Relentlessly Purple

Zippy and Me is a hilarious autobiography by Rainbow Puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew. Zippy and Me is the first behind the scenes look at the iconic children’s programme Rainbow. Rainbow aired over 1000 episodes between 1972 and 1997, I remember loving it myself as a child!

Zippy And Me

Puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew has worked with the greats across almost half a century. From David Bowie in Labyrinth to Michael Caine in A Muppet Christmas Carol. The role that defined his career though was Rainbow’s Zippy, who he operated for more than twenty years.

This is the first time an insider has told the true story of what went on under the counter and inside the suits. From the petty squabbles between performers, wrangling with TV executives, and scandals such as the ‘love triangle’ between the musicians Rod, Jane and Freddy. Not to mention the now infamous X-rated episode shot for an ITV Christmas party, which subsequently found its way to the Sun.

Interweaved with the dirt on what really went on behind the scenes is the story of Rainbow’s heyday in the 1970’s and 80’s. The stars found themselves catapulted into an exciting showbiz world – scooping a BAFTA award and even performing for the queen, and the story of a young lad from a south London council estate who defied his parents’ protests to become one of the most respected puppeteers of all time.

Ronnie Le Drew

Ronnie Le Drew is one of the UK’s most respected puppeteer and recipient of the prestigious Harlequin Award. He has operated many of the most iconic children’s puppets of the twentieth century. From Zippy, Sweep, Muffin the Mule, Bill and Ben, Brains from Thunderbirds – as well as working on classic puppet films such as Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors and The Muppet Christmas Carol. He continues to work regularly as a puppeteer in TV, theatre and advertising. He also teaches at the London School of Puppetry, which he founded in 1987.