Hope and Keen

Mike Hope (born Michael Gerard Harrison; 17 June 1935 – 12 April 2019) and Albie Keen (born Thomas Albert Henry Harrison; 4 June 1935 – 2 March 2020) were a British comedy double act. They were first cousins, the sons of British Variety comedians Syd and Max Harrison[1] and first formed their act, as singers, dancers and acrobats, in 1956.[2] They were the hosts of Hope and Keen's Crazy House and other British television and radio shows.

Hope and Keen
Years active1956-1974
Former membersMike Hope
Albie Keen
Mike Hope
Born
Michael Gerald Harrison

(1935-06-17)17 June 1935
Birmingham, England
Died12 April 2019(2019-04-12) (aged 83)
East Sussex, England
Years active1956-1974
Known forOne half of Hope and Keen
TelevisionComedy Bandbox, Hope and Keen's Crazy House, Hope and Keen's Crazy Bus. The Hope and Keen Scene
Spouse(s)Ann Maureen Kennedy (1965-1970)
Charlotte Howard (1975-?)
Patricia Rosevar (1993-?)
Children3
Albie Keen
Born
Thomas Albert Henry Harrison

(1935-06-04)4 June 1935
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died2 March 2020(2020-03-02) (aged 84)
Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, Charente, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Years active1956-1974
Known forOne half of Hope and Keen
TelevisionComedy Bandbox, Hope and Keen's Crazy House, Hope and Keen's Crazy Bus. The Hope and Keen Scene
Height1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)

History

In 1971 they were engaged for the West End show Meet Me In London at the Adelphi Theatre. This was a ten-week ‘fill-in’- put on by impresario Harold Fielding after Charlie Girl closed at short notice and he was getting together a production of Show Boat.

Hope and Keen had a spot in the first half. When the other star of this part of the show, Clodagh Rodgers, walked out fifteen minutes before curtain-up on the first night after one of her numbers was cut, they filled in for her for several nights before another singer (Susan Maughan) came in. They received positive reviews from the critics in this run, as they not only demonstrated a gift for comedy, but also played several instruments between them, and showed a flair for gymnastics. Physical comedy became the mainstay of their act, and a very impressive sword-dueling sequence became a signature skit in the act. They even had offers to be hired as stuntmen.

Both were members of the Grand Order of Water Rats.[3] In 1979 they served as joint captains of the Variety Club of Great Britain's Golfing Society.[4]

Hope died in 2019, aged 83.[5] Keen died in France in 2020, aged 84.[6]

Television
  • Comedy Bandbox (1963–64)
  • Hope and Keen's Crazy House (1971)[7]
  • Hope and Keen's Crazy Bus (1972)
  • The Hope and Keen Scene (1974)

References
  1. Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts, Robson Books, 1998, ISBN 1-86105-206-5, p.84
  2. "Hope & Keen". its-behind-you.com. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  3. Key to the Grand Order of Water Rats. Accessed 25 November 2014
  4. Variety Club of Great Britain Golfing Society headed stationery Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 26 November 2014
  5. RIP Mike Hope", GOWR. Retrieved 8 December 2020
  6. "Death: Thomas Albert Henry Harrison", Fichier des personnes décédées, Montrouge. Retrieved 24 December 2021
  7. BFI: Hope and Keen's Crazy House. Accessed 26 November 2014
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