- Ronnie Le Drew, the puppeteer and TV presenter famous for voicing Zippy on the children's show Rainbow, has died at 78 following a short illness.
- Le Drew was a Canadian-British star who brought the squawking character to life on the beloved ITV series, which was the UK's answer to Sesame Street.
- He served as president of the British Puppet Guild for 10 years, with the organisation praising his active and supportive role.
- His extensive career included roles in other children's series like Playdays and The Sooty Show, where he played Sweep, and puppeteering in films such as Labyrinth and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
- Le Drew also taught at London's Little Angel theatre for three decades and released his autobiography, Zippy and Me: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Infamous Puppet, in 2019.
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