From leaving school at 16 to being married for 60 years, retired comedian Russ Abbot, 78, shares details of his journey: ‘So we started in the caravan…’ |

Russ Abbot was one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry at one time; Recently, he spoke about his life. The retired comedian, actor and singer shared details about his life outside the spotlight and how he misses the glitz and glamour. He also opened up about his bond with his partner, Trish, over the years.

Russ Abbot talks about his fame

Russ Abbot, the 78-year-old veteran comedian, singer and actor, spoke about what it was like to live with the level of success he achieved. After leaving school at the young age of 16, Abbot joined the group Black Abbots and had a six-week residency at the Royalty Theatre.At the time, he was using his full name, Russell; However, his manager, Mike Hughes, did not think his full name would survive the test of time. This was also the time he started working on ‘The Comedians’. Speaking about the match and how he came to be known as Russ Abbott, he shared with The Guardian: “He said: ‘Think about it, if your bill is in alphabetical order, you’ll always be first.’ He said: ‘Abba might overtake you, but that’s it.’‘That’s smart, isn’t it?The star also opened up about how fame changed his and Trish’s lives as a couple. When asked if this has had any major impact on his life, the 78-year-old admitted that, at best, the space they live in has been improved. From a caravan to a 5-star hotel, Abbot shared that not much had changed, adding: “Only in the sense that we climbed the ladder at home, didn’t we, Trish? So we started in the caravan. Trish’s father won in the pools that paid for the caravan as a wedding present. Then my dad got us a place with a rent of £1 a week. Two up, two down. “Then we got a £10,000 bungalow and sold it for double the price.”

How did Trish and Russ Abbot meet?

Did you know that Trish and Russ Abbot have been happily married for the past 60 years? During the interview, Abbot revealed that Trish had initially been interested in another member of the band, not him. He shared: “She came to the door of the British Legion stage in Ellesmere Port while I was packing up my drums. In those days we had a bass player called Paul Dodd. He ended up being a policeman. Trish says, ‘Is the bassist around?’ I said, ‘No, he’s gone, love.’‘ She said, “Oh, that’s a shame; I wanted to say hello.” He shared that since his bandmate was away, he took her out for a drink at a nearby bar and the rest is history. “I said, ‘Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.'” Then I said, “Let me take you home.” She said, “I just live across the street.” I said, “You can’t walk alone at this time of night.” Then I left with a kiss and a hug. And it all started from there, didn’t it, Trish? Abbott shared, while Trish, who was also accompanying him in the interview at the time, added that Abbot was the typical “boy next door” personality at the time.The two had four children, and although he was going through many difficulties in life, including the loss of his mother, who had been battling dementia for some time, his wife was one of the biggest support systems he needed. “In 1984 I worked 363 days,” he shared, also talking about how his wife helped him a lot and took care of everything. He shared: “Trish raised them all. “I was always away, away on summer tours or pantomime tours. Pantomimes, my goodness! You would come home on Christmas Eve, put the presents under the tree, go to bed, have breakfast, watch the kids open the toys, and then come back for a matinee.”

Who is Russ Abad?

Russ Abbot is a beloved musician, comedian and actor who dominated the British Saturday night television scene during the height of his career in the 1980s. He began his career in the entertainment industry with the Black Abbots, a musical band where he played drums. He also had a successful solo career, with one of his most popular songs, ‘Atmosphere’, reaching the top spots on several song charts. He retired in 2016 and has been leading a quiet life, focusing on his family life.