations. 'The family is humbled by the global outpouring of love for Linda and the support they have received from around the world,' the family said in their statement. 'Linda was more than a beloved sister, friend, and entertainer - she was a symbol of hope, humour, and resilience. Her infectious laughter, her kindness and her courage in the face of life's greatest challenges will never be forgotten. 'Her family extends their deepest gratitude to everyone who has surrounded them with love during this heartbreaking time. Together, we can keep Linda's legacy alive by carrying forward the love and compassion she gave so freely.'
