Final curtain call for Fife's top kids' show

Hundreds of happy children have thronged through the doors of Kirkcaldy Galleries over the past two weeks to say a final farewell to the Singing Kettle.
Little Esme Buchanan-Smith (3) inside the Singing Kettle, with Artie and CillaLittle Esme Buchanan-Smith (3) inside the Singing Kettle, with Artie and Cilla
Little Esme Buchanan-Smith (3) inside the Singing Kettle, with Artie and Cilla

For over three decades the spout, handle, lid of metal mantra has echoed around homes, nursery corridors and theatre halls in Fife and much further beyond as Artie, Cilla and the gang performed their magic that had children the country over spellbound.

Now the phenomenum is about to come to an end, with the final exhibition at the Galleries running for the next month before finally shutting up shop.

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But Artie and Cilla, who stopped off to visit the exhibition and say hello to their young fans, last week, are adamant that the Singing Kettle will live on.

Artie, who is now a sprightly 69, told the Press: “It doesn’t feel like the end, it feels like a celebration of our work over the years.

“It’s great to see all the props from all the different shows and every one has a memory for us, as it does for lots of people coming along to the exhibition; it’s a bit of nostalgia.

“It would be great to think that coming for a visit could inspire even one child to follow the type of wonderful and exciting career we have enjoyed with the Singing Kettle.”

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Cilla added: “I don’t see it as the end of the road. Lots of our exhibits here will continue to be shown in museums and displays around the country, and our television show has been on STV for the last few months, along with all the DVDs and CDs and people will continue to re-live it for years to come.

“I have retired from professional singing, but I continue to do charity work.”

And the many youngsters who were there on the day were certainly having a great time trying on the costumes, watching the DVDs, playing with the props and creating at the art table.

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