Such a versatile & talented man. Loved him in "Rentaghost" on TV as a kid too. Taken so young at only aged 44 in 1987. He would've been celebrating his 80th birthday this year, in 2023. If he had lived. Rest in peace, Michael.
I have never seen this clip before. I adored Michael Staniforth and remember him well as Timothy Claypole, the ghostly Medieval jester in Rentaghost. Taken far too soon!
Saw him in the original Starlight Express production - the most AMAZING voice. Was gobsmacked when he hit the high notes. So glad I got to hear him sing live.
I'm so envious of you, I WISH I could see the original Starlight Express! 😭 (There are seemingly 0 performance clips except for the '83 workshop and 1 30-second ad. 😞)
I didn't know it was announced at the time that he had died. I was under the impression that it was only known since about 1999/2000. I was 7 in 1987 and I never heard anything in the news.
So that's what Timothy Claypole got up to when Harold and Ethel Meaker dispensed with his ghostly presence! I was seventeen at the time of his demise, having grown up watching Rentaghost.
Wow at 3:32 with the blond wig, thats Colm Wilkinson. He's an irish Singer and Actor who was in Les Miserables and The Tudors TV drama. He's still going strong today I'm happy to say. So sad Michael Staniforth lost is life to Aids. I was recently watch the Drama Its a Sin, which is on NOW TV, about a group of mostly gay friends in London throughout the 80s. Originally they're living a carefree lifestyle, but Aids is on the horizon and finally overwhelms them all. I imagine that's pretty much exactly what Michael Staniforth went through too.
There have been so many dramas about AIDS over the years, things such as "My Night With Reg". I thought It's a Sin was very poor though. As with all of Russell T Davies' stuff, he writes in primary colours. You can tell he was a kids TV writer.
@@zeddeka I would disagree, I think he intentionally wrote it in a way that todays generation could watch it in the style of TV show they're used to while also educating them on how horrible the Aids epidemic was back then.
A brilliant performer, and a rentaghost legend in my childhood, this exquisite and rare footage of him is testimony to the loss he is to British TV & Theatre. Never saw him in live performance,, but I'm sure he was captivating. When will they ever release Rentaghost the full series! Let a new audience come to recognise the wonderful talents of Staniforth, Brayshaw, Emery, Biggins, Jackson & Darbyshire.
I didn't really understand rentaghost as a child, the humour was quite adult. I do however remember the brilliant , energetic and super talented Micheal as Mr Claypole. I only found out he'd passed a few years ago, very sad, a great talent, gone too soon x
Only found out he died a few days ago. I was a huge fan of rentaghost when I was a kid so can’t believe I missed the news of his passing at the time. I can’t help noticing the heavy white makeup very similar to how Freddie Mercury looked during his last two Queen videos.
How I wish I could have been in a Berlin nightclub, one hundred years ago watching the original cabaret, whilst drinking schnapps and puffing on my cigarette in its obscenely long holder. Also looking my absolute best.😊🎩
This is the best version of Willkommen I’ve ever seen! It’s such a pity he was never in the full musical. I think he’s much better than Joel Grey because Michael Staniforth’s version of Emcee looks as if he’s having fun and he can’t wait for you to see the show and enjoy it too!
Saw the new Starlight Express this week, and really missed The Red Caboose, as per when I saw it in the original production. They've cut the song "There's Me" with which Michael stole the show as far as I was concerned. That led me to look the original performer up, and to find this brilliant performance. And to discover he's been gone all these years.... so sad. Here's to him and Stephanie Lawrence. They still shine like Starlight...
Did they ever record the previews matinées on film, when the show was still in full stage rehearsals. It would have been nice to see some of the other actors from this particular production in costume performing extracts. If it got that far. Anyone help....
3 week holiday. Sand paper was a beach, 'score plus one (a score is twenty so 21) give three to savour'. Three weeks is 21 days. 'I in going' (to go away somewhere).
Obviously the Joel Grey ersion of this song is impossible to imitate and why would you even attempt it. But this is pretty fantastic anyway . Michael Staniforth does a pretty good top notch job too, making the part his own.
All truly great actors, artists etc are underused and under appreciated whilst crap rises to the top like mouldy cream on a bottle of milk. Certainly Michael and the rest of Rentaghost particularly the weird brilliant and handsome Edward Brayshaw (Harold Meaker) ... are woefully underused or appreciated. I dont like musicals at all only watching as I am batty for Rentaghost. Also not a lot of personal info about the actors available.
321 was the most confusing show ever. I thought the host was creepy as hell and about as funny as a rectal prolapse. The acts were usually ok but the clues were so difficult I don’t think anyone worked them out, people who didn’t win the booby prize only won out of dumb luck because I think the clues were created by a coke-snorting donkey. I loved and still love Michael, he was definitely the outstanding star of Rent a Ghost, it would have been a flop I think without him… and he sang the intro too! Super talented man, taken far too soon - as were millions of others of course 😢
@@mjclark641 Can't remember where it was to but couldn't have been too expencive as at the time quiz shows on ITV had a legal limit they were allowed to give away as a prize value. The samd paper was for a beach and the score plus one (which is 21) gives three to savour was the three weeks.
CAN NOT BELIEVE HE IS THE JESTER FROM RENTAGHOST, AND JUST FOUND OUT HE DIED NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO, NOW I KNOW WHY THEY NEVER POPED UP ON VARIOUS PROGRAMMING ( AS THEY DO ) THROUGH OUT THE YEAR'S
AFTER MORE RESEARCH I NOW SADLY REALISED WHY ? 🤔 HE DIED OF AIDS ( A SHAME RELATED DEATH AT THAT TIME IN THE 1980s ) NO WOUNDER THE BBC HUSHED THAT UP ! 😥 THANK GOD WE HAVE MOVED ON...
no anthony jackson was happily married with kids,,, i do suspect that Michael darbyshire was though... just from various mannerisms and the fact no family etc and nothing on him etc
I in going am biased for favour , it’s about travel a score plus one gives three to savour 21/3=7 lucky 7 slot machines Sand paper is the clue, the golden mile. It’s a Holiday to Blackpool 🎉 Knowing 321 the solution is much more convoluted.
Yes, I remember when I was a kid seeing him towards the end of the final Rentaghost series and being shocked at how wasted he looked. He died before decent retro-viral drugs became available
Also I suspected most of the actors in Renta to be gay not just Michael. Its jolly weird the main male actors died younger and all in succession. I would be curious as to why and what they died from as I thought maybe they were "friendly" with each other and well you know um... Fred M and Hubert D used to gaze at each other- I thought they were close. Also I read on mumsnet my beloved Meaker was "good with colours"... Nooooooo!
I have never seen this clip before. I adored Michael Staniforth and remember him well as Timothy Claypole, the ghostly Medieval jester in Rentaghost. Taken far too soon!
The lovely Michael I worked with him and saw him a week or so before he died; a talented man killed by this dreadful disease
Vincent McGrath agree remember him from my childhood In rent a ghost
lot of love still out there for him
How brave was he. Rest in peace Michael and all the angels lost but not forgotten.
He would of been great on stage in Cabaret 😢❤
One of the lost generation of gay men taken to soon. 🏳️🌈
Wherever you are Michael we remember you and you gave us so much joy. X
A brilliant actor much missed so funny and talented in Rentaghost as Timothy Claypole tragic that he died so young may his soul rest in peace ❤
Some incredibly talented people worked in Children’s tv back then.
Couldn’t stand 321, but this is a great clip. May He Rest In Peace 🙏🏾🤍🙏🏾😢
Such a versatile & talented man. Loved him in "Rentaghost" on TV as a kid too. Taken so young at only aged 44 in 1987. He would've been celebrating his 80th birthday this year, in 2023. If he had lived. Rest in peace, Michael.
I have never seen this clip before. I adored Michael Staniforth and remember him well as Timothy Claypole, the ghostly Medieval jester in Rentaghost. Taken far too soon!
Saw him in the original Starlight Express production - the most AMAZING voice. Was gobsmacked when he hit the high notes. So glad I got to hear him sing live.
Robin Chapman I'm jealous. it would have been a pleasure to see him live Starlight Express.
I'm so envious of you, I WISH I could see the original Starlight Express! 😭 (There are seemingly 0 performance clips except for the '83 workshop and 1 30-second ad. 😞)
I saw him at the Apollo Victoria in Starlight express, back in the eighties, a fantastic talent who is very much missed! 😁😪
@@outlawssweetheartwait where is that ad?????
Was great in "Rentaghost" and he performed the song from "Cabaret" very well.
He'll always be Mr Claypole to me. 🥰
Aye, I'm sure everyone that watched Rentaghost back in the mid to late 70s/early 80s feels the same.
Like me! I was between five and fourteen at the time of Rentaghost and seventeen when he died!
such a great actor truly sad really still he inspired many children's childhood I doubt he'll be forgotten
I loved him as I loved rentaghost. I was 9 when he died and I was distraught for weeks.
I didn't know it was announced at the time that he had died. I was under the impression that it was only known since about 1999/2000. I was 7 in 1987 and I never heard anything in the news.
@@Matt571 I am ten years older than you as I was 17 at the time of his demise. Remember Rentaghost very well, especially the theme tune!
So that's what Timothy Claypole got up to when Harold and Ethel Meaker dispensed with his ghostly presence! I was seventeen at the time of his demise, having grown up watching Rentaghost.
This is video gold
Wow at 3:32 with the blond wig, thats Colm Wilkinson. He's an irish Singer and Actor who was in Les Miserables and The Tudors TV drama. He's still going strong today I'm happy to say. So sad Michael Staniforth lost is life to Aids. I was recently watch the Drama Its a Sin, which is on NOW TV, about a group of mostly gay friends in London throughout the 80s. Originally they're living a carefree lifestyle, but Aids is on the horizon and finally overwhelms them all. I imagine that's pretty much exactly what Michael Staniforth went through too.
There have been so many dramas about AIDS over the years, things such as "My Night With Reg". I thought It's a Sin was very poor though. As with all of Russell T Davies' stuff, he writes in primary colours. You can tell he was a kids TV writer.
@@zeddeka I would disagree, I think he intentionally wrote it in a way that todays generation could watch it in the style of TV show they're used to while also educating them on how horrible the Aids epidemic was back then.
He died not long after this if I recall, sad as he was immensely talented and taken far too soon.
After all these decades i didn't even no he had a wonderful voice.
He was great 👍 really truly amazing talented
A brilliant performer, and a rentaghost legend in my childhood, this exquisite and rare footage of him is testimony to the loss he is to British TV & Theatre. Never saw him in live performance,, but I'm sure he was captivating. When will they ever release Rentaghost the full series! Let a new audience come to recognise the wonderful talents of Staniforth, Brayshaw, Emery, Biggins, Jackson & Darbyshire.
Wow, he's brilliant here.
I didn't really understand rentaghost as a child, the humour was quite adult. I do however remember the brilliant , energetic and super talented Micheal as Mr Claypole. I only found out he'd passed a few years ago, very sad, a great talent, gone too soon x
Wow. He’s perfect.
Only found out he died a few days ago. I was a huge fan of rentaghost when I was a kid so can’t believe I missed the news of his passing at the time.
I can’t help noticing the heavy white makeup very similar to how Freddie Mercury looked during his last two Queen videos.
How I wish I could have been in a Berlin nightclub, one hundred years ago watching the original cabaret, whilst drinking schnapps and puffing on my cigarette in its obscenely long holder. Also looking my absolute best.😊🎩
Watched this with trepidation thinking 'Can he pull this off?'. I needn't have worried. Superb!
Thank you for this. Never seen it before 👌🏻
He was also CB in the original cast of Starlight Express so you can hear him sing on the recording
He’s the reason I love starlight so much his voice is honestly iconic
@@CBcaboose✨☺️
He was born to play the part of the Emcee. Shame there's not a full recording of the show.
This is the best version of Willkommen I’ve ever seen! It’s such a pity he was never in the full musical. I think he’s much better than Joel Grey because Michael Staniforth’s version of Emcee looks as if he’s having fun and he can’t wait for you to see the show and enjoy it too!
Gadzooks!
you we're so lucky he was quite the talented actor.
a great actor and under used
rouens Yes, he was.
Saw the new Starlight Express this week, and really missed The Red Caboose, as per when I saw it in the original production. They've cut the song "There's Me" with which Michael stole the show as far as I was concerned. That led me to look the original performer up, and to find this brilliant performance. And to discover he's been gone all these years.... so sad.
Here's to him and Stephanie Lawrence. They still shine like Starlight...
Properly talented bloke.
MARAVILHAS!!!
Like him he funny guy great smile
Did they ever record the previews matinées on film, when the show was still in full stage rehearsals. It would have been nice to see some of the other actors from this particular production in costume performing extracts. If it got that far. Anyone help....
remember him well he died young
Mr Claypole?
Queen as je could be.
"I, in Going, AM BIAsed in favour, a score plus one gives three to savour," + the sandpaper clue was a holiday prize of three weeks in Gambia.
What year was that I couldn't see from the credits...looks like 1986??
But thanks for posting it was great to watch it. :)
I guess this genre was popular in Berlin about 100 years ago!
I think they would find the questions too cryptic.
So what was the answer to the cryptic clue?
3 week holiday. Sand paper was a beach, 'score plus one (a score is twenty so 21) give three to savour'. Three weeks is 21 days. 'I in going' (to go away somewhere).
Wilkommen you mean!
Obviously the Joel Grey ersion of this song is impossible to imitate and why would you even attempt it. But this is pretty fantastic anyway . Michael Staniforth does a pretty good top notch job too, making the part his own.
All truly great actors, artists etc are underused and under appreciated whilst crap rises to the top like mouldy cream on a bottle of milk. Certainly Michael and the rest of Rentaghost particularly the weird brilliant and handsome Edward Brayshaw (Harold Meaker) ... are woefully underused or appreciated. I dont like musicals at all only watching as I am batty for Rentaghost. Also not a lot of personal info about the actors available.
He was only 44 when he died.
Joanna Fenn Wish he was still with us.
321 was the most confusing show ever. I thought the host was creepy as hell and about as funny as a rectal prolapse. The acts were usually ok but the clues were so difficult I don’t think anyone worked them out, people who didn’t win the booby prize only won out of dumb luck because I think the clues were created by a coke-snorting donkey. I loved and still love Michael, he was definitely the outstanding star of Rent a Ghost, it would have been a flop I think without him… and he sang the intro too! Super talented man, taken far too soon - as were millions of others of course 😢
Anyone else trying to solve the clue?
3 week holiday.
@@madabbafan Gambia?
@@mjclark641 Can't remember where it was to but couldn't have been too expencive as at the time quiz shows on ITV had a legal limit they were allowed to give away as a prize value. The samd paper was for a beach and the score plus one (which is 21) gives three to savour was the three weeks.
CAN NOT BELIEVE HE IS THE JESTER FROM RENTAGHOST,
AND JUST FOUND OUT HE DIED NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO,
NOW I KNOW WHY THEY NEVER POPED UP ON VARIOUS PROGRAMMING ( AS THEY DO ) THROUGH OUT THE YEAR'S
AFTER MORE RESEARCH I NOW SADLY REALISED WHY ? 🤔 HE DIED OF AIDS ( A SHAME RELATED DEATH AT THAT TIME IN THE 1980s ) NO WOUNDER THE BBC HUSHED THAT UP !
😥 THANK GOD WE HAVE MOVED ON...
no anthony jackson was happily married with kids,,, i do suspect that Michael darbyshire was though... just from various mannerisms and the fact no family etc and nothing on him etc
So nice Voice for musical* utube John Bavas Dedication
I in going am biased for favour , it’s about travel
a score plus one gives three to savour 21/3=7 lucky 7 slot machines
Sand paper is the clue, the golden mile.
It’s a Holiday to Blackpool 🎉
Knowing 321 the solution is much more convoluted.
Sad Loss Clearly taken by the bad AIDS
Why is it clear that he was taken by Aids. Twatty comment.
AIDS related.
Yes, I remember when I was a kid seeing him towards the end of the final Rentaghost series and being shocked at how wasted he looked. He died before decent retro-viral drugs became available
Taken too young
Utterly bizarre and rather unsettling.
Also I suspected most of the actors in Renta to be gay not just Michael. Its jolly weird the main male actors died younger and all in succession. I would be curious as to why and what they died from as I thought maybe they were "friendly" with each other and well you know um... Fred M and Hubert D used to gaze at each other- I thought they were close. Also I read on mumsnet my beloved Meaker was "good with colours"... Nooooooo!
In the end, Timothy got too much clay on his pole
You vile pig.
I have never seen this clip before. I adored Michael Staniforth and remember him well as Timothy Claypole, the ghostly Medieval jester in Rentaghost. Taken far too soon!