Zippy and me - Ronnie Le Drew

Over the course of almost half a century, puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew has worked with the greats - from David Bowie inLabyrinthto Michael Caine in TheMuppet Christmas Carol. But the role that defined his career was Rainbow's Zippy, who he operated for more than twenty years.

Zippy and Meis the first time aRainbowinsider has told the true story of what went on under the counter and inside the suits: the petty squabbles between performers, wrangling with TV executives, and scandals such as the 'love triangle' between musicians Rod, Jane and Freddy. Not to mention the now infamous X-rated episode shot for an ITV Christmas party, which subsequently found its way to theSun.

Interweaved with the dirt on what really went on behind the scenes is the story of Rainbow's heyday in the 1970s and 80s, when its stars found themselves catapulted into an exciting showbiz world - scooping a BAFTA award and even performing for the queen - and the story of a young lad from a south London council estate who defied his parents' protests to became one of the most respected puppeteers of all time.