17 Facts About Roy Hudd

Roy Hudd, OBE was an English comedian, actor, presenter, radio host, author and authority on the history of music hall entertainment.

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.

Roy Hudd then worked as a messenger for an advertising agency, as a window dresser, and as a commercial artist, working under Harry Beck.

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.

Roy Hudd's acting roles include David Furnham's The Puppet Man series for Channel 4, Dennis Potter series Lipstick on Your Collar, for which he received critical praise, and Karaoke.

In 2000, Roy Hudd appeared as neighbour Mr Smedley in one episode of One Foot in the Grave.

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.

Roy Hudd was seen by broadcasters as an authority on the subject and was the longstanding President of the British Music Hall Society.

For Celebrity Mastermind, broadcast in January 2014, Roy Hudd answered questions on the specialist subject of music hall comedian Dan Leno.

Roy Hudd was an authority on the comedian Max Miller and was known for his impersonation of Miller.

Roy Hudd appeared as his hero in the Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio play Pier Pressure in 2006.

Roy Hudd was President of the Max Miller Appreciation Society.

Roy Hudd had a long association with the Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service, where he was considered an honorary member.

Roy Hudd was a past King Rat of the show business charity the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1989 and 2000.

Roy Hudd was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2004 New Year Honours List for services to entertainment.

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.

On 16 March 2020, Roy Hudd's agent announced that he had died the previous day, aged 83, following a short illness.