Ronnie Le Drew, puppeteer behind Zippy and David Bowie’s goblins, dies aged 78

Ronnie Le Drew, the puppeteer who gave voice and movement to Zippy on the children's show Rainbow, has died at seventy-eight after a short illness, the British Puppet Guild confirmed, where he served as president. Canadian-born but based in Britain, he also brought goblins to life in David Bowie's 1986 film Labyrinth and worked on Little Shop of Horrors and several Muppet movies, including The Muppet Christmas Carol. He also performed Sweep in various eras of the puppet show Sooty, working alongside both Harry and Matthew Corbett.

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