Biography

Arthur Askey was a diminutive British comedian, born in 1900. He began his professional career as a music hall performer in 1924, but it wasn't until 1938's Band Wagon (which lasted a full five seasons), that he became a household name in England. His film debut was in the 1937 British feature Calling All Stars, but then, in 1939, Band Wagon swooped in again and made him a film star with a film following on from when Arthur and co-star Richard "Stinker" Murdoch were evicted from their beloved flat. Film stardom carried Arthur through to the mid 1940s, but it wasn't till 1956 when he starred in another film, Ramsbottom Rides again. He started his own television show: The Arthur Askey show, where, of course, he was the main player and that carried on till his retirement.