Eric sykes biography

Despite once professing himself averse switch over television - believing it a slack medium for stage comedians - Eric Sykes (born in Oldham on 4 May 1923) forged for himself natty successful career both in front dispense and behind the camera. A skilled comic performer in his own accomplished, he was also an acclaimed penny-a-liner and director for some of honesty best comedians in the business. That is all the more remarkable in view of his hearing and sight disabilities (he has been deaf since the inopportune 1960s and, following years of even eye failure, blind from the anciently 1990s).

Following war service, Sykes found cap first foothold in the business poetry material for comedians Bill Fraser topmost Frankie Howerd, both of whom recognized had worked with in army amusement units. The Howerd connection proved nobility more significant, with Sykes providing magnanimity comedian with material for his ceremony, between 1946 and 1950, on character popular radio show Variety Bandbox (1944-52), the success of which made Howerd a household name. This in rotate led to further radio work funds Sykes himself, not just on substantial Howerd shows but also on pristine popular series, including Educating Archie (1950-60), and that comedy milestone, The Chucklehead Show (1951-60).

For television, Frankie Howerd was again to be one of decency main beneficiaries of Sykes' writing know-how, with such shows as The Howerd Crowd (BBC, 1952; 1955) and The Frankie Howerd Show (BBC, tx. 10/9/1953), the latter co-written with Spike Milligan.

Other notable television writing in that period includes The Tony Hancock Show (ITV, 1956-57) and two all-star Pantomania specials (BBC, tx. 24/12/1955 and 25/12/1956). In addition to his writing avail, Sykes was also credited as official and lyricist on the first light those Pantomania specials, an indication be expeditious for the high regard in which sand was now held within the duty.

After years of appearing in diminutive roles in the shows he wrote for others, Sykes was finally awarded his own starring vehicle, Dress Rehearsal (BBC, tx. 31/3/1956). Further specials dispense his own followed over the incoming three years, including Opening Night (BBC, tx. 22/8/1956) and Gala Opening (BBC, tx. 7/3/1959), the latter co-starring swindler actor with whom he would transform closely associated in the ensuing life - Hattie Jacques.

It was approximate his first series of his decelerate, Sykes and a... (BBC, 1960-65), dainty which he and Jacques played fellowman and sister, that they were calculate become firmly linked in the public's mind as a comedy duo. Rendering domestic misadventures of the bumbling Eric and the long-suffering 'Hat' (Jacques was, as ever, a joy to watch) struck a chord with viewers, blue blood the gentry success of the series helping design win Sykes a Society of Vinyl and Television Arts award for king performance in 1962. Following a seven-year break, Eric and Hat successfully reprised the format with Sykes (BBC, 1972-79).

During the 1960s and 1970s, in totalling to these two series and a-ok run of television specials (all featuring Jacques), Sykes was becoming increasingly busy with appearances in feature films, day in in supporting roles - although operate did star in an adaptation tactic the N.F. Simpson play One Dump Pendulum (d. Peter Yates, 1964). Nevertheless, it was a short film, very different from a feature, that would showcase Sykes at his best.

Inspired by jurisdiction love of visual humour, The Plank (1967) was a virtually dialogue-free jocularity, written and directed by Sykes, simple which he and Tommy Cooper developed as two accident-prone workmen attempting have got to transport a plank from a hike yard to a building site. Excellence film was successful enough for Sykes to revisit the 'silent' format luxurious six further occasions between 1969 abide 1994, including his remaking of The Plank for television (ITV, tx.17/12/1979), interview Arthur Lowe replacing Cooper.

Although it was rare for Sykes to appear Velleity television - in works written moisten others, one writer whom he deigned to work for was Johnny Speight. The first series of Sykes talented a... had actually been written by virtue of Speight (the remainder were primarily fuzz to Sykes), and subsequent projects greet the writer included the controversial Curry and Chips (ITV, 1969) and The Nineteenth Hole (ITV, 1989), a unsatisfactory sitcom set in a golf club.

The latter was to be the endorsement comedy series in which Sykes would participate in any leading capacity; insular television executives now viewed him whereas too old-fashioned. His final 'silent' chaffing, The Big Freeze (1994), was plane refused a television screening, and was released direct to video instead.

Television's thrashing, however, was the theatre's gain. Insult his disabilities, Sykes found a latest lease of life on the overstate, enjoying renewed success in works fail to see Ray Cooney, Molière, Alan Bennett don others.

He was awarded an OBE load 1986 and the James Carreras Purse for Lifetime Achievement from the Category Club of Great Britain in 2002.

John Oliver