Cyril Fletcher - Revision history

Kurt at 16:05, 29 December 2022

2022-12-29T16:05:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 29 December 2022
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	{{Short description\|English comedian}}		{{Short description\|English comedian}}
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Cyril Fletcher		\| name = Cyril Fletcher
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	}}		}}

	'''Cyril Fletcher''' (25 June 1913 – 2 January 2005) was an English comedian, actor and businessman. His catchphrase was 'Pin back your lugholes'. He was best known for his "Odd [[Ode]]s", which later formed a section of the television show ''[[That's Life!]]'', a role for which he was approached in error. So successful was he however, that he stayed on the show from 1973 to 1981.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12044924.ronald-fletcher/\|title = Ronald Fletcher}}</ref> He first began performing the Odd Odes in 1937, long before they first appeared on television (though he did appear on pre [[World War II]] television).<ref>[http://www.apts.org.uk/films.htm Profile], Alexandra Palace Television Society website; accessed 18 March 2015.</ref>		'''Cyril Fletcher''' (25 June 1913 – 2 January 2005) was an English comedian, actor and businessman. His catchphrase was 'Pin back your lugholes'. He was best known for his "Odd [[w:Ode\|Ode]]s", which later formed a section of the television show ''[[w:That's Life!\|That's Life!]]'', a role for which he was approached in error. So successful was he however, that he stayed on the show from 1973 to 1981.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12044924.ronald-fletcher/\|title = Ronald Fletcher}}</ref> He first began performing the Odd Odes in 1937, long before they first appeared on television (though he did appear on pre [[w:World War II\|World War II]] television).<ref>[http://www.apts.org.uk/films.htm Profile], Alexandra Palace Television Society website; accessed 18 March 2015.</ref>

	Fletcher came up with the idea when he was short of material for a radio show. The first, ''Odd Ode'', was a comic, yet sentimental, reading of [[Edgar Wallace]]'s war poem ''Dreamin' of Thee''. Following this broadcast, he was given a regular programme on [[Radio Luxembourg (English)\|Radio Luxembourg]]; it was this show that brought him to national attention. He called himself "the odd oder".~~{{citation needed\|date=March 2015}}~~		Fletcher came up with the idea when he was short of material for a radio show. The first, ''Odd Ode'', was a comic, yet sentimental, reading of [[w:Edgar Wallace\|Edgar Wallace]]'s war poem ''Dreamin' of Thee''. Following this broadcast, he was given a regular programme on [[w:Radio Luxembourg (English)\|Radio Luxembourg]]; it was this show that brought him to national attention. He called himself "the odd oder".

	He also appeared as a panellist on the popular panel show on [[BBC]], ''[[What's My Line#United Kingdom\|What's My Line]]?'', that ran from 1951 to 1963. He was the presenter of [[ITV Central\|Central TV]]'s ''Gardening Today'' for fourteen years, and [[ITV Channel Television\|Channel Television]]'s ''Cyril Fletcher's TV Garden'', and ran from 1990 to 1992, for two years. He alleged defamation when Rowan Atkinson referred to him, in a Not ~~The~~ Nine O’Clock News sketch as “a cross eyed baboon”. As a sufferer of crossed eyes, Fletcher considered litigation but over time they became friends.		He also appeared as a panellist on the popular panel show on [[w:BBC\|BBC]], ''[[w:What's My Line#United Kingdom\|What's My Line]]?'', that ran from 1951 to 1963. He was the presenter of [[w:ITV Central\|Central TV]]'s ''Gardening Today'' for fourteen years, and [[w:ITV Channel Television\|Channel Television]]'s ''Cyril Fletcher's TV Garden'', and ran from 1990 to 1992, for two years. He alleged defamation when Rowan Atkinson referred to him, in a ''Not the Nine O’Clock News'' sketch as “a cross eyed baboon”. As a sufferer of crossed eyes, Fletcher considered litigation but over time they became friends.

	Fletcher was born in [[Watford]], the son of a solicitor, who was the [[Friern Barnet Urban District\|Friern Barnet]] [[town clerk]].<ref>Fletcher, Cyril (1973). ''The Countryman: A Quarterly Review and Miscellany of Rural Life and Progress'' '''73'''. Oxford: J.W. Robertson Scott. ISSN 0011-0272. page 47.</ref> Following schooling at Woodhouse School, [[North Finchley]],<ref>Fletcher, Cyril (1978). ''Nice One Cyril: Being the Odd Odessey and the Anecdotage of a Comedian''. London: Random House. {{ISBN\|0-214-20581-9}}. page 19.</ref> where he first began to entertain by composing witty poems about his schoolmasters,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Cyril Fletcher: Performer of 'Odd Odes' and 'That's Life'\|date=3 January 2005\|author=Hayward, Anthony\|work=[[The Independent]]\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cyril-fletcher-487740.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412154605/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cyril-fletcher-487740.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=April 12, 2010\|accessdate=2008-12-16}}</ref> he graduated from the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]].		Fletcher was born in [[w:Watford\|Watford]], the son of a solicitor, who was the [[w:Friern Barnet Urban District\|Friern Barnet]] [[w:town clerk\|town clerk]].<ref>Fletcher, Cyril (1973). ''The Countryman: A Quarterly Review and Miscellany of Rural Life and Progress'' '''73'''. Oxford: J.W. Robertson Scott. ISSN 0011-0272. page 47.</ref> Following schooling at Woodhouse School, [[w:North Finchley\|North Finchley]],<ref>Fletcher, Cyril (1978). ''Nice One Cyril: Being the Odd Odessey and the Anecdotage of a Comedian''. London: Random House. {{ISBN\|0-214-20581-9}}. page 19.</ref> where he first began to entertain by composing witty poems about his schoolmasters,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Cyril Fletcher: Performer of 'Odd Odes' and 'That's Life'\|date=3 January 2005\|author=Hayward, Anthony\|work=[[w:The Independent\|The Independent]]\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cyril-fletcher-487740.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412154605/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cyril-fletcher-487740.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=April 12, 2010\|accessdate=2008-12-16}}</ref> he graduated from the [[w:Guildhall School of Music and Drama\|Guildhall School of Music and Drama]].

	A [[Freemason]] and a successful businessman, he believed it important to diversify in such a fickle business as [[show business]].<ref>{{Cite web\|website=Grand Lodge Scotland\|url=http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/index.php/masonic-subjects/famous-freemasons\|title=Famous Freemasons\|access-date=2014-01-06\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106231948/http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/index.php/masonic-subjects/famous-freemasons\|archive-date=2014-01-06\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He founded Associated Speakers, an agency for [[public speaking\|after-dinner speakers]], on whose books were included The [[John Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford\|Duke of Bedford]] and [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford\|Lord Longford]], as well as himself.<ref name="Guardian, Obit" />		A [[w:Freemason\|Freemason]] and a successful businessman, he believed it important to diversify in such a fickle business as [[w:show business\|show business]].<ref>{{Cite web\|website=Grand Lodge Scotland\|url=http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/index.php/masonic-subjects/famous-freemasons\|title=Famous Freemasons\|access-date=2014-01-06\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106231948/http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/index.php/masonic-subjects/famous-freemasons\|archive-date=2014-01-06\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He founded Associated Speakers, an agency for [[w:public speaking\|after-dinner speakers]], on whose books were included The [[w:John Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford\|Duke of Bedford]] and [[w:Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford\|Lord Longford]], as well as himself.<ref name="Guardian, Obit" />

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==
	He and his wife, [[Betty Astell]], were married from 18 May 1941 until his death on 2 January 2005, she died just under seven months later. The couple had a daughter, Jill Fletcher, an actress and comedian.		He and his wife, [[w:Betty Astell\|Betty Astell]], were married from 18 May 1941 until his death on 2 January 2005, she died just under seven months later. The couple had a daughter, Jill Fletcher, an actress and comedian.

	==Selected filmography==		==Selected filmography==
	* ''[[Yellow Canary (film)\|Yellow Canary]]'' (1943)		* ''[[w:Yellow Canary (film)\|Yellow Canary]]'' (1943)
	* ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947 film)\|Nicholas Nickleby]]'' (1947)		* ''[[w:The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947 film)\|Nicholas Nickleby]]'' (1947)
	* ''[[A Piece of Cake (film)\|A Piece of Cake]]'' (1948)		* ''[[w:A Piece of Cake (film)\|A Piece of Cake]]'' (1948)

	==References==		==References==

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-12-05T16:50:01Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:50, 5 December 2022
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*{{IMDb name\|id=0281980\|name=Cyril Fletcher}}		*{{IMDb name\|id=0281980\|name=Cyril Fletcher}}
	*[https://www.speakersassociates.com/ Associated Speakers]
	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Fletcher, Cyril}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Fletcher, Cyril}}

Kurt at 03:13, 1 October 2022

2022-10-01T03:13:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:13, 30 September 2022
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	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[w:Watford]\|], [[w:Hertfordshire\|Hertfordshire]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Watford\|Watford]], [[w:Hertfordshire\|Hertfordshire]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2005\|01\|02\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2005\|01\|02\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[w:St Peter Port\|St Peter Port]], [[w:Guernsey\|Guernsey]], [[w:Channel Islands\|Channel Islands]]		\| death_place = [[w:St Peter Port\|St Peter Port]], [[w:Guernsey\|Guernsey]], [[w:Channel Islands\|Channel Islands]]

Kurt at 03:12, 1 October 2022

2022-10-01T03:12:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 30 September 2022
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	\| name = Cyril Fletcher		\| name = Cyril Fletcher
	\| image = Cyril Fletcher.jpg		\| image = Cyril Fletcher.jpg
	~~\| image_size =~~
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[Watford]], [[Hertfordshire]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Watford]\|], [[w:Hertfordshire\|Hertfordshire]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2005\|01\|02\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2005\|01\|02\|1913\|06\|25\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[St Peter Port]], [[Guernsey]], [[Channel Islands]]		\| death_place = [[w:St Peter Port\|St Peter Port]], [[w:Guernsey\|Guernsey]], [[w:Channel Islands\|Channel Islands]]
	\| nationality = British		\| nationality = British
	\| occupation = Actor, comedian, businessman		\| occupation = Actor, comedian, businessman
	\| spouse = [[Betty Astell]] (18 May ~~1941–2 January~~ 2005~~; his death); 1 child~~		\| spouse = {{Marriage\|[[w:Betty Astell\|Betty Astell]]\|18 May 1941\|2005}}
	\| children = Jill Fletcher<ref name="Guardian, Obit" />		\| children = 1: Jill Fletcher<ref name="Guardian, Obit" />
	}}		}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-05T14:35:03Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 09:35, 5 August 2022
(No difference)

en>Tassedethe: v2.04 - Repaired 1 link to disambiguation page - (You can help) - A Piece of Cake

2022-06-05T21:53:23Z

v2.04 - Repaired 1 link to disambiguation page - (You can help) - A Piece of Cake

New page

{{Short description|English comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Cyril Fletcher
| image = Cyril Fletcher.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|06|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Watford]], [[Hertfordshire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|01|02|1913|06|25|df=y}}
| death_place = [[St Peter Port]], [[Guernsey]], [[Channel Islands]]
| nationality = British
| occupation = Actor, comedian, businessman
| spouse = [[Betty Astell]] (18 May 1941–2 January 2005; his death); 1 child
| children = Jill Fletcher<ref name="Guardian, Obit" />
}}

'''Cyril Fletcher''' (25 June 1913 – 2 January 2005) was an English comedian, actor and businessman. His catchphrase was 'Pin back your lugholes'. He was best known for his "Odd [[Ode]]s", which later formed a section of the television show ''[[That's Life!]]'', a role for which he was approached in error. So successful was he however, that he stayed on the show from 1973 to 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12044924.ronald-fletcher/|title = Ronald Fletcher}}</ref> He first began performing the Odd Odes in 1937, long before they first appeared on television (though he did appear on pre [[World War II]] television).<ref>[http://www.apts.org.uk/films.htm Profile], Alexandra Palace Television Society website; accessed 18 March 2015.</ref>

Fletcher came up with the idea when he was short of material for a radio show. The first, ''Odd Ode'', was a comic, yet sentimental, reading of [[Edgar Wallace]]'s war poem ''Dreamin' of Thee''. Following this broadcast, he was given a regular programme on [[Radio Luxembourg (English)|Radio Luxembourg]]; it was this show that brought him to national attention. He called himself "the odd oder".{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

He also appeared as a panellist on the popular panel show on [[BBC]], ''[[What's My Line#United Kingdom|What's My Line]]?'', that ran from 1951 to 1963. He was the presenter of [[ITV Central|Central TV]]'s ''Gardening Today'' for fourteen years, and [[ITV Channel Television|Channel Television]]'s ''Cyril Fletcher's TV Garden'', and ran from 1990 to 1992, for two years. He alleged defamation when Rowan Atkinson referred to him, in a Not The Nine O’Clock News sketch as “a cross eyed baboon”. As a sufferer of crossed eyes, Fletcher considered litigation but over time they became friends.

Fletcher was born in [[Watford]], the son of a solicitor, who was the [[Friern Barnet Urban District|Friern Barnet]] [[town clerk]].<ref>Fletcher, Cyril (1973). ''The Countryman: A Quarterly Review and Miscellany of Rural Life and Progress'' '''73'''. Oxford: J.W. Robertson Scott. ISSN 0011-0272. page 47.</ref> Following schooling at Woodhouse School, [[North Finchley]],<ref>Fletcher, Cyril (1978). ''Nice One Cyril: Being the Odd Odessey and the Anecdotage of a Comedian''. London: Random House. {{ISBN|0-214-20581-9}}. page 19.</ref> where he first began to entertain by composing witty poems about his schoolmasters,<ref>{{cite web|title=Cyril Fletcher: Performer of 'Odd Odes' and 'That's Life'|date=3 January 2005|author=Hayward, Anthony|work=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cyril-fletcher-487740.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412154605/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cyril-fletcher-487740.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2010|accessdate=2008-12-16}}</ref> he graduated from the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]].

A [[Freemason]] and a successful businessman, he believed it important to diversify in such a fickle business as [[show business]].<ref>{{Cite web|website=Grand Lodge Scotland|url=http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/index.php/masonic-subjects/famous-freemasons|title=Famous Freemasons|access-date=2014-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106231948/http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/index.php/masonic-subjects/famous-freemasons|archive-date=2014-01-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> He founded Associated Speakers, an agency for [[public speaking|after-dinner speakers]], on whose books were included The [[John Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford|Duke of Bedford]] and [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Lord Longford]], as well as himself.<ref name="Guardian, Obit" />

==Personal life==
He and his wife, [[Betty Astell]], were married from 18 May 1941 until his death on 2 January 2005, she died just under seven months later. The couple had a daughter, Jill Fletcher, an actress and comedian.

==Selected filmography==
* ''[[Yellow Canary (film)|Yellow Canary]]'' (1943)
* ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947 film)|Nicholas Nickleby]]'' (1947)
* ''[[A Piece of Cake (film)|A Piece of Cake]]'' (1948)

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="Guardian, Obit" >{{Cite news
|title=Obituary: Cyril Fletcher
|author=Dennis Barker
|date=3 January 2005
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/jan/03/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries
}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0281980|name=Cyril Fletcher}}
*[https://www.speakersassociates.com/ Associated Speakers]
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fletcher, Cyril}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Freemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:People from Watford]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]
[[Category:People educated at Friern Barnet Grammar School]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century English comedians]]