26 Facts About Frankie Howerd

Francis Alick Howard, better known by his stage-name Frankie Howerd, was an English actor and comedian.

Frankie Howerd retained an affection for his home city, to which he often returned.

Frankie Howerd began to entertain during World War II service in the British Army.

Frankie Howerd's act was heard on radio, when he made his debut, in early December 1946, on the BBC's Variety Bandbox programme with a number of other ex-servicemen.

Frankie Howerd's profile rose in the immediate postwar period.

Sykes punctuated the material with various 'ooh's and 'ahh's to provide "punctuation pauses" in the delivery, but Frankie Howerd decided to deliver these verbatim.

Frankie Howerd then toured the Music Hall circuit with an act including what became his standard catch-phrases such as "titter ye not".

Frankie Howerd became a regular in the 1950s editions of the weekly hard-copy comic Film Fun.

Frankie Howerd then experimented with different formats and contexts, including stage farces, Shakespearean comedy roles, and television sitcoms.

Frankie Howerd was boosted further by success on That Was the Week That Was in 1963 and on stage with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which led into regular television work.

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson wrote for him from 1964 to 1966 when he worked for the BBC and for a one-off show for Thames, Frankie Howerd meets the Bee Gees, shown on 20 August 1968.

In 1976, Howerd appeared in The Frankie Howerd Show on CBC Television in Canada.

In 1978, Frankie Howerd appeared in the big-budget Hollywood musical Sgt.

Frankie Howerd was cast by producer Robert Stigwood as he was on Stigwood's record label at the time.

Frankie Howerd performed a comedy-duet with Cilla Black on Cilla Black's Christmas.

Frankie Howerd was a regular guest on the late night BBC Radio 1 programme Into the Night, hosted by Nicky Campbell.

Frankie Howerd often worked with Sunny Rogers, who was his accompanying pianist from 1960 onwards.

Frankie Howerd occasionally performed with accompanist Vera Roper, of Southend-on-Sea, who was billed as "Madam Vere-Roper".

However, the two had to remain discreet as Frankie Howerd feared being blackmailed if anyone beyond his immediate circle found out.

Backstage, Frankie Howerd was notoriously bold in his advances, and was known for his promiscuity.

Frankie Howerd collapsed and died of heart failure two weeks later, on the morning of 19 April 1992, aged 75.

Frankie Howerd's death came one day after that of fellow comedian Benny Hill, but as Hill had died alone at his home, it was not yet known he was dead.

Some newspapers ran an obituary of Frankie Howerd which featured a quote, ostensibly from Hill, saying that "We were great, great friends".

Frankie Howerd was buried at St Gregory's Church in Weare, Somerset.

In 2016, a York Civic Trust plaque was unveiled at 53, Hartoft Street, Frankie Howerd's childhood home, by York-born actor Mark Addy and the Lord Mayor of York.

Frankie Howerd's career was described by the comedian Barry Cryer as being "a series of comebacks".