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| Theme tune writer Hazlehurst dies | Theme tune writer Hazlehurst dies |
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| Ronnie Hazlehurst, who wrote the theme tunes for television shows such as Blankety Blank and Last of the Summer Wine, has died aged 79. | Ronnie Hazlehurst, who wrote the theme tunes for television shows such as Blankety Blank and Last of the Summer Wine, has died aged 79. |
| A former musical director at the BBC, he was closely involved with the Eurovision Song Contest and conducted the UK entry on seven occasions. | A former musical director at the BBC, he was closely involved with the Eurovision Song Contest and conducted the UK entry on seven occasions. |
| He died in hospital in Guernsey after suffering a stroke last week. | He died in hospital in Guernsey after suffering a stroke last week. |
| Broadcaster Michael Parkinson called the Manchester-born composer "a marvellous and talented musician". | Broadcaster Michael Parkinson called the Manchester-born composer "a marvellous and talented musician". |
| "He was also a funny north country man with a great sense of humour," he said. | "He was also a funny north country man with a great sense of humour," he said. |
| "When I was at the BBC, I did a series of specials with him. He was one of the great unsung heroes on the music business - and a great professional." | "When I was at the BBC, I did a series of specials with him. He was one of the great unsung heroes on the music business - and a great professional." |
| Hazlehurst's partner Jean Fitzgerald said: "He was just a perfectionist in his profession and a very kind and generous man." | Hazlehurst's partner Jean Fitzgerald said: "He was just a perfectionist in his profession and a very kind and generous man." |
| Morse Code | Morse Code |
| Hazlehurst was responsible for many of the BBC's best-loved theme tunes, including Yes, Minister, The Two Ronnies and Are You Being Served? | Hazlehurst was responsible for many of the BBC's best-loved theme tunes, including Yes, Minister, The Two Ronnies and Are You Being Served? |
| HAZLEHURST CLASSICS Hazlehurst wrote the incidental music for Last of the Summer Wine Summer Wine The Two Ronnies Some Mothers... Yes, Minister To The Manor Born href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7020000/newsid_7024600?redirect=7024673.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Reginald Perrin The composer said he always tried to make the music fit the title of the programme - such as using a piccolo to spell out the title to Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em in Morse Code. | |
| "I wouldn't prostitute a tune, to bend it every which way to fit the title," he said. "But if I can make it so, I do." | "I wouldn't prostitute a tune, to bend it every which way to fit the title," he said. "But if I can make it so, I do." |
| As well as writing theme tunes, Hazlehurst composed the score for programmes like Last of the Summer Wine. | As well as writing theme tunes, Hazlehurst composed the score for programmes like Last of the Summer Wine. |
| "His music captured the mood immediately," the show's producer Alan JW Bell said. | "His music captured the mood immediately," the show's producer Alan JW Bell said. |
| "If a character was walking, all the footsteps would be in time with the music and if there was a little hand gesture, there would be a little figure that would accompany that. | "If a character was walking, all the footsteps would be in time with the music and if there was a little hand gesture, there would be a little figure that would accompany that. |
| "He was very precise with it. The musicians said they didn't know how he did it - it was so painstaking. Musically, he was the king." | "He was very precise with it. The musicians said they didn't know how he did it - it was so painstaking. Musically, he was the king." |
| Umbrella stunt | Umbrella stunt |
| Hazlehurst served as musical director of the Eurovision Song Contest three times, and famously conducted the UK entry in 1977 using a rolled-up umbrella. | Hazlehurst served as musical director of the Eurovision Song Contest three times, and famously conducted the UK entry in 1977 using a rolled-up umbrella. |
| In 1999, he received a Gold Badge award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. | In 1999, he received a Gold Badge award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. |
| The BBC's head of comedy, Jon Plowman, said: "He was the composer of many of the best-loved signature tunes of the last 40 years of television - and some of his work is still heard today. | The BBC's head of comedy, Jon Plowman, said: "He was the composer of many of the best-loved signature tunes of the last 40 years of television - and some of his work is still heard today. |
| "He's associated with some of the best-loved shows of our lives." | "He's associated with some of the best-loved shows of our lives." |
| Fellow musician Laurie Holloway said his favourite Hazlehurst composition was the theme for political satire Yes, Minister. | Fellow musician Laurie Holloway said his favourite Hazlehurst composition was the theme for political satire Yes, Minister. |
| "I thought it was grand and very much Ronnie," he told BBC News 24. "We're going to miss him a lot." | "I thought it was grand and very much Ronnie," he told BBC News 24. "We're going to miss him a lot." |
| Ms Fitzgerald said Hazlehurst had moved to Guernsey 10 years ago from Hendon, north London, and had had a heart bypass operation in October last year. | Ms Fitzgerald said Hazlehurst had moved to Guernsey 10 years ago from Hendon, north London, and had had a heart bypass operation in October last year. |
| He is survived by two sons from his second marriage. | He is survived by two sons from his second marriage. |