Critical reception at the time was negative, with journalists criticizing the musical for its humor. [11] A journalist for The Chester Chronicle panned the portrayals of the titular Cloggies while citing Stephen Nallon's impression of Margaret Thatcher as a highlight. [13] The Liverpool Echo's Walter Huntley also reviewed the musical, criticizing it for its poor sound quality and humor. [14] Exhibitions [ edit ] So popular the Fosdyke Saga was that it became the subject of a BBC 42-part radio series from 1983. Tidy’s other TV appearances included Watercolour Challenge, Through the Keyhole, Blankety Blank and Countryfile. His radio appearances include 1988 editions of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, when he stood in for Barry Cryer. He also wrote and presented Draw Me, a children’s television series in 13 parts. In 1983 the strip resurfaced as a series on Radio 2, which Tidy co-wrote with John Junkin. He also adapted the strip for the stage with the playwright Alan Plater. Strips from The Cloggies, along with several of Tidy's other works, were displayed at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool during 1986. [15] Other works [ edit ]

Hugely popular and phenomenally talented he was also a successful author, writer, after dinner speaker, and TV and radio presenter.The Cloggies were undisputed champions of their ‘sport’, usually inflicting grave injuries before repairing to the nearest pub. Their capacity for beer was legendary; their home venue, the Clog & Bells, Blagdon, where Doris the barmaid was always in a welcoming mood. There were also unorthodox activities involving the use of ferrets.

The actor and singer Chaim Topol (pictured), best known for his performances in the musical Fiddler on the Roof. His one major regret in his long career was his failure to save Punch from closure, despite trying, with other artists and journalists, to buy it. He drew for the magazine from 1959 but in spite of his best efforts it folded in 1992.In the May Blitz in 1940 we would retire to the cellar with our cousins, the Hughes family, who shared the house with us. It was there we founded the ‘Juanita Club’. Juanita was a cheap red wine which I discovered at the age of seven to have an excellent nose and delicious hints of strawberries and fish and chips. It saw us through the air raids and I was only scared once.