Roy Jay was a star of the 1980s, appearing on numerous BBC TV shows, but his life ended in tragedy after he was fined for indecent exposure and banned from many venues
In a tragic turn of events, an iconic 80s comedian passed away penniless with his body left unclaimed for weeks. Roy Jay was celebrated for his regular appearances on BBC, featuring on telly shows such as The Bob Monkhouse Show, The Little and Large Show and The Main Attraction during the height of his career.
However, the British-Norwegian entertainer faced a heartbreaking end to his life. His troubles began after he was charged with indecent exposure in 1984, when he dropped his trousers during a live performance before a family audience at the Park Club in Jersey.
He was slapped with a £200 fine – but more devastatingly, his reputation took a severe blow. Roy found himself blacklisted from numerous venues across the country even before the indecent exposure conviction.
It turned out to be the final straw for his television career, reports the Mirror.
While he managed to keep his stand-up work going in his last years, his TV gigs disappeared. Ultimately, the performer passed away in Alicante, Spain, in December 2007 at the age of 59, completely broke.
His body was left unclaimed for two weeks.
His death was reportedly due to alcohol misuse. His funeral, held at Villajoyosa Crematorium, was funded by a local Spanish businessman who was also a close friend of Roy’s.
Roy is still warmly remembered for his telly appearances and his later performances at a Benidorm club. One fan wrote after his passing: “Terrible news about Roy. I never did see him but will remember with fondness his TV work back in the day. RIP Mr Slither.”
Another supporter looked back fondly: “I did see him in Benidorm in the late 1980s at the Talk of the Coast, which is now the Ambassador Playa. I remember the place was packed and everyone was having a great laugh.”
A third person echoed: “A very talented but tormented guy who is all but forgotten today.”
Roy’s early years were quite remarkable, though accounts of his upbringing vary. According to one account, he was born Roy Jørgensen in Oslo, Norway, to a Norwegian dad and a Scottish/Irish mum.
When he was just four years old, his family moved to South Wales. At eight, he spent 12 months in Cork, Ireland, where he perfected his Irish language skills and violin playing, before heading back to Wales.
The family subsequently moved to Atherton in Greater Manchester, England, where he attended Hesketh Fletcher High School. At 15, he enlisted with the Royal Norwegian Navy, though he later returned to civilian life to perform vocals in a group playing Northern clubs and dance halls.
He then took up the role of Assistant Entertainments Manager at Pontins holiday camp in Southport, where he launched his stand-up comedy career. Yet, an alternative narrative proposes that Roy Jay was in fact born in Uffculme, Devon.
According to this account, he was employed by Pontins in Morecambe during the 1970s and showcased his comedic talent in clubs up North, prior to making a special guest appearance on Johnny Mathis’s 1983 UK tour.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
