CHARLIE DRAKEDiminutive Charlie Drake, a star of slapstick comedy,died on 23 December, 2006, aged 81.
The curly-headed Cockney was famous for his "Hello my darlings…" catchphrase, which often rang out during a string of television hits in a career that spanned seven decades.
But his wild knockabout style of comedy could backfire and the 5ft 1in comic knocked himself out on stage on more than one occasion.
Charles Edward Springall was born on 19 June, 1925, in the Elephant and Castle district of south London and took his mother's maiden name of Drake for the stage. He first acted at the age of eight but his fledgling showbiz career was cut short by the Second World War when he served in the Royal Air Force, returning to his chosen career immediately after.
His career really took off in the sixtiesand seventies when he fronted a string of TV hit shows – most of which went out live – including The Charlie Drake Show and Drake's Progress.
He often topped the bill at the London Palladium, enjoyed a worldwide number one record with My Boomerang Won't Come Back and won the Golden Rose of Montreux TV comedy award twice within 10 years.
One of his best-loved roles was as The Worker – a jobless waster who constantly battled a grumpy unemployment clerk played by Henry McGee.
But his boisterous stage antics took their toll and he was once carried out of the Liverpool Empire unconscious, while on another occasion he crashed through a bookcase.
He turned to straight acting on stage, winning an award for his part in Harold Pinter's The Caretaker.
Charlie Drake retained the public’s affection throughout his long career. He married twice, both wives were dancers. His final showbiz role came in Jim Davidson's cheeky Sinderella adaptation of the Cinderella story.
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