Rod Hull (August 13, 1936-March 18, 1999) was a popular children's entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 80s. Hull rarely appeared without his glove puppet emu, named simply Emu.
Hull was born in Kent in 1936. He spent his early career in Australia where he worked on a children's breakfast TV programme and first used Emu as a puppet. Emu became a regular part of Hull's set on cabarets back in the United Kingdom and Australia. Soon after his Australian success translated to his country of birth with Hull appearing on several children's and adult light entertainment shows. During this time Hull and the uncontrollable Emu made their most famous scenes - Emu repeatedly attacked and pushed Michael Parkinson from his chair during an edition of the (usually serious) Parkinson chat show. Parkinson was so annoyed he treatened to break Emu's neck (in otherwords Rod Hull's arm) if he did it again. In 1972 Emu ate the Queen Mother's bouquet of flowers at a Royal Variety Performance. The record viewership for his main show, Emu Broadcasting Corporation, was 11 million people.
During the 1980s, Hull was a multi-millionaire and enjoyed huge success with Emu's World and Emu's (Brand New) Pink Windmill Show, but later suffered financial difficulties and was declared bankrupt in 1994. Hull was in the public eye less frequently during the 90s, appearing in panto and television commercials.
Hull died in 1999 after falling from the roof of his house whilst trying to fix his television aerial. He had been watching a Manchester United football match with his son when the picture lost quality.
Hull married twice and had five children. His son Toby brought Emu out of retirement for the first time since his father's death during the 2003 pantomime season, appearing in Cinderella at Windsor's Theatre Royal.
Emu would go for your various body parts and, at the same time, Rod would be wrapping his legs around you, ostensibly trying to pry the animal off but actually making things worse.
When Emu was presented to Queen Elizabeth, the bird lunged at her, snatching a bouquet of flowers from her hands and ripping them to pieces.
Emu was pecking away at Richard Pryor's reconstructed features, then at his fly, causing the comedian to sprawl on the guest couch and rotate into a fetal position, trying to shield himself.
Emu feathers are light in colour except for the dark tips: solar radiation is absorbed by the feather tips, while the loose-packed inner plumage insulates the skin: in combination, the dark and light areas of the plumage deflect or absorb all but 2% of the sun's radiant heat.
Emus, particularly those in semi-open captivity, who have little fear of humans, are also prone to pecking at hairy human heads and woolly clothing, which can be distressing for small children and tourists.
Emus have a high bodyfat content, and emu oil is used for many purposes, particularly treatment of muscle aches and sprains.
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