He was born in London, and made his first stage appearance at the age of 14. A broadcast with
Henry Hall in 1942 led to his recruitment by orchestra leader
Geraldo as resident vocalist and comedian. who would soon team up with the show's last producer
Dennis Main Wilson to create ''
Hancock's Half Hour''. He appeared in the film
Dance With Me alongside
Anne Shelton and
Max Wall. He remained popular through the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the
Midlands. He was married three times, and remarried his third wife after they had divorced. He died of
cancer in
Southampton in March 1981, aged 58. ==References==