POSTED ON OLD BLOG 3rd JUNE 2013PAUL SHANE
1940 - 2013
I suppose you know you've made it when the you can't walk down the street without a knowing smile from a stranger, a catchphrase called out and people asking for a picture with you, or even an autograph. The world knew him as Ted Bovis (from Hi De Hi), Alf Stokes (from You Rang M'Lord) or even Jack Skinner (from Oh, Doctor Beeching) but ask anyone in our showbizzy world and they'll all say they knew him as 'Shaney'.
On 16th May we lost one of the most familiar sitcom stars on British Television and our world of showbiz lost a real friend. Paul Shane started his career in the land of Working Men's Clubs, first as a singer, then as a comedian. He eventually moved into television playing small cameos on programmes like 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale' It wasn't until 1980 when he was cast in Croft and Perry's 'Hi De Hi' that he became a household name.
I first met 'Shaney' at a Charity concert in 2008, and once I got over that awkward... 'I loved you in Hi De Hi' moment we started chatting and talking about our career paths, noting that my career was the identical copy of his, only 40 years later. Unfortunately due to filming commitments I was unable to attend Paul's funeral but, quite rightly, we all shared a moment on set at ITV just chatting about Paul and the mark he made on television.
I first met 'Shaney' at a Charity concert in 2008, and once I got over that awkward... 'I loved you in Hi De Hi' moment we started chatting and talking about our career paths, noting that my career was the identical copy of his, only 40 years later. Unfortunately due to filming commitments I was unable to attend Paul's funeral but, quite rightly, we all shared a moment on set at ITV just chatting about Paul and the mark he made on television.
GRAHAM GRUMBLEWEED
1940 - 2013
1940 - 2013
For the past 50 years the world of comedy has been dominated by such stars as Ken Dodd, Bob Monkhouse, Frank Carson, Cannon and Ball to name just a few, but yesterday the world lost one of the funniest men I ever knew and one of the stalwarts of British comedy for the past 50 years; Graham 'Grumbleweed' Walker.
Graham was one of the founding members of 'The Grumbleweeds' who rose to stardom in the 1980's with there TV and Radio shows. I was so fortunate to have appeared onstage many times with Graham and Robin, in Summer Seasons, one nighters etc... and most recently in a show I produced for Overgate Hospice. There is no greater pleasure than watching a master at work and Graham really was a master of his art. I learnt so much just sat in the wings watching him and Robin tearing the audience apart. Some comedians are joke tellers but Graham was just a FUNNY, FUNNY bloke, you can't rehearse that.
The photo above was coincidently taken by our friend Paul Shane, who passed away the previous week. Graham and Paul passing, Norman Collier, Bill Pertwee. It seems that in the last few weeks Heaven just got a lot funnier!
The photo above was coincidently taken by our friend Paul Shane, who passed away the previous week. Graham and Paul passing, Norman Collier, Bill Pertwee. It seems that in the last few weeks Heaven just got a lot funnier!
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