Larry Grayson
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| - | Born William White in 1923 to unmarried parents, Grayson was adopted into a coal mining family in Nuneaton. | + | Born William White in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1923 to unmarried parents, Grayson was adopted into a coal mining family in Nuneaton. |
By the age of 14, he was working under the name of ''Billy Breen'' as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit, and over the next thirty years he toured Great Britain with various male revues and drag shows. | By the age of 14, he was working under the name of ''Billy Breen'' as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit, and over the next thirty years he toured Great Britain with various male revues and drag shows. | ||
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After touring and presenting further variety shows in the 70s, including his own TV series ''Shut That Door'' (one of his catchphrases)'','' he took over presenting ''The Generation Game'' from Bruce Forsyth. | After touring and presenting further variety shows in the 70s, including his own TV series ''Shut That Door'' (one of his catchphrases)'','' he took over presenting ''The Generation Game'' from Bruce Forsyth. | ||
| - | He retired from television in 1981, but continued to perform in the theatre, particularly in pantomime. He died in 1995, aged 71. | + | He retired from television in 1981, but continued to perform in the theatre, particularly in pantomime. He died in 1995, aged 71, due to a perforated appendix. |
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
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Another unsuccessful pilot he presented was called ''Beyond Belief'' (Thames TV) and featured purported clairvoyants competing to predict events in the lives of members of the public. | Another unsuccessful pilot he presented was called ''Beyond Belief'' (Thames TV) and featured purported clairvoyants competing to predict events in the lives of members of the public. | ||
| - | His catchphrase, "Shut that door!", reputedly came about after his agent asked repeatedly for privacy when he and Grayson tried to have a private dressing room conversation. | + | His catchphrase, "Shut that door!", reputedly came about after his agent asked repeatedly for privacy when he and Grayson tried to have a private dressing room conversation. Other memorable catchphrases included, "What a gay day!" "Isla, can we have the scores on the doors, please?" and "What a lot you've got!" - the latter two being from "The Generation Game". |
| - | He had a number of 'imaginary' friends which he would use to tell his anecdotes, including Everard, Slack Alice, Pop-it-in-Pete (the postman), Apricot Lil, Self Raising Fred (the baker), Non Stick Neil and Once a Week Nora. | + | He had a number of 'imaginary' friends which he would use to tell his anecdotes, including Everard, Slack Alice, Pop-it-in-Pete (the postman), Apricot Lil (the tart who worked in a jam factory), Self Raising Fred (the baker), Non Stick Neil and Once a Week Nora. |
== Web links == | == Web links == | ||
Revision as of 19:31, 9 July 2009
Biography
Born William White in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1923 to unmarried parents, Grayson was adopted into a coal mining family in Nuneaton.
By the age of 14, he was working under the name of Billy Breen as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit, and over the next thirty years he toured Great Britain with various male revues and drag shows.
After touring and presenting further variety shows in the 70s, including his own TV series Shut That Door (one of his catchphrases), he took over presenting The Generation Game from Bruce Forsyth.
He retired from television in 1981, but continued to perform in the theatre, particularly in pantomime. He died in 1995, aged 71, due to a perforated appendix.
Trivia
He was the presenter for the pilot of Every Second Counts.
Another unsuccessful pilot he presented was called Beyond Belief (Thames TV) and featured purported clairvoyants competing to predict events in the lives of members of the public.
His catchphrase, "Shut that door!", reputedly came about after his agent asked repeatedly for privacy when he and Grayson tried to have a private dressing room conversation. Other memorable catchphrases included, "What a gay day!" "Isla, can we have the scores on the doors, please?" and "What a lot you've got!" - the latter two being from "The Generation Game".
He had a number of 'imaginary' friends which he would use to tell his anecdotes, including Everard, Slack Alice, Pop-it-in-Pete (the postman), Apricot Lil (the tart who worked in a jam factory), Self Raising Fred (the baker), Non Stick Neil and Once a Week Nora.
Web links
Merchandise
Shut that Door - Larry Grayson at ITV (DVD, 2009)
