The TV roof tragedy that killed emu star: How Rod Hull fell to his death as he ... trends now
When Gyles Brandreth hit headlines last week by 'confessing' he might have 'killed' legendary comedian Rod Hull, former Countess of Bradford Joanne was shocked for two reasons.
Firstly, that the story had made it into the media, and secondly, because the tale had allegedly been 'pinched' from her by the writer and former MP.
Hull died from brain fractures and chest injuries after falling while attempting to fix a TV aerial on the roof of his bungalow so he could watch Manchester United play Inter Milan in the 1999 quarter finals with his teenage son.
The former Countess said this week that TV personality Brandreth, who is godfather to her third son Ben, had not been present when she had suggested to Hull someone climb onto the roof to fix a TV aerial - adding his memory seemed to have 'appropriated' the story.
'I don't recall Gyles being with us at all that night – I think I would have done,' she told the Mail.
'I can only think that my former husband must have told him some time later how we had urged Rod to fix his TV problem, which led to his really tragic death and, 25 years later, Gyles's memory has appropriated our instructions to Rod to himself.'
After the tragedy made its way into the national spotlight once again, MailOnline takes another look at that fateful night.
Hull died in 1999 aged 63 after suffering a severe skull fracture and chest injuries when he fell from the roof of his bungalow
A 2003 documentary about Hull showed him climbing onto the roof to fix his aerial on a separate occasion
It was March 1999 when the former Countess of Bradford and her then-husband Richard were invited to the opening night of a revival of the musical Animal Crackers, at the West End's Lyric Theatre.
The Bradfords picked up the comedian, 63, from the Chelsea Arts Club in Old Church Street before travelling by taxi to the theatre.
It was shortly after Hull had split from his second wife Cher, who, following the couple's serious financial woes, had returned to Australia with their children.
Hull had found himself moving out of his Grade I listed house and living in a rundown bungalow in East Sussex.
Shepherd's Cottage, which was owned by the National Trust, set Hull back £20 per week and was described by family members in a 2003 documentary as 'derelict'.
Shortly afterwards, his son Oliver returned to the UK after he turned 18 and moved in with Hull at the isolated location.
At some point during the evening on March 16, Joanne says Hull - who was most famous for his appearances alongside his puppet Emu - informed them he was having problems with his TV reception and was concerned about missing an upcoming Manchester United game.
The National Trust cottage that Hull moved into after his split from second wife Cher cost him £20 per week in rent
At the time of his dath aged 63, Hull lived with his son Oliver, 19 (pictured in 2003)
Rod Hull pictured with Joanne, the former Countess of Bradford. She says she attended the theatre with Hull on March 16 without Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth hit the headlines last week when he claimed on his Rosebud podcast that he had 'killed' the comedian Rod Hull
'We told him that, if necessary, it should be easy enough to put a ladder up the side of his bungalow and fiddle with the aerial to fix the reception,' she said.
Last week Brandreth repeated claims first made on his podcast as he told This Morning he was at the theatre with the Bradfords and Hull, who he said was interrupting
