Editing Max Bygraves

{{Short description|British entertainer (1922–2012)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| image       = MaxBygraves.png
| caption     = Bygraves in 1976
| birth_name  = Walter William Bygraves
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1922|10|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Rotherhithe]], London, England
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2012|8|31|1922|10|16|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Hope Island, Queensland]], Australia
| yearsactive = 1943–2006
| occupation  = {{hlist|Comedian|singer|actor|variety performer}}
| spouse      = {{marriage|Gladys "Blossom" Murray|1942|2011|end=her death}}
| children    = 6
}}

'''Walter William "Max" Bygraves''' (16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012) was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs. 

He made twenty ''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'' appearances and presented numerous programmes, including ''[[Family Fortunes]]'' between 1983 and 1985. His catchphrase "I wanna tell you a story" became an integral part of his act, although it had originated with comedian [[Mike Yarwood]] impersonating Bygraves.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025|reason=Not mentioned in Yarwood article.}}

==Early life==
Bygraves was born to Henry and Lillian ({{nee}} McDonnell) Bygraves (who wed in 1919) in [[Rotherhithe]] in London,<ref name="G o"/> where he grew up in a two-room council flat in Park Buildings, Paradise Street{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} with his five siblings, his parents and a grandparent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12852095|title=Max Bygraves BBC obituary|publisher=BBC News|date=September 2012|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref> His father was a professional flyweight [[boxing|boxer]], known as Battling Tom Smith, and a casual dockworker.<ref name="Mercer">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p201472|pure_url=yes}}|title=Max Bygraves bio|last=Mercer|first=Laurie|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=30 May 2010}}</ref> Brought up Catholic, he attended St Joseph's School, Paradise Street, [[Rotherhithe]], and sang with his school choir at [[Westminster Cathedral]].<ref name="G o">{{Cite web|date=2012-09-01|title=Max Bygraves obituary|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/sep/01/max-bygraves-obituary-comedian-singer|access-date=2022-01-30|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

He left school at 14, working at the Savoy Hotel in London as a pageboy, but was sacked for being too tall. He later put some of his success as a variety performer down to his lanky physique. He was {{Convert|6|ft|3|in}} tall, but weighed only {{Convert|13|st|kg}} in adult life. He then became a messenger for W S Crawfords, an advertising agency at 233 High Holborn before serving as a fitter in the [[Royal Air Force]] in the [[Second World War]] and working as a carpenter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9514295/Max-Bygraves.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|title=Obituary. Retrieved 1 September 2012}}</ref> He changed his name to Max Bygraves in honour of comedian [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]].{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

==Career==
After the end of the war, Bygraves worked on building sites, while entertaining in pubs in the evenings. An early variety stage appearance in January 1945 was at the Grand, Clapham with a review stating "A new impressionist. Max Bygraves, is also a lad to be watched. He has a little to learn in the art of showmanship, but not much, but there is no denying the brilliance of his impersonations."<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Stage |journal=The Stage |date=18 January 1945 |page=3}}</ref>

In August 1946, he toured in a [[variety show]] with [[Frankie Howerd]],<ref>{{cite journal |title=Nottingham Evening Post |journal=Nottingham Evening Post |date=6 August 1946 |page=3}}</ref> who in turn introduced him to [[Eric Sykes]], and they began writing routines together. With Sykes, he also developed the radio show ''[[Educating Archie]]'', starring [[ventriloquist]] [[Peter Brough]] and his dummy [[Archie Andrews (puppet)|Archie Andrews]], and featuring Bygraves in the role of Archie's teacher. The idea for the programme came from record producer [[Wally Ridley]], who produced Bygraves' records during the 1950s.<ref name=leigh/>

In July 1950, he made his first appearance at the [[London Palladium]] supporting [[Abbott and Costello]],<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Stage |journal=The Stage |date=20 July 1950 |page=2}}</ref> and in 1951 he supported [[Judy Garland]] in her appearance there.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Stage |journal=The Stage |date=5 April 1951 |page=2}}</ref> Arising from this, she invited him to perform at the [[Palace Theatre (New York City)|Palace]] in [[New York City|New York]] in October 1951.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Daily News (New York) |journal=Daily News (New York) |date=18 September 1951 |page=57}}</ref>

Bygraves became a successful recording artist with seven top ten hits on the [[UK Singles Chart]] between 1952 and 1960.<ref name="betts"/> Many were [[novelty songs]]. One of his most popular recordings, "You Need Hands" in 1958, was written by Bygraves under the pseudonym Roy Irwin (or Erwin), a name picked at random from a telephone directory. He also wrote its follow-up, "Gotta Have Rain".<ref name=leigh>{{Cite news|date=2012-09-02|title=Max Bygraves: Entertainer who won the nation's hearts with his songs|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/max-bygraves-entertainer-who-won-the-nation-s-hearts-with-his-songs-tv-shows-and-patter-8101437.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/max-bygraves-entertainer-who-won-the-nation-s-hearts-with-his-songs-tv-shows-and-patter-8101437.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-30|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> His producer Wally Ridley said of Bygraves:
{{blockquote|Max's great talent was that he could punch lines, which was absolutely great for us. We'd give him songs with very short lines and he'd punch them out marvellously. Give him a long line and he would stumble over it, although I just flipped when I was given "Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea". I thought, "Fabulous, fabulous, this is a major hit for us." I took it to Max and his wife, Blossom, said, "That's no good, what does it mean?" ... The song was absolutely perfect for Max and its whole secret was "What the hell does it mean?"<ref name=leigh/>}}

He also occasionally worked as an actor, appearing in British films including ''[[Bless 'Em All (film)|Bless 'Em All]]'' (1948) and ''[[Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951 film)|Tom Brown's Schooldays]]'' (1951). Bygraves appeared as himself in the 1954 British film musical ''Harmony Lane'' directed by Lewis Gilbert. He portrayed the title character in the 1956 film ''[[Charley Moon]]'' and starred in the 1961 drama ''[[Spare the Rod (1961 film)|Spare the Rod]]''.<ref name=leigh/> In 1959, Bygraves bought the past and future rights to the [[Lionel Bart]] musical ''[[Oliver!]]'' for £350 at a time when Bart was experiencing severe financial difficulties. Bygraves later sold them for £250,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/feature.php/37286/max-bygraves |title=Max Bygraves – Obituaries |newspaper=The Stage |access-date=2013-02-15}}</ref>

In the 1950s and 1960s, Bygraves appeared as a guest on several television variety programmes, both in the UK and United States. These included [[Ed Sullivan]], [[Jack Benny]] and [[Jackie Gleason]], in America. He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1961 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] while rehearsing his new show, ''[[Do Re Mi (musical)|Do Re Mi]]'' at London's [[Prince of Wales Theatre]]. He appeared in several TV series including the sitcom ''Roamin' Holiday'' and the variety shows ''Max'' and ''Max Bygraves at the Royalty''.<ref name=leigh/> From 1983 to 1985, Bygraves hosted ''[[Family Fortunes]]'', taking over from his friend and fellow comedian [[Bob Monkhouse]]. He would later be succeeded as host in 1987 by [[Les Dennis]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/979602/max-bygraves-veteran-entertainer-dies-aged-89 |title=Max Bygraves, Veteran Entertainer, Dies Aged 89 |work=[[Sky News]] |date=2012-09-01}}</ref>

From 1972, Bygraves recorded a series of albums, ''Sing Along With Max'' (later ''Singalongamax''), in which he sang medleys of familiar songs aimed at an older audience. The albums, for [[Pye Records]], sold millions of copies and led to spinoff shows and more recordings.<ref name=leigh/> In 1977, UK publishing house [[W. H. Allen & Co.|W. H. Allen]] published Bygraves' comic novel ''The Milkman's on His Way''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bygraves |first=Max |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3607418 |title=The milkman's on his way |date=1977 |publisher=Allen |isbn=0-491-02290-5 |location=London |oclc=3607418}}</ref>

Bygraves' catchphrase was said to be: "I wanna tell you a story". Another well-known phrase of his was "That's a good idea, son!".<ref name=leigh/>

==Honours==
In 1982, Bygraves was made an Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (OBE).<ref name="Bournemouth best wishes">{{Cite web|title=Fans send Max Bygraves best wishes from Bournemouth|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9630925.fans-send-max-bygraves-best-wishes-from-bournemouth/|access-date=2022-01-30|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=4 April 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bygraves married [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force|WAAF]] sergeant Gladys "Blossom" Murray in 1942. The couple had three children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barker |first=Dennis |date=2012-09-01 |title=Max Bygraves obituary |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/sep/01/max-bygraves-obituary-comedian-singer |access-date=2023-02-15 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Bygraves also had three other children from extramarital affairs.{{CN|date=August 2024}}

On 9 August 1974, Bygraves became trapped on a cliff-face near his house in [[Westbourne, Dorset|Westbourne]], Bournemouth, while attempting to retrieve a kite flown by his grandson Michael which had become stuck beneath the edge of the cliff. Bygraves suffered friction burns on his hands and was in shock when police and firefighters helped him to safety.<ref>{{cite news|title=Max Bygraves rescued from cliffs|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vpRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2540,2404824&dq=max+bygraves&hl=en|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|date=10 August 1974|page=7}}</ref> In 1999, Bygraves underwent treatment for an ear disorder, having cancelled a number of performances on his doctor's advice.<ref>{{cite news|title=Entertainment: Bygraves suffers ear problems|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/349671.stm|publisher=BBC News (BBC)|date=21 May 1999|access-date=25 October 2012}}</ref>

He and Blossom Bygraves moved from Bournemouth to [[Queensland]], Australia, in 2008. She died there in 2011 at the age of 88.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-01 |title=Max Bygraves dies at Australian home aged 89 |url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/sep/01/max-bygraves-dies-aged-89 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

==Death==
Bygraves was diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]] in 2010, and he died from complications of this illness at his daughter's home in [[Hope Island, Queensland]], Australia on the evening of 31 August 2012.<ref name="D l2">{{Cite news|date=2012-09-01|title=Veteran entertainer Max Bygraves dies|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19450696|access-date=2022-01-30}}</ref>

==Television==
*''[[Whack-O!]]'' (1960)
*''The Royal Variety Performance'' (1961; 1963 etc.)
*''The Jack Benny Program'' (1963, season 13, episode 13)
*''It's Sad About Eddie'' (1964)
*Max Bygraves meets The Black and White Minstrels (1965, 1 episode)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Black and White Minstrel Show (partially found BBC TV series; 1957–1978) – The Lost Media Wiki |url=https://lostmediawiki.com/The_Black_and_White_Minstrel_Show_(partially_found_BBC_TV_series;_1957-1978) |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=lostmediawiki.com}}</ref>
*''Max'' Thames Television (1968–72 including ''The Max Bygraves Hour'' 1970 and ''The Max Bygraves Show'' 1972)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26434|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125130340/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26434|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2009|title=BFI &No. 124; Film & TV Database &No. 124; MAX|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/32359|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224050635/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/32359|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2012|title=BFI &No. 124; Film & TV Database &No. 124; MAX|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref>
*''Max at the Royalty'' (1972)
*''SingalongaMax'' (1973)
*''Max'' ATV (1974)
*''Max Bygraves Says "I Wanna Tell You a Story"'' (1975–77)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/34868|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224030937/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/34868|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2012|title=BFI &No. 124; Film & TV Database &No. 124; Max Bygraves Says "I Wanna Tell You a Story"|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref>
*''Max's Holiday Hour'' (1977)
*''Lingalongamax'' (1978–80 including hour long special ''From Max with Love'' 1979)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/31084|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223211951/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/31084|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2012|title=BFI &No. 124; Film & TV Database &No. 124; The DESERT SONG|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref>
*''Max'' Thames Television (1981)
*''Max Rolls On'' (1982)
*''Max Bygraves – Side by Side'' (1982)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/10614|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224045350/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/10614|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2012|title=BFI &No. 124; Film & TV Database &No. 124; Max Bygraves – Side By Side|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref>
*''[[Family Fortunes]]'' (1983–85, 42 episodes) 
*''The Mind of David Berglas'' (1986)
*''Call Up the Stars'' (1995)
*''Against the Odds RAF Documentary'' (2001)

==Partial filmography==
* ''[[Bless 'Em All (film)|Bless 'Em All]]'' (1948)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bless 'em All (1948) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bfbe91d |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506000713/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bfbe91d |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2016 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=BFI |language=en}}</ref>
* ''[[The Nitwits on Parade]]'' (1949)
* ''Skimpy in the Navy'' (1949)
* ''[[Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951 film)|Tom Brown's Schooldays]]'' (1951)
* ''[[Charley Moon]]'' (1956)
* ''[[A Cry from the Streets]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Bobbikins]]'' (1959)
* ''[[Spare the Rod (1961 film)|Spare the Rod]]'' (1961)
* ''[[The Alf Garnett Saga]]'' (1972)
* ''[[The Jigsaw Man (film)|The Jigsaw Man]]'' (1983) Uncredited cameo appearance (policeman)

==Discography==

===Chart singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year
! rowspan="2"|Single
! colspan="3"|Chart Positions
|- style="font-size:small;"
! style="width:60px;"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<ref name="betts">{{cite book|first=Graham|last=Betts|year=2004|title=Complete UK Hit Singles 1952–2004|edition=1st|publisher=Collins|location=London|isbn= 0-00-717931-6|page=120}}</ref>
|-
|| 1952
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Cowpuncher's Cantata]]"
| 6
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1954
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Heart of My Heart]]"
| 7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea]]"
| 7
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1955
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Mr Sandman]]"
| 16
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Meet Me on the Corner"
| 2
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1956
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Ballad of Davy Crockett]]"
| 20
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Out of Town"
| 18
|-
|| 1957
| style="text-align:left;"| "Heart"
| 16
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1958
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Need Hands" / "[[Tulips from Amsterdam]]"
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Little Train" / "Gotta Have Rain"
| 28
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1959
| style="text-align:left;"| "My Ukulele"
| 19
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Jingle Bell Rock]]"
| 7
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1960
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]"
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Consider Yourself]]"
| 50
|-
|| 1961
| style="text-align:left;"| "Bells of Avignon"
| 36
|-
|| 1969
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[You're My Everything (1931 song)|You're My Everything]]"
| 34
|-
|| 1973
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Deck of Cards]]"
| 13
|-
|| 1989
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[White Christmas (song)|White Christmas]]"
| 71
|}

===Albums===
* ''Show Stoppers'' (1962)
* ''Sing Along with Max'' (1972) No. 4
* ''Sing Along with Max Vol. 2'' (1972) No. 11
* ''Singalongamax Vol. 3'' (1973) No. 5
* ''Singalongamax Vol. 4'' (1973) No. 7
* ''Singalongapartysong'' (1973) No. 15
* ''You Make Me Feel Like Singing a Song'' (1974) No. 39
* ''Singalongaxmas'' (1974) No. 21
* ''100 Golden Greats'' (1976) No. 3
* ''Lingalongamax'' (1978) No. 39
* ''Discolongamax'' (1979) No. 47
* ''The Song and Dance Men'' (1978) No. 67
* ''Singalongawaryears'' (1989) No. 5
* ''Singalongawaryears Volume 2'' (1989) No. 33
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/max%20bygraves|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630110025/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/max%20bygraves|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2013|title=The Official Charts Company – Max Bygraves|date=5 May 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb name|0125880}}
*{{NPG name}}
*{{discogs artist|199785}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bygraves, Max}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in Australia]]
[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in Queensland]]
[[Category:English comedy musicians]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:English game show hosts]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Pye Records artists]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:People from Dagenham]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bournemouth]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham]]
[[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British novelty song performers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]
[[Category:Decca Records artists]]
[[Category:Philips Records artists]]
[[Category:Male actors from Bournemouth]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham]]
[[Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Comedians from Hampshire]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham]]
[[Category:People from Rotherhithe]]