Trivia

In 1953 he retired from performing but carried on writing regular columns for the showbiz press and working on behalf of the British Music Hall Society.

Pint-sized, squeaky-voiced British music hall comedian, a performer from the age of five. Was awarded an OBE in 1946.

When he was young he often worked with Charlie Chaplin. resulting in a close friendship.

He became chairman of the Variety Artists Federation in 1946 when he was given an OBE after a 7,000 mile air tour entertaining troops and he was also a former King Rat.

Studied at Trinity College.

Brought up as one of 21 children.

When he was small he had the ambition to be an actor.

When he was 10 his mother, who'd divorced his father got him into a touring pantomime company one of whose members was Stan Laurel.

Lived in the Bloomsbury area of London for 25 years until his death.

His mother was a possessive woman who dominated his life and divorced his father when he was 10.

He was under 5 foot in height.

He had a brief marriage to an American actress in New York.

Would liked to have been a lawyer or journalist.