Profile - Farmer Giles

Farmer Giles is of course rhyming slang for a medical condition on which I was going to elaborate, but as I don't want to pile on the agony for any readers suffering the ailment in question I decided I'd just sit on it instead.

In Cheeky's world, Farmer Giles was the purveyor of farmyard fun who first appeared in the 08 July 1978 issue and bowed out in the final edition of the toothy funster's comic, having clocked up appearances in 78 issues.

The first case of the Farmers
Cheeky Weekly 08 July 1978
Art: Frank McDiarmid pencils

Quite why a farmer was wandering the urban landscape of Krazy Town was never explained (although judging by his manure-laden boots, his livestock couldn't be far away), but the affable agrarian dispensed many a stereotypical “oo-aaar” along with his rural repartee.

The occupant of Giles' hat gets his moment in the spotlight
Art: Frank McDiarmid

Just 7 weeks after his debut, Giles appeared on the cover of the 26 August 1978 comic, whereon he was depicted in a cornfield. The prominence given to the rustic rascal on the front page may have given readers the impression that abundant agricultural antics were in the offing but in fact other than his front page feature, Farmer Giles was present only on page 2.

Despite being mentioned on several occasions,
Farmer Giles' Dad appeared only once -
Cheeky Weekly 03 November 1979
Art: Dick Millington

Our favourite funny farmer returned to the front cover on the 24 February 1979 edition, accompanied by a flock of sheep.

Cheeky Weekly dated 07April 1979 featured the highest number of elements to include our harvesting humourist in a single edition - he turned up on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Farmyard fun was in evidence during Giles' Burpo Special appearance in the 14 April 1979 issue.

Art: Frank McDiarmid

Agricultural antics returned to the front cover of the comic dated 21 April 1979, and yet again on the 16 June and 23 June 1979 editions.

Cheeky and pals spent Saturday on Giles' farm in the 21 July 1979 comic, a trip which concluded with a slap-up farm feed.

Yikky-Boo gets rural
Art: Mike Lacey

In her post-cinema-usherette career, Ursula was briefly employed on Giles' farm as a scarecrow, but was sacked for scaring the animals and staff as well (11 August 1979). This experience didn't stop Giles creating some scarecrows resembling the frightening-faced-female in the 19 January 1980 edition.

Red rustic raillery
Art: Frank McDiarmid

Giles' battered rustic headgear was home to a mouse, who was most frequently depicted when the artwork was pure Frank McDiarmid.

Farmer Giles made a guest appearance in the Skateboard Squad story dated 28 October 1978, and Cheeky's Cut-Out Comedy Catalogue of Farmer Giles Jokes appeared in the 12 January 1980 comic.

Giles was created for Cheeky Weekly and never appeared in Krazy.

Character	Total Issues	First Appearance	Final Appearance
Farmer Giles	78	08-Jul-1978	02-Feb-1980

Count of elements by artist

Character	Artist	Total Elements
Farmer Giles	Frank McDiarmid	46
Farmer Giles	Mike Lacey	21
Farmer Giles	Frank McDiarmid pencils	12
Farmer Giles	Dick Millington	4
Farmer Giles	Barrie Appleby	4