Puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew, famed voice of Rainbow’s Zippy, dies at 78

Renowned puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew, best known for performing and voicing the character Zippy on ITV’s children’s programme Rainbow, died at the age of 78 after a short illness. The British Puppet Guild, where he served as president, announced his death on 27 July and highlighted his long‑standing involvement in the puppetry community.

Le Drew’s career spanned over five decades, beginning in the 1960s. He appeared on a range of UK children’s shows including Playdays, The Sooty Show, Mortimer and Arabel and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. In film he contributed puppetry work to Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors, The Muppet Christmas Carol and other productions. He also taught at the Little Angel Theatre and the Central School of Speech and Drama, and co‑founded The London School of Puppetry with his partner Caroline Astell‑Burt.

His legacy extends beyond Zippy, influencing generations of puppeteers and earning tribute from peers and fans across the United Kingdom and beyond.