The BBC Betrayed Him — Where's Russ Abbot Now?

A sketch show titan with a Top 10 single to his name, Abbot wasn't just a comedian. He was a full-fledged entertainer, the type that barely exists anymore.

Then, without much fanfare, he was gone. The TV mainstay who'd packed millions of viewers into living rooms across the UK just… stopped showing up. And if you've been wondering where Russ Abbot is today, you're not alone.

From Black Abbots to BBC Golden Boy

Russ Abbot didn't start out with a microphone and a punchline — he was a drummer in the Black Abbots, a 60s showband that leaned more on comedy than chart-topping hits. The band folded in 1980, but by then Abbot had already begun morphing into a comedy star on TV's The Comedians.

When the BBC launched The Russ Abbot Show that same year, it cemented his place in British pop culture. His outlandish characters — from the bumbling spy Basildon Bond to the thick-accented C.U. Jimmy — became shorthand for Saturday night laughs.

Abbot even crossed into music, scoring a surprise hit in 1985 with Atmosphere, a pop single that somehow cracked the UK Top 10. He hosted, sang, and performed in front of millions. He wasn't just a comic — he was an institution.

So Why Did He Quit?

Russ Abbot didn't vanish overnight, but by the mid-2000s his appearances had slowed to a trickle. While he made the odd guest spot on shows like Last of the Summer Wine or Boomers, the big headliner roles dried up.

And Abbot wasn't subtle about why.

"We had over five million viewers," he said of Boomers. "In this day and age that's great... We were all expecting more."

He was talking about the BBC's decision to drop Boomers despite strong ratings. The move echoed the network's earlier cancellation of Last of the Summer Wine, which left both fans and stars scratching their heads. Abbot didn't hide his frustration, calling out the BBC for ditching shows that still pulled numbers.

It wasn't just network politics. The TV landscape was changing fast, with executives pivoting to chase younger audiences. That left legacy stars like Abbot on the sidelines — a shift he clearly resented.

Health, Family — and Portugal

Age caught up too. Russ Abbot's family history is marred by heart disease. His father died of strokes at 60, both of his brothers passed away early from heart attacks, and Abbot himself admitted the shadow of that legacy weighed on him.

Doctors put him on statins, and he adjusted his lifestyle to lower his risks, but it's no wonder he started scaling back. He relocated to Portugal, opting for a quieter, less stressful life away from Britain's cameras and press.

Will He Ever Return?

It's not impossible. Abbot occasionally pops up in interviews and retrospectives, and he's always ready to share memories of his wild career. But a full-scale comeback? That's not happening.

Asked about future TV plans, Abbot himself waved it off: "Never say never, but... I'm enjoying life how it is."

What About His Co-Stars?

While Abbot stepped back, many of his Madhouse and Boomers co-stars kept busy:

• Les Dennis reinvented himself on Coronation Street.
• Sherrie Hewson became a familiar face on Loose Women.
• Bella Emberg, unforgettable as Blunder Woman, stayed active in TV until her passing in 2018.
• Michael Barrymore, despite personal controversies, remained one of Britain's most recognizable presenters.

The entertainment world kept moving, but the nostalgia for Abbot's brand of variety comedy never really died.