Paul Shane
| Paul Shane | |
|---|---|
Shane in July 2011.
|
|
| Born |
George Frederick Speight 19 June 1940 Thrybergh, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 16 May 2013 (aged 72) Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1972–2013 |
| Spouse(s) | Dory Shane |
| Children | 3 Daughters |
Paul Shane (19 June 1940 – 16 May 2013) was an English comedian and actor, known for television work, in particular playing Ted Bovis in Hi-de-Hi! a sitcom on the BBC in the mid 1980s.
Shane was born George Frederick Speight in Thrybergh, South Riding of Yorkshire, near Rotherham. He was a miner at Silverwood Colliery but slipped on soap in the pit-head baths in 1967, resulting in double herniated discs. He was pensioned from the pit at 27. Two years later, he became a professional entertainer since he already had 10 years' experience as a part-time entertainer around the pubs and clubs in South Yorkshire.
His first appearance, as a straight singer, was at the Grafton pub, now demolished, in St. Ann's Road, Rotherham. His first club booking was at St Ann's Club in Rotherham, for 30 shillings (£1.50). His transformation from singer to comedian was gradual, starting with his rendition of Green Green Grass of Home, straight at first, but ultimately a send-up of Tom Jones, which marked the start of the Paul Shane act.
Small parts and guest appearances in television series began throughout the 1970s, and, in May 1979, comedy writer Jimmy Perry spotted Shane playing Frank Roper in a 1979 episode of Coronation Street, and offered him the part of Ted Bovis in his new holiday-camp sitcom, Hi-de-Hi!. The series ran from 1980 until 1988, when Perry and co-writer David Croft wrote the pilot of You Rang, M'Lord? and invited Shane to play Alf Stokes. The show ran until 1993. In 1991, Shane was given his own series, Very Big, Very Soon, but it ended after one series.
...
Wikipedia