Bill Waddington - Revision history

Kurt: /* Personal life and death */

2023-02-22T17:24:26Z

Personal life and death

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 22 February 2023
Line 42:		Line 42:
	In 1940, Waddington married Evelyn Gladys Case. They had a son but divorced in 1947. Waddington's second marriage was in 1947 to Lilian Day. They had two daughters, Denise and Barbara, remaining together until her death from Cancer in 1980.		In 1940, Waddington married Evelyn Gladys Case. They had a son but divorced in 1947. Waddington's second marriage was in 1947 to Lilian Day. They had two daughters, Denise and Barbara, remaining together until her death from Cancer in 1980.

	In 1982, Waddington married Irene Beaumont, however the marriage ended in divorce after 9 months. Waddington married Sheila Torr, sister of comic duos the [[Chuckle Brothers]] and [[~~The~~ Patton Brothers]] and almost 20 years his junior, in 1995, and the couple lived in a 17th Century farmhouse high on the Pennine Moors, in the nearby village of [[Micklebring]], near [[Rotherham]]. He had over 2000 pigs, turkeys and several race horses.		In 1982, Waddington married Irene Beaumont, however the marriage ended in divorce after 9 months. Waddington married Sheila Torr, sister of comic duos the [[Chuckle Brothers]] and the [[Patton Brothers]] and almost 20 years his junior, in 1995, and the couple lived in a 17th Century farmhouse high on the Pennine Moors, in the nearby village of [[Micklebring]], near [[Rotherham]]. He had over 2000 pigs, turkeys and several race horses.

	Waddington became increasingly frail, and spent his final months at a nursing home in [[Maltby, South Yorkshire\|Maltby]], South Yorkshire, where his wife visited him daily. Waddington died at [[Rotherham]] General Hospital on the morning of 9 September 2000 at the age of 84 after a fifty-year acting career. He had been suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and was buried at St. Peter's graveyard at Minshull Vernon, near [[Crewe]].		Waddington became increasingly frail, and spent his final months at a nursing home in [[Maltby, South Yorkshire\|Maltby]], South Yorkshire, where his wife visited him daily. Waddington died at [[Rotherham]] General Hospital on the morning of 9 September 2000 at the age of 84 after a fifty-year acting career. He had been suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and was buried at St. Peter's graveyard at Minshull Vernon, near [[Crewe]].

Kurt: /* Personal life and death */

2023-02-22T17:23:15Z

Personal life and death

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:23, 22 February 2023
Line 42:		Line 42:
	In 1940, Waddington married Evelyn Gladys Case. They had a son but divorced in 1947. Waddington's second marriage was in 1947 to Lilian Day. They had two daughters, Denise and Barbara, remaining together until her death from Cancer in 1980.		In 1940, Waddington married Evelyn Gladys Case. They had a son but divorced in 1947. Waddington's second marriage was in 1947 to Lilian Day. They had two daughters, Denise and Barbara, remaining together until her death from Cancer in 1980.

	In 1982, Waddington married Irene Beaumont, however the marriage ended in divorce after 9 months. Waddington married Sheila Torr, sister of comic duos [[~~The~~ Chuckle Brothers]] and [[The Patton Brothers]] and almost 20 years his junior, in 1995, and the couple lived in a 17th Century farmhouse high on the Pennine Moors, in the nearby village of [[Micklebring]], near [[Rotherham]]. He had over 2000 pigs, turkeys and several race horses.		In 1982, Waddington married Irene Beaumont, however the marriage ended in divorce after 9 months. Waddington married Sheila Torr, sister of comic duos the [[Chuckle Brothers]] and [[The Patton Brothers]] and almost 20 years his junior, in 1995, and the couple lived in a 17th Century farmhouse high on the Pennine Moors, in the nearby village of [[Micklebring]], near [[Rotherham]]. He had over 2000 pigs, turkeys and several race horses.

	Waddington became increasingly frail, and spent his final months at a nursing home in [[Maltby, South Yorkshire\|Maltby]], South Yorkshire, where his wife visited him daily. Waddington died at [[Rotherham]] General Hospital on the morning of 9 September 2000 at the age of 84 after a fifty-year acting career. He had been suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and was buried at St. Peter's graveyard at Minshull Vernon, near [[Crewe]].		Waddington became increasingly frail, and spent his final months at a nursing home in [[Maltby, South Yorkshire\|Maltby]], South Yorkshire, where his wife visited him daily. Waddington died at [[Rotherham]] General Hospital on the morning of 9 September 2000 at the age of 84 after a fifty-year acting career. He had been suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and was buried at St. Peter's graveyard at Minshull Vernon, near [[Crewe]].

Kurt at 17:19, 22 February 2023

2023-02-22T17:19:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:19, 22 February 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{Short description\|English actor, comedian and variety performer}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	~~\| name = Bill Waddington~~
	\| image = Bill Waddington.jpg		\| image = Bill Waddington.jpg
	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =

Kurt: /* Biography */

2022-12-12T22:23:44Z

Biography

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:23, 12 December 2022
Line 34:		Line 34:
	Two years into retirement, aged 67, Waddington played his best known role of cantankerous pensioner Percy Sugden in ''Coronation Street'' from August 1983 until quitting the serial in October 1997, citing the soap had become too raunchy. He resisted attempts by writers to kill the character off, instead leaving the street for care home Mayfield Court. Waddington didn't audition for the role of Percy Sugden as it was created for him, with the writers aware of his of comedy roles. In one autobiography Waddington agrees that he and Sugden have lots in common. Sugden forever compared the problems of today with the good old days of the war: "When you've prepared spotted dick and custard for 150 under heavy artillery fire, you can do anything," was one of his characters more memorable lines. It was in this role he was reunited with friends from [[music hall]] days such as [[Betty Driver]], Jill Summers and [[Tom Mennard]]. By the time Waddington left ''Coronation Street'' there were five Percy Sugden Appreciation Societies, including one at [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge University]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news\|date=11 September 2000\|title=Obituary - Bill Waddington\|work=The Times}}</ref>		Two years into retirement, aged 67, Waddington played his best known role of cantankerous pensioner Percy Sugden in ''Coronation Street'' from August 1983 until quitting the serial in October 1997, citing the soap had become too raunchy. He resisted attempts by writers to kill the character off, instead leaving the street for care home Mayfield Court. Waddington didn't audition for the role of Percy Sugden as it was created for him, with the writers aware of his of comedy roles. In one autobiography Waddington agrees that he and Sugden have lots in common. Sugden forever compared the problems of today with the good old days of the war: "When you've prepared spotted dick and custard for 150 under heavy artillery fire, you can do anything," was one of his characters more memorable lines. It was in this role he was reunited with friends from [[music hall]] days such as [[Betty Driver]], Jill Summers and [[Tom Mennard]]. By the time Waddington left ''Coronation Street'' there were five Percy Sugden Appreciation Societies, including one at [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge University]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news\|date=11 September 2000\|title=Obituary - Bill Waddington\|work=The Times}}</ref>

	He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1986 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] and [[Joe Loss]] with his orchestra at London's Euston Station.~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2021}}~~ In 1989, along with the rest of the ''Coronation Street'' cast, Waddington made a second Royal Variety Performance appearance. He also wrote two books, an autobiography, 'The Importance of Being Percy' in 1992, and a tie in with the 50th anniversary of the [[Normandy landings\|D-Day landings]], 'Percy's War' in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Bill Waddington\|url=http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/waddington_bill.html\|access-date=2021-07-17\|website=www.corrie.net}}</ref>		He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1986 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] and [[Joe Loss]] with his orchestra at London's Euston Station. In 1989, along with the rest of the ''Coronation Street'' cast, Waddington made a second Royal Variety Performance appearance. He also wrote two books, an autobiography, 'The Importance of Being Percy' in 1992, and a tie in with the 50th anniversary of the [[Normandy landings\|D-Day landings]], 'Percy's War' in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Bill Waddington\|url=http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/waddington_bill.html\|access-date=2021-07-17\|website=www.corrie.net}}</ref>

	After leaving ''Coronation Street'', Waddington retired from full-time acting, with his last television appearance in a [[Little Chef]] TV ad.<ref name=":2" />		After leaving ''Coronation Street'', Waddington retired from full-time acting, with his last television appearance in a [[Little Chef]] TV ad.<ref name=":2" />

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-11-13T04:59:44Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:59, 12 November 2022
Line 66:		Line 66:
	*[http://raretv.blogspot.com/2006/09/talent-granada-television-1979.html Review of 'Talent']		*[http://raretv.blogspot.com/2006/09/talent-granada-television-1979.html Review of 'Talent']
	*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000912/ai_n14339998 Obituary: ''Independent'']		*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000912/ai_n14339998 Obituary: ''Independent'']

	~~{{authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Waddington, Bill}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Waddington, Bill}}

Kurt at 04:57, 13 November 2022

2022-11-13T04:57:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:57, 12 November 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Short description\|English actor, comedian and variety performer}}		{{Short description\|English actor, comedian and variety performer}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}
	~~{{One source\|date=April 2021}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Bill Waddington		\| name = Bill Waddington
	\| image = ~~Percycorrie~~.jpg		\| image = Bill Waddington.jpg
	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =
	\| caption = Waddington as Percy Sugden in<br />''Coronation Street''		\| caption = Waddington as Percy Sugden in<br />''Coronation Street''

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-11-12T23:52:29Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:52, 12 November 2022
(No difference)

en>Certes: Unlink book/film: stardom (via WP:JWB)

2022-10-20T12:48:21Z

Unlink book/film: stardom (via WP:JWB)

New page

{{Short description|English actor, comedian and variety performer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{One source|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bill Waddington
| image = Percycorrie.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Waddington as Percy Sugden in ''Coronation Street''
| birthname = William Joseph Waddington
| birth_date = {{birth date|1916|6|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Oldham]], [[Lancashire]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|09|09|1916|06|10|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]], England
| othername =
| yearsactive = c.late 1930s–1999
| spouse = Evelyn Gladys Case (1940–1947; divorced) Lilian Day (1947–1980; her death) (2 children) Irene Beaumont (1982–??; divorced) Sheila Torr (1995–2000; his death)
}}
'''William Joseph Waddington''' (10 June 1916 – 9 September 2000) was an English actor, comedian and co-author who was born in [[Oldham]], [[Lancashire]]. In later life he achieved stardom as the [[pompous]] ex-serviceman [[Percy Sugden]] in [[Granada Television]]'s long-running [[soap opera]] ''[[Coronation Street]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|date=12 September 2000|title=Obituary Bill Waddington|work=The Independent}}</ref>

==Biography ==
Waddington was born on Saturday 10 June 1916 in Oldham, Lancashire. His parents William and Epsie ran the Clarence Hotel, a public house in Oldham. He was the couple's fourth child, having lost twins the year before. Waddington, and his sister Connie, were brought up by family friends as their father fought in the [[World War I|First World War]], and their mother worked all hours to keep the children fed. The family moved house frequently and Waddington attended many different schools in Oldham. It was at school he took to the stage, and during one performance he was spotted by the choirmaster of the Oldham parish church, and persuaded to join.<ref name=":0" /> However, he was expelled from the choir for stealing two bananas from the harvest festival display. Having been expelled from his first school for being unruly, he finished his education, age 14, at grammar school being described as "the clown for the class".<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=16 September 2000|title=Cantankerous pensioner in 'Coronation Street'|work=Irish Times}}</ref>

Away from the stage, he developed a career as a butcher, and worked delivering meat for a chain of shops before being promoted to manager of the local branch. At the age of eighteen he began travelling to [[Blackpool]] to see his favourite stars on stage, and started to have thoughts of becoming a performer. His mother was less supportive, and Waddington had a series of jobs as a manager of a butchers in Blackpool, a door-to-door salesman, and a car salesman.

Inspired by [[George Formby]], Waddington played the [[ukulele]] and his talent as a comedian was spotted when he was an NCO cook in the army during [[World War II|Second World War.]] He became a member of a group called the Blue Pencils, recruited to entertain forces during the War. He won the Normandy medal and Liberation of France medal.<ref name=":1" />

After the war Waddington became a comedian, often appearing on the same bill as [[Jill Summers]], who would eventually play [[Phyllis Pearce]], Percy Sugden's foil in Granada TV's ''[[Coronation Street]]''. In 1955 Bill was chosen for the [[Royal Variety Performance]], and when American stars such as [[Frankie Laine]], [[Lena Horne]], [[Billy Daniels]] and [[Dorothy Lamour]] toured [[UK|Britain]] he was the opening comedian in their shows. His agent was [[Lew Grade]]. In his first pantomime he met actress Lilian Day whom he would later marry.

Waddington appeared in more than 800 variety and comedy programmes on radio, and made his mark on television, starring with [[Margaret Lockwood]] as early as 1946. In the 1970s he enjoyed a stage partnership with [[Sid James]], only ended by James's death in 1976.<ref name=":0" />

In 1975 Waddington played Harry in one episode of the sitcom ''How's Your Father?'', written by ''Coronation Street'' writer [[John Stevenson (writer)|John Stevenson]]. He appeared as a magician in [[Victoria Wood]]'s first play ''[[Talent (1978 play)|Talent]]'' for [[Granada Television]] in 1979.<ref name=":0" />

Between 1967 and 1980, Waddington played four roles in ''Coronation Street''. His first two parts were uncredited as a man with a pipe in a cafe scene in 1967 and a drunken businessman who laughed at one of Stan Ogden's jokes in 1974. He also appeared as Eric Summers, Rita Sullivan's theatrical manager, in 1978 and George Turner, best man at the wedding of Emily Bishop and bigamist Arnold Swain, in 1980.

Two years into retirement, aged 67, Waddington played his best known role of cantankerous pensioner Percy Sugden in ''Coronation Street'' from August 1983 until quitting the serial in October 1997, citing the soap had become too raunchy. He resisted attempts by writers to kill the character off, instead leaving the street for care home Mayfield Court. Waddington didn't audition for the role of Percy Sugden as it was created for him, with the writers aware of his of comedy roles. In one autobiography Waddington agrees that he and Sugden have lots in common. Sugden forever compared the problems of today with the good old days of the war: "When you've prepared spotted dick and custard for 150 under heavy artillery fire, you can do anything," was one of his characters more memorable lines. It was in this role he was reunited with friends from [[music hall]] days such as [[Betty Driver]], Jill Summers and [[Tom Mennard]]. By the time Waddington left ''Coronation Street'' there were five Percy Sugden Appreciation Societies, including one at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=11 September 2000|title=Obituary - Bill Waddington|work=The Times}}</ref>

He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1986 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] and [[Joe Loss]] with his orchestra at London's Euston Station.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} In 1989, along with the rest of the ''Coronation Street'' cast, Waddington made a second Royal Variety Performance appearance. He also wrote two books, an autobiography, 'The Importance of Being Percy' in 1992, and a tie in with the 50th anniversary of the [[Normandy landings|D-Day landings]], 'Percy's War' in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bill Waddington|url=http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/waddington_bill.html|access-date=2021-07-17|website=www.corrie.net}}</ref>

After leaving ''Coronation Street'', Waddington retired from full-time acting, with his last television appearance in a [[Little Chef]] TV ad.<ref name=":2" />

==Music ==
In 1995, he released a cover of "[[Always Look on the Bright Side of Life]]" along with the rest of the ''Coronation Street'' cast, the single reaching No. 35 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. He had previously released his own single "Don't Forget The Old Folks at Christmas" in 1986 but this failed to chart.

==Personal life and death ==

In 1940, Waddington married Evelyn Gladys Case. They had a son but divorced in 1947. Waddington's second marriage was in 1947 to Lilian Day. They had two daughters, Denise and Barbara, remaining together until her death from Cancer in 1980.

In 1982, Waddington married Irene Beaumont, however the marriage ended in divorce after 9 months. Waddington married Sheila Torr, sister of comic duos [[The Chuckle Brothers]] and [[The Patton Brothers]] and almost 20 years his junior, in 1995, and the couple lived in a 17th Century farmhouse high on the Pennine Moors, in the nearby village of [[Micklebring]], near [[Rotherham]]. He had over 2000 pigs, turkeys and several race horses.

Waddington became increasingly frail, and spent his final months at a nursing home in [[Maltby, South Yorkshire|Maltby]], South Yorkshire, where his wife visited him daily. Waddington died at [[Rotherham]] General Hospital on the morning of 9 September 2000 at the age of 84 after a fifty-year acting career. He had been suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and was buried at St. Peter's graveyard at Minshull Vernon, near [[Crewe]].

==TV credits==
*''[[A Family at War]]'' (1970) - Ted Fiddler
*''[[Talent (1978 play)|Talent]]'' (1979) - George Findley
*''[[Coronation Street]]'' (1978–1997) - [[Percy Sugden]] / George Turner / Eric Summers

==Bibliography==
* ''The Importance of Being Percy'' by Bill Waddington and Stafford Hildred. ({{ISBN|1852831928}}), an autobiography written in 1992.
* ''Percy's War'' by Stafford Hildred. ({{ISBN|189892600X}}), the D-Day memories of Coronation Street's Bill Waddington published in 1994.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0905344|Bill Waddington}}
*[http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/waddington_bill.html Bill Waddington]
*[http://raretv.blogspot.com/2006/09/talent-granada-television-1979.html Review of 'Talent']
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000912/ai_n14339998 Obituary: ''Independent'']

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waddington, Bill}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Oldham]]
[[Category:English male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease]]
[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in England]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:British Army soldiers]]