Paul Chuckle struggled to contain his emotions during a heartfelt appearance on ITV's This Morning, where he revealed experiencing vivid dreams about his late brother Barry. The veteran entertainer, known as half of the iconic Chuckle Brothers duo, spoke movingly about feeling Barry's constant presence since his passing.
Emotional Television Moment
This Morning co-hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley were visibly moved during the interview, with both fighting back tears as Paul, 78, explained how he believes Barry remains "always with him." The emotional exchange highlighted the deep bond between the brothers, whose partnership spanned over five decades of entertainment history.
Dreams and Spiritual Presence
Paul shared remarkable details about his experiences since Barry's death in 2018. "Everybody dreams at night, but he was never in a dream when I was with him all the time," Paul revealed. "But when he'd died, from that day on, every dream I had he was there, so I knew he was with me."
The entertainer described a particularly poignant moment during his first solo pantomime performance after Barry's passing. "I'd never been on stage on my own - it was always the two of us for 55 years," Paul recalled. "I looked across, because usually Barry was always at the other side of the stage... I swear that I saw him suddenly appear giving me a thumbs up."
Chuckle Brothers Legacy
The brothers first achieved fame in 1967 when their famous "to me, to you" catchphrase won ITV talent show Opportunity Knocks. Their breakthrough came in 1987 with the launch of ChuckleVision, which ran successfully until 2009. The show became a cultural phenomenon, eventually being named the greatest CBBC series of all time by Radio Times in 2019.
Barry's Private Cancer Battle
Paul opened up about his brother's tragic battle with bone cancer, revealing that Barry had kept his diagnosis secret from family members. "He kept it secret, because he used to say, 'I'd never have chemotherapy'... he said, 'No I wouldn't want to lose my hair'," Paul explained. The entertainer only discovered the severity of Barry's condition when his brother struggled to attend a Sport Relief event.
"About ten weeks later, it was all over," Paul said of Barry's rapid decline. Despite the loss, Paul maintains that his brother's spirit remains present in his life and work.
Continuing the Legacy
Paul has continued to honor his brother's memory through various charitable endeavors, including traveling on a ChuckleVision-inspired "Daff Bike" for cancer charity Marie Curie. The brothers became official ambassadors for the charity in 2016, and Paul was awarded an MBE in the King's New Year Honours list for his outstanding contributions to the organization.
ChuckleVision Revival Plans
In a surprising development, Paul revealed plans to bring ChuckleVision back for a new generation in cartoon format. Through their company ChucklesWorld, Paul hopes to generate enough funding to create new content that will introduce the beloved characters to contemporary audiences.
"It will go to whoever will buy it, because that's how business works now," Paul explained. "But BBC would get first dibs obviously, because ChuckleVision was on the BBC for 23 years." He acknowledged the changing television landscape, noting that while their original show attracted three million viewers in afternoon slots, such numbers would now represent major primetime success.
Personal Reflections and Tributes
Paul's emotional revelations follow previous statements about spiritual encounters with his brother. In 2022, he described seeing Barry's ghost backstage before a performance, receiving what he interpreted as encouragement to continue performing alone. "I've not just lost my brother, I've lost my theatrical partner of many, many years and my very best friend," Paul said following Barry's passing.
The interview provided a rare glimpse into the personal grief and spiritual experiences of one of Britain's most beloved entertainers, demonstrating how professional partnerships can evolve into profound personal connections that transcend even death.
