The Stage

Pantomime great Jack Tripp dies

Published Monday 11 July 2005 at 10:35

Jack Tripp, widely regarded as Britain’s greatest pantomime dame, has died at the age of 83.

The Plymouth-born entertainer began his career as a singer and dancer with the Fol de Rols concert party. In the sixties and seventies he starred in his own summer show, Take a Tripp, at resorts throughout the UK, often sharing the stage with his partner, singer Allen Christie.

It was as a pantomime dame, however, that Tripp reigned supreme. He appeared in more than 50 pantomimes, most memorably playing ‘mother’ on numerous occasions to Roy Hudd.

Tripp retired from the stage five years ago but was often a guest at showbusiness functions. His last appearance was at a British Music Hall Society luncheon in April this year. He was also awarded the MBE for his services to pantomime.

Tripp was taken ill at his home in Brighton on Sunday July 10. Actress and close friend Anna Sharkey had been talking with him on the telephone and realised that the entertainer was seriously ill. “I called for an ambulance immediately,” she said. “He died a few hours later in Brighton General Hospital. It’s so sad. He was a comedy genius.”

Sharkey’s actor husband Jonathan Cecil said: “Jack was the greatest pantomime dame of them all. He had no equal.”