Cyril Fletcher: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|English comedian}} | {{Short description|English comedian}} | ||
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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". | 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 | 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== | ||
Latest revision as of 10:05, 29 December 2022
Cyril Fletcher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 25 June 1913 Watford, Hertfordshire, England |
| Died | 2 January 2005 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, businessman |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1: Jill Fletcher[1] |
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 Odes", 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.[2] 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).[3]
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; 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?, that ran from 1951 to 1963. He was the presenter of Central TV's Gardening Today for fourteen years, and 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 town clerk.[4] Following schooling at Woodhouse School, North Finchley,[5] where he first began to entertain by composing witty poems about his schoolmasters,[6] 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.[7] He founded Associated Speakers, an agency for after-dinner speakers, on whose books were included The Duke of Bedford and Lord Longford, as well as himself.[1]
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 (1943)
- Nicholas Nickleby (1947)
- A Piece of Cake (1948)
References
- ^ a b Dennis Barker (3 January 2005). "Obituary: Cyril Fletcher".
- ^ "Ronald Fletcher".
- ^ Profile, Alexandra Palace Television Society website; accessed 18 March 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hayward, Anthony (3 January 2005). "Cyril Fletcher: Performer of 'Odd Odes' and 'That's Life'". The Independent. Archived from the original on April 12, 2010. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ "Famous Freemasons". Grand Lodge Scotland. Archived from the original on 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
External links
Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- 1913 births
- 2005 deaths
- Freemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England
- English male comedians
- People from Watford
- Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- People educated at Friern Barnet Grammar School
- 20th-century English comedians
- 21st-century English comedians
