Carol Lee Scott (20 December 1942 – 4 July 2017) was an English entertainer, best known for her role on British television in the 1980s and 1990s as "

Grotbags ''Grotbags'' is a children's television programme which ran for three series between 1991 and 1993 about a fictional witch named Grotbags, a spin-off of multiple earlier Rod Hull and Emu shows. Very much in the mould of the traditional pantomi ...

". Throughout her career, Scott regularly performed on the international cabaret circuit, and prior to her TV work, she was a singer and released two albums.

Early career

Born in Bridgwater,

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

as Carol Waterman, she began her career after moving to London singing in local pubs, all while working day shifts at the record department at Rumbelows. She gained her break as a performer when she joined

Pontins Pontins is a British company operating holiday parks in the UK, founded in 1946 by Fred Pontin. Since 2011, it has been owned by Britannia Hotels. Pontins specialises in offering half-board and self-catering holidays featuring entertainment ...

, ultimately working there for 19 years, playing at all of the UK holiday camps, along with those in Scandinavia, Spain, and elsewhere. During the off-season, Scott played many of the northern England and Scotland working men's clubs, sharing a bill with stars including

The Four Tops ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...

Morecambe and Wise Eric Morecambe (John Eric Bartholomew, 14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984) and Ernie Wise (Ernest Wiseman, 27 November 1925 – 21 March 1999), known as Morecambe and Wise (and sometimes as Eric and Ernie), were an English comic double act, working ...

and Tommy Cooper. During this time, she recorded an album in 1974 which she originally sold only at her concerts.

Grotbags

The concept of Grotbags came about while Scott was performing in summer season in Cleethorpes with

Rod Hull Rod, Ror, Ród, Rőd, Rød, Röd, ROD, or R.O.D. may refer to: Devices * Birch rod, made out of twigs from birch or other trees for corporal punishment * Ceremonial rod, used to indicate a position of authority * Connecting rod, main, coupling ...

. When Hull was approached to make a new show to be broadcast at the launch of

Central Independent Television ITV Central, previously known as Central Independent Television, Carlton Central, ITV1 for Central England and commonly referred to as simply Central, is the Independent Television franchisee for the Midlands. It was created following the rest ...

, he created the series ''Emu's World'', and approached Scott to play the witch. Together they came up with the premise of Grotbags' character and name (the latter coming with Scott suggesting 'Miss Grot', the name the MD of Ladbrokes used to call her; Hull revised it to Grotbags). Grotbags first appeared in ''

Emu's World Emu is a British television puppet, modelled on the Australian flightless emu bird and operated by the performer Rod Hull. After appearing on a number of variety shows, he was given his own television series on the BBC, then on ITV. Cast ...

'' in January 1982, and starred alongside various companions including cowardly crocodile Croc, mechanical butler Robot Redford, and fawning manservant Grovel. All of which, at one point were played by Freddie Stevens. In many episodes, Scott would be given a song to sing. In 1991, she was the voice of Grotbags in the cartoon series, ''

Rod 'n' Emu ''Rod 'n' Emu'' is an English animated series shown on CITV in 1991. It starred the voices of Rod Hull who created and wrote all the episodes starring as himself, with Carol Lee Scott as Grotbags and Freddie Stevens as her assistants Croc the c ...

''. She was also given her own spin off series, ''

'' – which ran for 29 episodes across three series.

Death

Scott died from cancer on 4 July 2017 at the age of 74.

Filmography

Television

* ''

'' 1982–1989 * ''

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'' (Special Guest) 1984 * ''

'' 1991 * ''

'' 1991–1993 * ''Rod Hull: A Bird in the Hand'' 2003

Discography

Albums

* ''In Time'' (1974) * ''Your Place Is Here with Me'' (1976)

Singles

* "Little Bit of Love" / "You Gotta Believe" (1974)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Carol Lee 1942 births 2017 deaths British cabaret performers English women comedians People from Bridgwater Place of death missing Comedians from Somerset