Ronnie Le Drew has died aged 78

What's happened

Ronnie Le Drew, known for operating the Rainbow puppet Zippy, has died after a short illness. He trained at the Little Angel Theatre and co-founded the London School of Puppetry. His presidency of the British Puppet Guild and his contributions to puppetry are being remembered by colleagues and peers.

What's behind the headline?

Analysis

• The obituaries frame Le Drew as a pivotal figure in British puppetry, highlighting a career spanning television, film, and education.
• There is a focus on his work with Zippy on Rainbow, his collaborations with Roy Skelton, and his leadership role with the British Puppet Guild.
• The pieces collectively position him as both a performer and educator who helped professionalise puppetry in the UK.

What this signals for readers: Le Drew’s death closes a significant chapter in UK puppetry history and underscores the deep ties between television nostalgia and live theatre training for puppeteers.

Forecast: The British Puppet Guild is likely to amplify remembrances and possibly organise tributes as it reflects on his decade-long presidency and influence on the field.

How we got here

Le Drew grew up in London after emigrating from Canada, trained at the Little Angel Theatre, and became a central figure in British puppetry. His work spanned Rainbow, The Sooty Show, Labyrinth, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and teaching roles at the Little Angel Theatre and the London School of Puppetry.

Our analysis

The Guardian reports on Le Drew’s death and his role with Rainbow and Sooty; The Independent and other outlets corroborate his career and influence, noting his teaching work at the Little Angel Theatre and the London School of Puppetry.

Go deeper

• What was Le Drew’s lasting impact on British puppetry education?
• Which projects defined his career beyond Rainbow?
• How might the puppetry community commemorate his work in the coming months?

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