Andy Capp Daily Mirror Cartoon Character

Andy Capp Cartoon Book No 31 4345 In mid 1957 Hugh Cudlipp editor of the Daily Mirror wanted a daily character that would boost circulation in the north of the country. CudlippÃ?s brief was for Ã? someone realistic, down to earth, and essentially northern in flavourÃ?. Daily Mirror staff artist Reg Smythe, a former corporal in the western desert during the Second World War came up with Andy Capp. A hard drinking layabout who when not laying on the sofa at home could be found propping up the bar of his local pub, Smythe also created a long suffering wife called Florrie who when not catering to AndyÃ?s needs would be flinging plates and insults from the kitchen at him. Reg Smythe was born in Hartlepool, in the north east of England and so was Andy The strip first appeared in the northern editions of the Mirror on August 5th 1957 and was an instant hit. On April 14th 1958 Andy Capp appeared in all editions of The Mirror and has been a daily feature of the paper ever since. Soon after the success of going national Andy Capp went international and has been syndicated around the world. Later on in AndyÃ?s career he made the leap off of the page and on to the stage and television. Tom Courtney, James Bolin are just a few of the actors who have played the loveable northern rogue. Reg Smythe towards the end of his career returned to his native Hartlepool and continued to draw Andy. Since the death of Reg in June 1998 the strip was been drawn by Roger Mahoney and written by Roger Kettle Hartlepool is to honour the creator of the Andy Capp cartoon character and put up a statue of Andy in the Town Centre. This is a great gesture to one of the finest and funniest characters ever created. Andy will be in his usual pose, pint in hand at the bar.

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