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"Camping out with Danny La Rue"
• 15 Nov 2007 •
 HE'S part of the British Institution, called a living legend by those that know what it really means, a consummate professional, world-famous comedian, drag artist and all round nice-guy. Danny La Rue is in Benidorm for the debut of Hello Danny, an onstage biography that is glamorous, dazzling show that portrays Danny’s life through songs and spectacular dance routines. It was Danny's first new show for more than fifteen years, and sees Jerry Lane playing the younger version of the man who Bob Hope called “the most glamorous woman in show business.”
The Euro Weekly News met up with Danny before the performance that took place on Remembrance Sunday, perhaps a fitting date for a man who has done so much and continues to do so much for charities around the world.
Danny is a man who has been complimented by the best. After a show that was held in memory of John Inman, impresario Paul Elliott phoned Danny to let him know exactly what he thought of the performance. Elliot said “I genuflect to you, Mr La Rue. You are the greatest entertainer that has ever lived.” Danny says that receiving compliments such as this only find him feeling embarrassed, yet proud.
In the 1960´s Danny opened a nightclub in Hanover Square, where celebrities flocked. Listening to Danny speak is like listening to a list of every celebrity you've ever heard of from the golden age of theatre, film, music and royalty. “Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden were regulars, and Lord Snowden photographed me a few times, which was a great honour. Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Elizabeth Taylor, Noel Coward.” The list goes on and on. When asked if he misses those days, he smiles and says that “They were great times.”
And when it comes to Royalty, Danny La Rue is nothing but loyal. For a man who once said that he would never be able to repay the life that Britain has given him, the British Monarchy seem to disagree. The Queen watched the performance by Danny in what many feel is the show that made him, Hello Dolly. And she saw it not once, but twice. They have met a number of times, not least when Danny was given an OBE in 2002 for raising money for AIDS charities. “They are fantastic. I sung at the Queen Mother's one hundredth birthday party, and to be liked by the Queen Mother is such an honour. She was someone who had lived through it all. I sang Mother Kelly's Doorstep and she loved it.”
Before Danny left the interview, we asked him if he had any face care tips for out female readers. And of course, being Danny La Rue, he had a whole regime. “First you have to take off every bit of make-up very carefully. I use facial wipes from Body Shop, which do the trick. Then I steam my face before splashing it with ice-cold water. Then, massage in some vitamin E. It used to be a shilling for that, but I brought some the other day and it was 10 pounds. Luckily I got discount because I'm a pensioner.”
On the state of modern life he is very passionate. Suffering from macular degeneration in his eyes, Danny is very conscious of the need to help children who suffer from blindness. “Nothing makes me happier than when a blind child comes up to me and says “You look wonderful today Danny.”
The ladies in the Euro Weekly offices all wanted to know about Danny's dresses, which used to be designed by Mark Cantor, and then by Ann Galbraith. “We're auctioning them off for a children's charity. Some of them cost more that 15,000 pounds to create, so we're hoping to raise a lot of money. The wigs as well are very special. Apart from a few special ones, they are all made from real hair. The blonde ones cost around 2,000 pounds each, and the darker ones were usually around 1,500 pounds each.” |  Return to Top
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 24 09 2008 - ossjoy@hotmail.co.uk:
There are 126,000 people a year being diagnosed with Macular Degeneration in the UK alone, and this number will increase as life expectancy continues to increase. Too bad that partial sight and blindness are still not regarded as a "disability" - unless you are in a wheelchair!
The government should be funding reseach into Macular Degeneration but, sadly, the research centres rely solely upon charitable gifts and fund-raising by local self-help groups,
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