- Born
- Died
- Birth nameThomas Reginald Handley
- Tommy Handley was a showbiz conjurer as a child, and he became a good baritone singer during World War I. He soon discovered that he was talented in the field of comedy. He appeared on a number of radio shows. A very talented comedian, especially on radio, Handley created a number of characters including the Farmer Jollop and Funf, an elusive spy. After he died suddenly in 1949, 10,000 mourners flocked to his funeral.
- IMDb mini biography by: B. J. Coverdale - Tommy was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool Her served in the Kite Baloon section of the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War.Later he became a regular broadcaster and wrote many radio scripts including 300 episodes of ITMA between 1939 and 1949. He died suddenly at the age of 57 of a brain haemorrage.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5
- Spouse[Rosalind] Jean Allistone (performer)(March 1929 - January 9, 1949) (his death)
- Featured on the cover of The Beatles' album "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".
- Appeared in a short 10 minute film, 'Spotlight on a Star' with Margaret Lockwood.
- He became nationally known as a pioneer broadcaster.
- In the 1930s Handley frequently performed on air with the comedian Ronald Frankau in a popular comedy act as "Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom".
- Handley and the ITMA ( It's That Man Again) team were widely credited with boosting morale during the war, and were unmissable listening for millions. A member of the Royal Household said that if the war were to end between 8.30 and 9 p.m. on a Thursday night none of the household would dare to tell the King until ITMA had finished.
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