Patsy Biscoe

Biscoe was born in Shimla, India, to a British army officer and a civil servant. She came to Australia and settled in Sydney with her family during the Partition of India, and they moved to Sandy Bay in Hobart when she was nine. She won a classical singing scholarship after making an unscheduled appearance at the St Mary's College annual eisteddfod. While studying medicine at the University of Tasmania, she sang and played some guitar at a Sunday night jazz club. Her studies and fledgling career were interrupted by a car accident which damaged her eyesight.[1] She covered a scar on her face from the accident with what became her distinctive long-fringed haircut.

Biscoe was a finalist in the Starflight International talent quest of the Australian television show, Bandstand, competing for an overseas trip and a recording contract. She recorded her first LP in Sydney in 1965 with CBS records.[1]

She gained fame in her adopted home of Adelaide when she regularly appeared on the Nine Network children's show, Here's Humphrey (1965–2008), which she hosted from September 1970.[2] Later she was a presenter on local TV children's show, Channel Niners. She also appeared as a singer on another children's TV show, Fat Cat and Friends (1972–91), on SAS-10. In October 1980 she promoted wearing seat belts for children in a TV ad campaign by the Road Safety Council in South Australia.[3]

Biscoe has been Deputy Mayor of the Barossa Council local government area, a naturopath, and Chair of the Tanunda Town Committee.[4]

During the early 1990s, Biscoe was parodied by Adelaide comedian Glynn Nicholas who played Paté Biscuit on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television comedy show, The Big Gig. Biscoe appeared in several episodes with Nicholas, one time tying up Biscuit and taking his place on the show with Bongo, Biscuit's hand puppet. She also appeared on the show using her own hand puppet, Bongette—the female counterpart of Bongo. When on screen together, neither Bongo nor Bongette could hide their attraction for the other.

Biscoe was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for her services to music and her local community.[5]

• Official website