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'''James Keith O'Neill "Jimmy" Edwards''', [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]] (23 March 1920{{spaced ndash}}7 July 1988) was an [[England|English]] comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in ''[[Take It From Here]]'' and as the headmaster "Professor" James Edwards in ''[[Whack-O!]]''
'''James Keith O'Neill "Jimmy" Edwards''', [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]] (23 March 1920{{spaced ndash}}7 July 1988) was an [[England|English]] comedy writer and actor on radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in ''[[Take It From Here]]'' and as headmaster "Professor" James Edwards in ''[[Whack-O!]]''


==Biography==
==Biography==
Edwards was born in [[Barnes, London|Barnes]], [[London]], the son of a professor of [[mathematics]]. He was educated at [[St Paul's Cathedral School]], at [[King's College School]] in [[Wimbledon, London]], and later at [[St John's College, Cambridge]].
Edwards was born in [[Barnes, London|Barnes]], [[London]], the son of a professor of [[mathematics]]. He was educated at [[St Paul's Cathedral School]], at [[King's College School]] in [[Wimbledon, London]], and at [[St John's College, Cambridge]].


He served in the [[Royal Air Force]] during [[World War II]], earning the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (British)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]. His [[Douglas DC-3|Dakota]] was shot down at [[Operation Market Garden|Arnhem]] in 1944, resulting in his sustaining facial injuries requiring [[plastic surgery]]&mdash;he disguised the traces with the huge [[handlebar moustache]] that later became his trademark. He was a member of the [[Guinea Pig Club]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/357783/Military-advances-How-warfare-has-led-to-healthcare-developments | title=Military advances: How warfare has led to healthcare developments | first=Jane | last=Symons | newspaper=Express | date=13 November 2012 | accessdate=17 February 2013 }}</ref>
He served in the [[Royal Air Force]] during [[World War II]], earning the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (British)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]. His [[Douglas DC-3|Dakota]] was shot down at [[Operation Market Garden|Arnhem]] in 1944, resulting in his facial injuries requiring [[plastic surgery]]&mdash;he disguised the traces with the huge [[handlebar moustache]] that became his trademark. He was a member of the [[Guinea Pig Club]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/357783/Military-advances-How-warfare-has-led-to-healthcare-developments | title=Military advances: How warfare has led to healthcare developments | first=Jane | last=Symons | newspaper=Express | date=13 November 2012 | accessdate=17 February 2013 }}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==


===Radio and television===
===Radio and television===
Edwards was a feature of London theatre in the immediate post-war years, debuting at London's [[Windmill Theatre]] in 1946 and on BBC radio the same year. He later did a season with [[Tony Hancock]], having previously performed in the [[Cambridge Footlights]] review. He gained wider exposure as a radio performer in ''[[Take It From Here]]'', co-starring [[Dick Bentley]], which first paired his writer [[Frank Muir]] with Bentley's personal script writer [[Denis Norden]]. Also on radio he appeared in ''Jim The Great'' and ''My Wildest Dream''.
Edwards was a feature of London theatre in post-war years, debuting at London's [[Windmill Theatre]] in 1946 and on BBC radio the same year. He later did a season with [[Tony Hancock]], having previously performed in the [[Cambridge Footlights]] review. He gained wider exposure as a radio performer in ''[[Take It From Here]]'', co-starring [[Dick Bentley]], which first paired his writer [[Frank Muir]] with Bentley's script writer, [[Denis Norden]]. Also on radio he appeared in ''Jim The Great'' and ''My Wildest Dream''.


Graduating to television, he appeared in ''[[Whack-O]]'', also written by Muir and Norden, and the radio panel game ''[[Does the Team Think?]]'', a series which Edwards also created. In 1960 a film version of ''Whack-O'' called ''[[Bottoms Up (1960 film)|Bottoms Up]]'' was made, written by Muir and Norden. On TV he also appeared in ''[[The Seven Faces of Jim]]'', ''[[Six More Faces of Jim]]'', and ''[[More Faces of Jim]]'', in guest slots in ''[[Make Room for Daddy]]'' and ''[[Sykes]]'', in ''Bold As Brass'', ''I Object'', ''John Jorrocks Esq'', ''The Auction Game'', ''[[Jokers Wild (TV series)|Jokers Wild]]'', ''[[Sir Yellow]]'', ''[[Doctor in the House]]'', ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' and ''Oh! Sir James!'' (which he also wrote).
He appeared in ''[[Whack-O]]'' on television, also written by Muir and Norden, and the radio panel game ''[[Does the Team Think?]]'', a series which Edwards created. In 1960 a film of ''Whack-O'' called ''[[Bottoms Up (1960 film)|Bottoms Up]]'' was written by Muir and Norden. On TV he appeared in ''[[The Seven Faces of Jim]]'', ''[[Six More Faces of Jim]]'', and ''[[More Faces of Jim]]'', ''[[Make Room for Daddy]]'' and ''[[Sykes]]'', in ''Bold As Brass'', ''I Object'', ''John Jorrocks Esq'', ''The Auction Game'', ''[[Jokers Wild (TV series)|Jokers Wild]]'', ''[[Sir Yellow]]'', ''[[Doctor in the House]]'', ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' and ''Oh! Sir James!'' (which he also wrote).


He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1958 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC's Piccadilly 1 Studio.
He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1958 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC's Piccadilly 1 Studio.


Edwards also starred in ''The Fossett Saga'' in 1969 as James Fossett, an ambitious Victorian writer of [[penny dreadful]]s, with [[Sam Kydd]] playing Herbert Quince, his unpaid manservant, and [[June Whitfield]] playing music-hall singer Millie Goswick. This was shown on Fridays at 8:30 pm on [[London Weekend Television|LWT]]; David Freeman was the creator.
Edwards starred in ''The Fossett Saga'' in 1969 as James Fossett, an ambitious Victorian writer of [[penny dreadful]]s, with [[Sam Kydd]] playing Herbert Quince, his unpaid manservant, and [[June Whitfield]] playing music-hall singer Millie Goswick. This was shown on Fridays at 8:30pm on [[London Weekend Television|LWT]]; David Freeman was the creator.


===Stage and film===
===Stage and film===
In December 1958, Jimmy Edwards played the King in [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]]'s ''[[Cinderella (musical)|Cinderella]]'' at the [[London Coliseum]] with [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Tommy Steele]], Yana and [[Betty Marsden]]. In April 1966, Edwards performed at the last night of [[Melbourne]]'s [[Tivoli circuit|Tivoli Theatre]]. His final words closed a long tradition of [[Australia]]n [[music hall]]. "I don't relish the distinction of being the man who closed the Tiv. Music hall's dead in Britain. Now this one's dead, there's nowhere to go. I'll either become a character comedian or a pauper."<ref>Van Straten, F. (2003) ''Tivoli'' p. 233. Lothian Books, Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-7344-0553-7</ref>
In December 1958, Jimmy Edwards played the King in [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]]'s ''[[Cinderella (musical)|Cinderella]]'' at the [[London Coliseum]] with [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Tommy Steele]], Yana and [[Betty Marsden]]. In April 1966, he played at the last night of [[Melbourne]]'s [[Tivoli circuit|Tivoli Theatre]]. His final words closed a tradition of [[Australia]]n [[music hall]]. "I don't relish the distinction of being the man who closed the Tiv. Music hall's dead in Britain. Now this one's dead, there's nowhere to go. I'll either become a character comedian or a pauper."<ref>Van Straten, F. (2003) ''Tivoli'' p. 233. Lothian Books, Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-7344-0553-7</ref>


Edwards frequently worked with fellow comedian [[Eric Sykes]], acting in the short films written by Sykes: ''[[The Plank (1967 film)|The Plank]]'' (1967), which also starred [[Tommy Cooper]]; alongside [[Arthur Lowe]] and [[Ronnie Barker]] in the remake of ''[[The Plank (1979 film)|The Plank]]'' during 1979; and in ''[[Rhubarb (1969 film)|Rhubarb]]'' (1969), which again featured Sykes. The films were unusual in that although they were not silent, there was no dialogue other than various grunts and sound effects. He also appeared in the surreal film ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'' (1969) as Nigel, a man who lives in a left luggage compartment after being mistaken for a suitcase.
Edwards frequently worked with [[Eric Sykes]], acting in short films that Sykes wrote: ''[[The Plank (1967 film)|The Plank]]'' (1967), which also starred [[Tommy Cooper]]; alongside [[Arthur Lowe]] and [[Ronnie Barker]] in the remake of ''[[The Plank (1979 film)|The Plank]]'' in 1979; and in ''[[Rhubarb (1969 film)|Rhubarb]]'' (1969), which again featured Sykes. The films were not silent but had no dialogue other than grunts. He also appeared in the ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'' (1969) as Nigel, a man who lives in a left luggage compartment after being mistaken for a suitcase.


Edwards and Sykes also toured UK theatres with their theatrical farce ''[[Big Bad Mouse]]'' which, while keeping more or less to a script, gave them rein to ad lib, involve the audience, and generally break the "[[fourth wall]]". Sykes was replaced by [[Roy Castle]] in later runs of the show both in its three-year residency at the [[Shaftesbury Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and also extensive tours of the [[Middle East]] and [[Australia]]. Edwards also starred in the stage revival of ''[[Maid of the Mountains]]''.
Edwards and Sykes toured UK theatres with their farce ''[[Big Bad Mouse]]'' which, while scripted, let them ad lib, involve the audience and break the "[[fourth wall]]". Sykes was replaced by [[Roy Castle]] in later runs in its three-year residency at the [[Shaftesbury Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and in tours of the [[Middle East]] and [[Australia]]. Edwards also starred in the stage revival of ''[[Maid of the Mountains]]''.


==Private life==
==Private life==


Jimmy Edwards published his autobiography, ''Six of the Best'', in 1984, as a follow-up to ''Take it From Me''. Among his interests were brass bands, being a vice-president of the [[City of Oxford Silver Band]],<ref>{{cite news | work=Oxford Mail | date=17 January 1966 }}</ref> and was an accomplished player of both the [[tuba]] and [[euphonium]]. Edwards was one of the principal founders, and a lifelong member, of the [[Handlebar Club]], in which all the members had such moustaches. He was also a keen amateur [[polo]] player and played at [[Ham Polo Club]].
Jimmy Edwards published his autobiography, ''Six of the Best'', in 1984, as a follow-up to ''Take it From Me''. He was vice-president of the [[City of Oxford Silver Band]],<ref>{{cite news | work=Oxford Mail | date=17 January 1966 }}</ref> and an accomplished player of [[tuba]] and [[euphonium]]. He was founder and a lifelong member of the [[Handlebar Club]], in which all the members had such moustaches. He played at [[Ham Polo Club]].


Edwards was a lifelong [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] and in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964 general election]] stood as a candidate in [[Paddington North (UK Parliament constituency)|Paddington North]], without success. He was a devotee of [[fox hunting]] at Ringmer, near Lewes. He also served as Rector of [[Aberdeen University]] for three years during the 1950s, a university that has a history of appointing celebrities and actors as their honorary rector.
Edwards was a lifelong [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] and in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964 general election]] stood as [[Paddington North (UK Parliament constituency)|Paddington North]], without success. He was a devotee of [[fox hunting]] at Ringmer, near Lewes. He was rector of [[Aberdeen University]] for three years in the 1950s, a university with a history of celebrities and actors as honorary rector.


He was married to Valerie Seymour for eleven years. During the 1970s, however, he was publicly outed as a lifelong homosexual, much to his annoyance. After the ending of his marriage, there were press reports of his engagement to [[Joan Turner]], the actress, singer and comedienne, but these came to nothing and were suspected to be a publicity stunt by both of them.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_/ai_n8940214 Edwards's outing]</ref> His home was in Fletching, East Sussex,<ref>[[Fletching, East Sussex]]</ref> and he died in London in 1988 at the age of 68 from pneumonia.
He was married to Valerie Seymour for 11 years. During the 1970s, however, he was outed as a homosexual, to his annoyance. After the ending of his marriage, press reports spoke of his engagement to [[Joan Turner]], the actress, singer and comedienne, but they were suspected to be a mutual publicity stunt.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_/ai_n8940214 Edwards's outing]</ref> His lived in Fletching, East Sussex,<ref>[[Fletching, East Sussex]]</ref> and he died from pneumonia in London in 1988 at the age of 68 .


A [[Brighton & Hove (bus company)|Brighton & Hove]] bus is [[List of Brighton & Hove bus names|named after him]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://history.buses.co.uk/history/currentfleet/welcome.htm | title=Names on the buses 648 Jimmy Edwards | publisher=[[Brighton & Hove (bus company)]] | accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref>
A [[Brighton & Hove (bus company)|Brighton & Hove]] bus is [[List of Brighton & Hove bus names|named after him]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://history.buses.co.uk/history/currentfleet/welcome.htm | title=Names on the buses 648 Jimmy Edwards | publisher=[[Brighton & Hove (bus company)]] | accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref>

Revision as of 05:50, 24 December 2014

For other people also known as Jimmy Edwards or James Edwards, see James Edwards (disambiguation).

Jimmy Edwards
File:Jimmy Edwards.jpg
Born
James Keith O'Neill Edwards

(1920-03-23)23 March 1920
Barnes, London, England
Died7 July 1988(1988-07-07) (aged 68)
London, England
OccupationComedy actor
Years active1946-1988
SpouseValerie Seymour (1958–1969)

James Keith O'Neill "Jimmy" Edwards, DFC (23 March 1920 – 7 July 1988) was an English comedy writer and actor on radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as headmaster "Professor" James Edwards in Whack-O!

Biography

Edwards was born in Barnes, London, the son of a professor of mathematics. He was educated at St Paul's Cathedral School, at King's College School in Wimbledon, London, and at St John's College, Cambridge.

He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. His Dakota was shot down at Arnhem in 1944, resulting in his facial injuries requiring plastic surgery—he disguised the traces with the huge handlebar moustache that became his trademark. He was a member of the Guinea Pig Club.[1]

Career

Radio and television

Edwards was a feature of London theatre in post-war years, debuting at London's Windmill Theatre in 1946 and on BBC radio the same year. He later did a season with Tony Hancock, having previously performed in the Cambridge Footlights review. He gained wider exposure as a radio performer in Take It From Here, co-starring Dick Bentley, which first paired his writer Frank Muir with Bentley's script writer, Denis Norden. Also on radio he appeared in Jim The Great and My Wildest Dream.

He appeared in Whack-O on television, also written by Muir and Norden, and the radio panel game Does the Team Think?, a series which Edwards created. In 1960 a film of Whack-O called Bottoms Up was written by Muir and Norden. On TV he appeared in The Seven Faces of Jim, Six More Faces of Jim, and More Faces of Jim, Make Room for Daddy and Sykes, in Bold As Brass, I Object, John Jorrocks Esq, The Auction Game, Jokers Wild, Sir Yellow, Doctor in the House, Charley's Aunt and Oh! Sir James! (which he also wrote).

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1958 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC's Piccadilly 1 Studio.

Edwards starred in The Fossett Saga in 1969 as James Fossett, an ambitious Victorian writer of penny dreadfuls, with Sam Kydd playing Herbert Quince, his unpaid manservant, and June Whitfield playing music-hall singer Millie Goswick. This was shown on Fridays at 8:30pm on LWT; David Freeman was the creator.

Stage and film

In December 1958, Jimmy Edwards played the King in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the London Coliseum with Kenneth Williams, Tommy Steele, Yana and Betty Marsden. In April 1966, he played at the last night of Melbourne's Tivoli Theatre. His final words closed a tradition of Australian music hall. "I don't relish the distinction of being the man who closed the Tiv. Music hall's dead in Britain. Now this one's dead, there's nowhere to go. I'll either become a character comedian or a pauper."[2]

Edwards frequently worked with Eric Sykes, acting in short films that Sykes wrote: The Plank (1967), which also starred Tommy Cooper; alongside Arthur Lowe and Ronnie Barker in the remake of The Plank in 1979; and in Rhubarb (1969), which again featured Sykes. The films were not silent but had no dialogue other than grunts. He also appeared in the The Bed Sitting Room (1969) as Nigel, a man who lives in a left luggage compartment after being mistaken for a suitcase.

Edwards and Sykes toured UK theatres with their farce Big Bad Mouse which, while scripted, let them ad lib, involve the audience and break the "fourth wall". Sykes was replaced by Roy Castle in later runs in its three-year residency at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End and in tours of the Middle East and Australia. Edwards also starred in the stage revival of Maid of the Mountains.

Private life

Jimmy Edwards published his autobiography, Six of the Best, in 1984, as a follow-up to Take it From Me. He was vice-president of the City of Oxford Silver Band,[3] and an accomplished player of tuba and euphonium. He was founder and a lifelong member of the Handlebar Club, in which all the members had such moustaches. He played at Ham Polo Club.

Edwards was a lifelong Conservative and in the 1964 general election stood as Paddington North, without success. He was a devotee of fox hunting at Ringmer, near Lewes. He was rector of Aberdeen University for three years in the 1950s, a university with a history of celebrities and actors as honorary rector.

He was married to Valerie Seymour for 11 years. During the 1970s, however, he was outed as a homosexual, to his annoyance. After the ending of his marriage, press reports spoke of his engagement to Joan Turner, the actress, singer and comedienne, but they were suspected to be a mutual publicity stunt.[4] His lived in Fletching, East Sussex,[5] and he died from pneumonia in London in 1988 at the age of 68 .

A Brighton & Hove bus is named after him.[6]

Selected filmography

Notes

  1. ^ Symons, Jane (13 November 2012). "Military advances: How warfare has led to healthcare developments". Express. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  2. ^ Van Straten, F. (2003) Tivoli p. 233. Lothian Books, Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-7344-0553-7
  3. ^ Oxford Mail. 17 January 1966. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Edwards's outing
  5. ^ Fletching, East Sussex
  6. ^ "Names on the buses 648 Jimmy Edwards". Brighton & Hove (bus company). Retrieved 27 June 2014.
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Preceded by Rector of the University of Aberdeen
1951–1954 		Succeeded by

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