Ted Moult

Edward Walker "Ted" Moult (11 February 1926, Derby, England – 3 September 1986) was a British farmer at Scaddows Farm near Ticknall, Derbyshire, who became a radio and television personality.

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Early life

Moult left Derby School at 17 but, by 22, had his first dairy farm in Sinfin, on the outskirts of Derby.[1] He has been credited with the concept of "pick your own" strawberries at his farm; he began in 1961, and always made a point of greeting his customers.

Showbiz career

In the 1950s, Moult first came to public attention on BBC Radio's general knowledge quiz Brain of Britain although he was knocked out in the first round.[1] He consolidated his fame with appearances on discussion programmes such as Any Questions? and panel games such as Ask Me Another and was a household name by the mid-1960s.[1] The presenter Franklin Engelmann gave him the nickname 'Ticknall Ted'.

Moult was perhaps best known latterly for his series of adverts for Everest Double Glazing in the 1980s,[2] featuring the selling line: "You only fit double glazing once, so fit the best, fit Everest". He appeared in the opening edition of Channel 4's first show Countdown and had a number of small cameo roles in films and television, including as the love interest of the housekeeper Mrs Hall in a 1980 episode of the TV series All Creatures Great and Small.

Death

Sadly, Ted committed suicide by gunshot after a period of depression[1] in 1986. Shortly after a private funeral, his life was celebrated at a public ceremony, in Derby Cathedral.

Books

Autobiography: Down to Earth: The Life and Views of Ted Moult, ISBN 0-901482-18-8

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ted Moult". Inside Out East Midlands. BBC. 25 September 2006. http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/eastmidlands/series10/week3.shtml. Retrieved 4 March 2010. 
  2. ^ Jameson, Angela (15 July 2004). "Fit the best, but it may not be Everest, regulator rules". The Times. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article457448.ece. Retrieved 4 March 2010. "Everest's adverts are fondly remembered by those with a yen for 1980s nostalgia. They showed Ted Moult, a burly Derbyshire farmer, going to outrageous lengths to test the double glazing." 

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