Stu Francis

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Stu Francis (born 1951, Bolton, Lancashire, England) is a slightly camp British comedian who achieved celebrity as 'lead presenter' on the children's favorite Crackerjack (1979 to 1984) and followed this with Ultra Quiz. In 1987 he hosted Border TV's Crush a Grape a children's Game Show in a similar vein to his era of Crackerjack.

After Brownlow Fold Junior School and Smithills Base School, Bolton, he worked as a singer entertaining guests at holiday camps. He then switched to comedy and appeared in summer seasons at clubs and in theatres.

[edit] "Ooh, I could..."

Francis had many catchphrases, all following the pattern of expressing excitement or anger in an ironic fashion:

  • "Ooh, I could crush a grape"
  • "Ooh, I could say boo to a goose"
  • "Ooh, I could jump off a doll's house"
  • "Ooh, I could wrestle an Action Man"
  • "Ooh, I could test drive a Tonka"
  • "Ooh, I could rip a tissue"
  • "Ooh, I could prise open a mince pie"
  • "Ooh, I could pop a balloon"
  • "Ooh, I could wrestle with a Barbie Doll"
  • "Ooh, I could bend a pipe cleaner"
  • "Ooh, I could fight a small child"
  • "Ooh, I could wrestle a mongoose"
  • "Ooh, I could break a breadstick"
  • "Ooh, I could race a snail"

[edit] Television

Television appearances include: