Kenny Everett fans floored as they realise he was voice of iconic cartoon character

It's 30 years since comic genius Kenny Everett died, but his legacy lives on in unforgettable creations like Sid Snot, Brother Lee Love and Cupid Stunt. The celebrated comedian passed away on 4 April, 1995, aged just 50, from an AIDS-related illness, having been diagnosed HIV positive in 1989.

Kenny had been married to a singer and psychic, Audrey 'Lady Lee' Middleton, but since their break up he was living with a Red Army soldier, Nicolai Grishanovitch, who died in 1991, and from whom Kenny sadly contracted HIV. Before his death, Kenny had made a public announcement that he was suffering from the illness, and that he was leaving his radio job on Capital Gold.

But while Kenny's hilarious characters are well remembered – as well as his friendships with Queen star Freddie Mercury and Cleo Rocos – there is one role that Kenny played which is known about by far fewer people. And it's left his fans totally floored at the realisation.

Back in the 1970s, the government's Central Office of Information produced six short, animated cartoons for children, dealing with safety issues faced by youngsters, such as not going off with strangers, as well as the dangers of playing near water and with matches. The stars of the cartoons were Tony, a young boy, and his large, ginger tabby cat Charley, voiced by none other than Kenny himself. Charley would miaow the lesson from each advertisement, which Tony would then explain, rewarding Charley with a treat.

The cartoon advertisements gained such cult status that The Prodigy even sampled a clip from the episode Mummy Should Know, in their 1991 debut hit Charly, which reached No 3 in the official UK Singles Chart. Keith Flint from The Prodigy sadly died in a shock suicide in 2019, aged just 49. And in 2005, the Charley Says series was voted 95th in a Channel 4 TV special of 100 Greatest Cartoons.

Fans reacted to the news that Kenny played Charley on a Facebook post by British Comedy Classics, which said: "Kenny Everett was the brilliant voice behind Charley the cat in the iconic Charley Says public information films." One person expressed their surprise, saying: "Wow, never knew Kenny did the voice. Totally brilliant and talented guy," while another commented: "A huge Ken fan but the first time I heard this. Were there no ends to his talents?"

Another similarly astounded person stated: "Didn't realise it was him. Best bit of work he did!" and another added: "Never knew that!!! Genius idea by scaring the absolute s**te out of children - can still hear the voices!!! Those ads could never be made today, especially with all the "trigger" warnings needed...."

According to the BFI, Kenny also initially recorded the part of the boy, Tony. Due to some disagreements with the BBC, he was pre-recording his radio shows at his home studio so they could be checked for content before broadcast. The BFI explains: "The Charley voices were recorded in the same way, but director Richard Taylor felt that Kenny's voice as the boy would have been off-putting for children and recorded his neighbour's son instead."

The Charley Says cartoons were revived in 2014, for a series of ads on electrical safety. Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams provided the voice of Charley in the films created by the charity Electrical Safety First, to highlight safety in the home. Stepping into the role, David said: "We've all had a go at mimicking Charley the cat's meow. I hope my version is up to scratch."

"We are thrilled to be working with David to bring Charley Says back to life and hope that anyone who remembers the films from their childhood will want to watch and share our new videos," said Emma Apter, from Electrical Safety First.

Kenny's life will be celebrated on BBC4 this weekend, starting with TOTP:1973, presented by Kenny, on Friday, 4 April at 9pm. This is followed by a series of shows on Saturday, 5 April, starting at 9.35pm with Kenny Everett: In The Best Possible Taste and followed at 10.05pm with The Best Of Kenny Everett's Television shows.