Laurel and Hardy lookalikes

Haurel and Lardy

Press article: Observer - July 19th 2001

Double life of class act

Exciting year for Jem the entertainer - by Erica Madelin

Jem Frazer lives a double life. At home in Morley he is a quiet family man. At work he rubs shoulders with the rich and famous. Jem, best known for his part in the Haurel and Lardy tribute act, has had an exciting year performing around the world, going to film premieres and entertaining, among others, the Sultan of Brunei.

He said that although he does other shows and characters, Haurel and Lardy has been the most successful.

Along with his partner Graham Hardy, who lays Haurel, he won speciality act of the year award from The Entertainer magazine.

The act also took them to Monte Carlo where they were flown out first class to entertain at a £2m party where the guests included Richard Branson and Barry White, while Elton John and Stevie Wonder did cabaret turns.

Jem and Graham have been asked back to perform at Prince Rainer's Christmas party at the Monte Carlo Club.

But though Jem says with a smile that 'It is a different world and we are looking forward to being part of it' he seems quite content to be back home in Bruntcliffe for now.

Such is the nature of the job that it won't be for long. Jem will soon be going to Cardiff for three weeks of rehearsals for a new act which will premier in Blackpool next year. Jem is keeping the details of the act firmly under his hat, only revealing it has been created in conjunction with some of England's top magicians, but it is clear he is very excited about it.

He was also pleased to have gone to the premier of This Filthy Earth in Leicester Square, London earlier this month. Jem played the part of an italian Circus owner in the art-house drama about rural life, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

He said the director had needed a ventriloquist and, hearing about another of Jem's talents, contacted him about the part. It took two weeks to film. But he is not letting his film debut go to his head and seems relaxed about the future and what it will bring.

"The job is great. It's hard work but rewarding and varied and you never know what's around the corner", he said. He certainly couldn't have predicted being approached by a recording company to make a dance version of the surprise Laurel and Hardy mid-70s hit On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine - from the film Way Out West - but that is precisely what has happened.