Charles Clews - Maltese Comedy Icon

Charles Clews, one of the most loved comedians of the Maltese islands has passed away today the 29th January

2009 at the age of 89. He had a particular style of humour His jokes were well timed and never embarrasing or dirty.

Have a look at this popular joke of his entitled Jien in-nannu tieghi stess:

X.bicca gratli kemm hi kbira
Kont bla ghaqal ta ghoxrin
Issewwigt mort wahda armala
Helw' avolja ta hamsin.

Kellha tifla kwazi daqsi
U gmiel bhalha ma rajtux
Hadet grazzja ma missieri,
Wara ftit ma zzewwgitux!

B'hekk missieri hawn gie hatni
X'kunfuzjoni ajma ma!
Terga binti hawn giet ommi
Ghax mizzewga lill-papa.

Biex inkomplu dit-tahwida
Gie twelidli baby boy
Kont ghamiltlu festa kbira
U fettilli nsemmih Roy.

It-tifel li kelli jiena
Gie hu l-mara tal-papa
Jigi mela z-ziju tieghi
Tiskantawx b'din ir-rarita

Billi ibni wkoll bin marti
U hu l'mara tal-papa
Ommi tar-rispett giet binti
Ghax mizzewga lill-papa

Sabiex tifhmu din l' affari
Irid mohhkom jaghmel sforz
Jekk mart'missieri tigi ommi.
Ommha, nannti ta bil-fors.

U jekk marti tigi nannti
Dina bixxa ta nteress,
Billi jiena huwa zewgha
Jien n-nannu tieghi stess.

This video below was a classic entertaining piece of earlier times when Redifusion was in use. For the sake of nostalgia of many baby boomers especially the Maltese expats, it is here presented to trigger some memories...



The TimesofMalta.com published this piece: Comedian Charles Clews passed away this morning, a few months short of his 90th birthday.
Born in Senglea, Mr Clews, entertained Maltese audiences in Malta, Gozo and Australia.
He was a protagonist of stand-up comedy in Malta and formed part of The Stage Commandos, a group with a repertoire of sketches, plays and muscials.
He worked closely with a number of other well known personalities, especially with the late Johnny Catania.
One of his greatest successes was the comical soap opera “Karmena Abdilla”.
In 1996 he was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.
Mr Clews was married to Anne and they had eight children.....

He entertained the Maltese through tough times and until the end he kept his humour, always with a quick joke up his sleeve. May he rest in peace.