13 Facts About Peter Brough

Peter Royce Brough was an English radio ventriloquist who became a well-known name to audiences in the 1950s.

Peter Royce Brough was born on 26 February 1916 in Ealing, west London.

Peter Brough's father, Arthur, was a ventriloquist and a frequent performer on the variety stages around London.

Peter Brough left school at 15 and worked for a Bayswater department store called Whiteleys, first as an errand boy and later as a counter salesman.

Peter Brough emulated his father by developing his ventriloquist skills, which he continued to practise whilst working at Whiteleys.

Peter Brough continued entertaining at clubs and at concerts in the Acton area and by 1939 he was becoming a regular on the variety stage.

Peter Brough acted as a compere in the 1940 film Cavalcade of Variety featuring Billy Cotton and his band.

Peter Brough began his radio career in 1944 in ventriloquism but in 1950 he debuted Archie, a mischievous child who domineered his mentor.

Two years later, Peter Brough was on ITV in Educating Archie, utilising the same team as before, although Marty Feldman took some of the writing credit as well.

Peter Brough died on 3 June 1999 and was buried in Maldon cemetery in Essex.

In 1948 his sister, Edna Peter Brough, married TV and film star Ernest Butcher, in Wood Green, London.

Peter Brough's daughter, Romey Brough, is an internationally collected artist with work in the Tate Gallery Archive.

Peter Brough died on 3 June 1999, aged 83 in Northwood, London.