1. Roy Hudd was an English comedian, actor, presenter, radio host, author and authority on the history of music hall entertainment.
20 Facts About Roy Hudd
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Roy Hudd's father was a carpenter who left the family shortly after the Second World War, and his mother, who had a history of mental health problems, committed suicide by gas when Hudd was nine years old.
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Roy Hudd then worked as a messenger for an advertising agency, as a window dresser, and as a commercial artist, working under Harry Beck.
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Roy Hudd made his professional debut as a comedian at the Streatham Hill Theatre on 27 October 1957, in a show in aid of the Sir Philip Game Boys' Club, of which he had been a member.
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Roy Hudd's acting roles included the Dennis Potter series Lipstick on Your Collar, for which he received critical praise, and Karaoke.
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In 2000, Roy Hudd appeared as neighbour Mr Smedley in one episode of One Foot in the Grave.
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Roy Hudd starred in the ITV drama The Quest, alongside Sir David Jason and Hywel Bennett, from 2002 to 2004.
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In May 2008 Roy Hudd appeared as Njegus in the English National Opera production of The Merry Widow at the London Coliseum.
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Roy Hudd wrote several books on music hall, re-recorded music hall records, and appeared in the music hall revival show The Good Old Days.
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Roy Hudd was seen by broadcasters as an authority on the subject and was the longstanding President of the British Music Hall Society.
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For Celebrity Mastermind, broadcast in January 2014, Roy Hudd answered questions on the specialist subject of music hall comedian Dan Leno.
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Roy Hudd was an authority on the comedian Max Miller and was known for his impersonation of Miller.
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Roy Hudd appeared as his hero in the Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio play Pier Pressure in 2006.
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Roy Hudd was President of the Max Miller Appreciation Society.
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Roy Hudd had a long association with the Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service, where he was considered an honorary member.
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Roy Hudd was a past King Rat of the show business charity the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1989 and 2000.
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Roy Hudd was married to Ann Lambert in 1961; they divorced in 1983.
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Roy Hudd was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2004 New Year Honours List for services to entertainment.
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On 29 November 2010, Roy Hudd was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Westminster; he studied commercial art there when it was the Regent Street Polytechnic.
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Roy Hudd died in Ipswich Hospital on 15 March 2020, aged 83, following a short illness.