After Dinner SpeakersRoy Walker is a legendary Irish Comedian and Former ‘Catchphrase’ Presenter.
Comedian Roy is well known to TV viewers for presenting the top ITV game show, Catchphrase.
His lugubrious style of humour his dead-pan expression and his approach to entertaining, has paid handsome dividends.
His casual line in patter has endeared him to audiences nationwide.
Roy Walker was born in Belfast. He first became involved in entertainment at school, where he sang in the choir and acted in the end-of-term plays.
As a boy soprano, at fourteen, he took the first steps to a career in show business. After auditioning at the Belfast Opera House, Roy was invited to join the celebrated Francis Longford Choir. He toured extensively for the next twelve months, including appearances at the London Palladium and on television.
Running parallel with his entertainment career, however, Roy Walker showed exceptional talent on the athletics field. Aided by the coaching of Buster McShane, who guided Mary Peters to Olympic Gold, Roy became an outstanding prospect as a hammer thrower. He was the Northern Ireland Champion for two years and often represented his country internationally.
Following a short spell working as a partner to comedian James Young, Roy was summoned for national service. He spent the next seven years in uniform yet still found time to entertain regularly. When he eventually left the service, his sights were set on a showbusiness career.
Roy Walker – Comedian
It was a make-or-break time for the Belfast comedian, and at first, the going was extremely tough as he tried to establish a name for himself in comedy. To supplement his income during the day, while he toured the clubs at night, Roy took any job he could find, and in rapid succession, he became a baker, a postman, milkman, PT instructor, bingo caller… and even washed dishes.
However, he was slowly building a reputation as a comedian. He was emerging as a hilarious man in his own right and a firm favourite in clubland.
TV Comedian and Catchphrase
In 1977, Roy Walker broke through to success and national prominence when he recorded the highest marks ever given to a comedian on television’s New Faces.
It was the start of a television career that has blossomed ever since. He starred on all the major TV variety shows, including:
- Live From Her Majesty’s
- Blankety Blank
- Des O’Connor Tonight
- Bob Monkhouse Show
- Tarby And Friends
- Paul Daniels Show
- The Laughter Show
- Live From The Palladium
- A Night Of A Hundred Stars
- Les And Dustin’s Laughter Show
- The Russ Abbot Show
- Wogan
Furthermore, Roy headlined The Comedians, his show, Licensed For Singing And Dancing. and hosted the TVS show, Summertime Special.
At the beginning of 1987, he hosted his first series of Catchphrase, which became a high-rating addition to the ITV Network scheduling each year.
His summer seasons were sell-outs. He also appeared extensively with Russ Abbot, Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones and toured the country with his live stage version of Catchphrase.
Pantomimes have also played a big part in his career performing at some the UK’s largest theatres.
In September 1998, while filming Catchphrase, Roy Walker was surprised by Michael Aspel – with the big red book – as a subject of This Is Your Life.
Roy Walker has appeared in Channel 4’s hit TV series Phoenix Nights and presented a six-part comedy series The Way We Tell ‘Em for BBC Radio, Northern Ireland.
He continues to headline theatre, cabaret and after-dinner speaking engagements throughout Britain and overseas.
