Eddie Calvert
1922 - 1978
Musician who played the trumpet in Billy Ternant's and then Geraldo's bands, then became a solo artiste with hits like 'Oh Mein Papa' and 'Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White'.
Gerald Campion
1921 - 2002
Actor who at the age of 32 became famous in the role of Billy Bunter on BBC TV. Frank Richard's stories of life at Greyfriar's School ran from 1953 until 1961. Also appeared in several films.
George Cansdale
1909 - 1993
Formerly in Colonial forest Service in Ghana from where he broadcast on natural history. As Superintendent of London Zoo he became a relaxed and popular host of 'Looking at Animals' on TV in 1951 and other zoo animal programmes.
Paul Carpenter
1921 - 1964
Canadian-born former war correspondent who sang, compered and acted. Appeared in many films and TV productions.
Carole Carr
1928 - 1997
Former 'Forces Sweetheart' of 'Calling All Forces' and then a singer with Jack Payne and Geraldo bands before going solo and first appearing on television in 1948. Younger sister of the singer/pianist Dorothy Carless.
Pearl Carr
1923 - 2020
Singer sho sang with the Keynotes (q.v.) and later teamed up with husband Teddy Johnson (qv) to become one of the best known acts on television variety shows. Appeared on 'Educating Archie' in 1951.
Ronnie Carroll
1934 - 2015
Belfast-born singer who first appeared on TV in 1956 and had a number of hit records.
Peter Cavanagh
1914 - 1981
Impressionist billed as 'The voice of them all', he appeared on both radio and TV. Would sometimes appear with a celebrity and do an impersonation of them in a sort of double act.
Kay Cavendish
1910 - 2000
Hong-Kong born, became a concert pianist after studying at the Royal Academy Of Music. Played and sang a wide range of music at the piano on radio and television, also appearing in I.T.M.A.
Frank Chacksfield
1914 - 1995
Leader of one of the most accomplished orchestras of the 1950s, he was also an arranger/conductor on radio. Composer of light music and with many recordings to his credit.
Edward Chapman
1901 - 1977
Actor with an instantly recog-nisable 'Northern' voice who appeared on radio, television, stage and films.
(Sir) Christopher Chataway
1931 - 2014
Famous athlete, pacemaker to Roger Bannister (qv) in his epic 4-minute-mile success, and who broke the 5000m record in 1954 and became ITN's first news reader, also appearing on 'Panorama'.
Helen Cherry
1915 - 2001
Red-headed stage and TV actress who appeared in films. Married actor Trevor Howard.
Charlie Chester
1914 - 1996
Veteran comedian popular on radio (Stand Easy) and later television and known as 'Cheerful Charlie Chester'.
Erik Chitty
1907 - 1977
Stage, film, radio and television appearances for this actor, notably in 'Please Sir!'.
Petula Clark
1932 -
Child star who went on to become a very popular singer in Europe as well as in the U.K. Also an actress in several films and with many hit records to her name. Often known as 'Pet' Clark she made many radio and television appearances, including 'Pet's Parlour' in the 1950s.
Jimmy Clitheroe
1921 - 1973
Diminutive comic who usually played a schoolboy. Began in music hall then had his own radio series, 'Call Boy', and later 'The Clitheroe Kid' (1958 to 1972); also made some films. On ITV in 1960s in 'That's My Boy' and 'Just Jimmy'. He was actually born in Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Alma Cogan
1932 - 1966
Vivacious, glamorous popular singer who wore extragavant gowns and was known as 'the girl with a laugh in her voice' she had several hit records. Regularly performed on radio in 'Take It From Here' and on TV.
Peter Coke
1913 - 2008
Actor and playwright who played the title role in radio's Paul Temple series, the seventh player to do so. Also starred in television's 'The Teckman Biography'.
Charles Cole/David Cecil (Windy Blow)
1910 - 1986
A pioneer of British film cartoons, but later known as television's first balloon act, twisting balloons into animal and other shapes.
George Cole
1925 - 2015
Popular actor who shone in comedy roles, including in 'A Life Of Bliss' on radio and TV. Encouraged by Alastair Sim with whom he appeared in several films and on stage early in his career, he also played straight roles and had much later television success.
Perry Como
1912 - 2001
Italian-American singer, his relaxed style was a feature of his numerous radio and TV appearances, and the popular 'The Perry Como Show' was screened by the BBC in the 1950s.
Fay Compton
1894 - 1978
The sister of writer Sir Compton Mackenzie, she was successful on stage and in films and appeared in many radio and TV plays.
Kenneth Connor
1916 - 1993
Came from revue to comedy roles on radio, including 'Ray's A Laugh' as Sidney Mincing (catch phrase: 'Oh well, there's always the other'), and as Herbert Toil. Also with Ted Ray (qv) on TV and in numerous other shows.
Alistair Cooke
1908 - 2004
British-born, naturalised American veteran broadcaster and journalist who began as BBC film critic in 1934 and became famous for his weekly radio broadcast, 'Letter from America' which ran from 1946 to 2004.
Pat Coombs
1926 - 2002
Character actress who appeared on radio in 'Hello Playmates' with Arthur Askey (qv). and in 'Hancock's Half Hour'. Best known for her parts in situation comedies on television and in films.
Dame Gladys Cooper
1888 - 1971
Veteran stage actress who spent some years in Hollywood and made many films. Returned to the UK and made many TV appearances, dividing her time between here and America.
Tommy Cooper
1921 - 1984
Former apprentice shipwright who took up conjuring and became popular with his unique brand of comedy magic. First TV appearance in 1947 and had several series of his own, featuring his favourite catch phrase 'Just like that!'.
Peter Copley
1915 - 2008
Stage actor who has made several fim appearances and was seen in TV plays from the 1950s.
Harry Corbett
1918 - 1989
At the Radio Exhibition in 1952 he was a big hit and was asked to go into TV where with his glove puppets Sooty and Sweep he was very popular for many years on children's television.
The Coronets
Vocal group with Bill Shepherd, baritone; Irene King, alto; Valerie Taylor, soprano; Ross Gilmour, tenor; and Michael Sammes, bass. Name from thier formation during Coronation year 1953. Appeared on radio and TV in the 1950s. Shepherd also sang earlier with The Meltones. Michael Sammes (1928 - 2001) became better known as leader of the Mike Sammes Singers.
Adrienne Corri
1933 - 2016
Scots-born actress who appeared on radio in 'Barnaby Rudge' and in plays and serials on television and she also made several films.
Sam Costa
1910 - 1981
Dance band singer, and comic who appeared in radio's ITMA, Merry-Go-Round and Much-Binding-In-The-March. On TV in 'The Charlie Farnsbarns Show' in 1956. a radio disc jockey in later years.
Billy Cotton
1899 - 1969
Bandleader from 1924 and on radio in 'The Billy Cotton Band Show from 1949 to 1968 which transferred to television in 1956, the programme using the title 'Wakey Wakey!', Cotton's catch phrase with which he introduced the show when the band would play their signature tune Somebody Stole My Gal. Alan breeze (qv) and Kathie Kay were two of the show's stalwarts.
Dame Cicely Courtneidge
1893 - 1980
Australian-born actress who, with husband Jack Hulbert (qv) had great success in revues, films and musicals. Many radio and TV appearances including 'Calling Miss Courtneidge'.
The Cradocks
John; 1912 - 1987, Fanny; 1909 - 1994
John and Phyllis (Fanny) were popular television chefs in the 1950s.
Andrew Crawford
1917 - 1994
Scots-born actor who appeared regularly on radio and television and made some films.
Anne Crawford
1920 - 1956
Palestine-born actress who appeared on TV in 1946 and starred in many serials. Her film career cut short by her untimely death.
Broderick Crawford
1911 - 1986
Tough Hollywood actor who appeared in the television series 'Highway Patrol' on ITV in the 1950s.
Aidan Crawley
1908 - 1993
Old Harrovian and former Labour MP who jumped ship to become a Conservative MP. Appeared on 'In the News' and 'Viewfinder' on BBC, and became Independent Television News's first editor-in-chief, but later rejoined the BBC.
The Crazy Gang
Described as zany comedians but that description does not do them justice. Double acts Jimmy Nervo (1898-1975) and Teddy Knox (1896-1974); Bud Flanagan(1896-1968) and Chesney Allne (1894-1982) and Charlie Naughton (1886-1976) and Jimmy Gould (1886-1967); and 'Monsewer' Eddie Gray (1899-1969) brought together as The Crazy Gang, appearing on stage and in films with their lunatic brand of comedy. On ITV in the 1950s in their own show and many other appearances over the years.
Andrew Cruickshank
1907 - 1988
Scots-born actor who appeared regularly on TV, notably as Doctor Cameron in 'Dr Finlay's Casebook' from 1962, and then in the title role as 'Mr Justice Duncannon' (a spin-off from 'Brothers In Law'), both on BBC. In films too.
Rosalie Crutchley
1920 - 1997
Actress who appeared in many films and TV productions, including the part of Madame Defarge in 'A Tale Of Two Cities' (1965), a role she had played earlier in a film version in 1958.
June Cunningham
1935 -
Actress who first appeared on TV's 'The Grove Family', and in 'Yakity Yak' and in 'The Dickie Henderson Half-hour'. Also in some films.
Finlay Currie
1878 - 1968
Scots-born actor, who appeared in countless film roles and made many stage, radio and TV appear-ances, including 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' in 1956.
Rene Cutforth
1912 - 1984
Television and radio reporter and narrator who made many broadcasts after joining the BBC in 1946.