Club in the United States in the mid-to-late 1950s. In early 1968, producers at the BBC told Corbett that, while he should remain as puppeteer, an actor should interact with Sooty. Corbett declared this to be "a horrible American idea". Instead, he moved the show to commercial television. After he suffered a heart attack at Christmas 1975, his younger son, Peter (stage name Matthew), took over, buying out his father for £35,000. However he did make occasional appearances on The Sooty Show for several years with his son. Harry continued his one-man stage show after he gave up his television appearances, and he died in his sleep on 17 August 1989, after playing to a capacity audience at Weymouth Pavilion in Weymouth, Dorset. Personal life In 1988, Corbett was the subject of This Is Your Life, commemorating forty years in the entertainment industry and the debut of Sooty. He was a Freemason under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England. He was initiated in 1951 in Chevin Lodge No. 6848 in West Yorkshire. He became the lodge organist. The lodge still meets at Otley. Catchphrases "Izzy wizzy, let's get busy" "Bye bye everybody! Bye bye!" OBE When Prime minister Harold Wilson wished to have Steptoe and Son actor Harry H. Corbett awarded an OBE, the middle initial "H" was lost in the bureaucratic process, and the award went to Harry Corbett instead. Both were awarded the OBE on 1 January 1976, Harry Corbett being cited "for charitable services". References Bibliography Tibballs, Geoff (1990). The Secret Life of Sooty. Letchworth, UK: Ringpress Books. . 1918 births 1989 deaths British Freemasons British magicians British puppeteers British television presenters English Freemasons English magicians English puppeteers English television presenters Entertainers from Yorkshire Mass media people from Bradford Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Guiseley Sooty