Bill Maynard
| Bill Maynard | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Walter Frederick George Williams |
| Born |
8 October 1928 Heath End, Surrey, England |
| Medium | Actor/comedian |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1953–present |
| Genres | Comedy, television |
| Spouse | Muriel Linnett (1949–1983) (Widowed) Tonia Bern (1989–present) |
| Notable works and roles | See below |
Walter Frederick George Williams (born 8 October 1928), better known by the stage name Bill Maynard, is an English comedian and actor.
Maynard was born at 5 Oak Cottages, Heath End, Farnham, Surrey, and attended Kibworth Beauchamp Grammar School in Leicestershire. He started as a variety performer, taking his professional surname from an advertising board (billboard) for Maynard's Wine Gums, a popular British confectionery at the time. Maynard's first television broadcast was on 12 September 1953 on Henry Hall’s Face the Music.
He was placed fourth in the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest. With Terry Scott, he appeared at Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness and partnered him in the TV series Great Scott, It's Maynard!.
He was part of the team that presented the One O'Clock Show for Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle (1959–64). In 1971 he appeared in Dennis Potter's television play Paper Roses, about the last day in the life of a reporter, and another notable straight acting role followed in 1973 when he appeared in Colin Welland's television play, Kisses at Fifty. In 1973 also, Maynard worked with television actor and comedian Ronnie Barker in the (original) "Football Blues" which aired as "Spanners Eleven" and was part of a series called Seven of One.
In 1975, he had a film role as Yorkshire farmer Hinchcliffe in It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet. At this time, he starred in the Yorkshire Television sitcoms Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! where he played the eponymous lead role and for playing Fred Moffatt in The Gaffer. In the 1970s he also played small roles in some of the Carry On films, including Carry On Matron (1972) and Carry On Dick (1974).
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