Radio and Television Personalities C

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'.

Eddie Calvert

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.

Gerald Campion

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.

George Cansdale

Paul Carpenter
1921 - 1964

Canadian-born former war correspondent who sang, compered and acted. Appeared in many films and TV productions.

Paul Carpenter

Carole Carr

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

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

Ronnie Carroll
1934 - 2015

Belfast-born singer who first appeared on TV in 1956 and had a number of hit records.

Peter Cavanagh

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.

Kay Cavendish

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.

Frank Chacksfield

Edward Chapman
1901 - 1977

Actor with an instantly recog-nisable 'Northern' voice who appeared on radio, television, stage and films.

Edward Chapman

(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'.

Chris Chataway
Helen Cherry

Helen Cherry
1915 - 2001

Red-headed stage and TV actress who appeared in films. Married actor Trevor Howard.

Charlie Chester

Charlie Chester
1914 - 1996

Veteran comedian popular on radio (Stand Easy) and later television and known as 'Cheerful Charlie Chester'.

Erik Chitty

Erik Chitty
1907 - 1977

Stage, film, radio and television appearances for this actor, notably in 'Please Sir!'.

Petula Clark

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.

Jimmy Clitheroe

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.

Alma Cogan

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'.

Peter Coke

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.

Charles Cole (Windy Blow)
George Cole

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

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

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

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.

Alistair Cooke

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.

Pat Coombs

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.

Gladys Cooper

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!'.

Tommy Cooper
Peter Copley

Peter Copley
1915 - 2008

Stage actor who has made several fim appearances and was seen in TV plays from the 1950s.

Harry Corbett

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

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.

Adrienne Corri

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.

Sam Costa

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.

Billy Cotton

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'.

Cicely Courtneidge
The Cradocks

The Cradocks
John; 1912 - 1987, Fanny; 1909 - 1994

John and Phyllis (Fanny) were popular television chefs in the 1950s.

Andrew Crawford

Andrew Crawford
1917 - 1994

Scots-born actor who appeared regularly on radio and television and made some films.

Anne Crawford

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

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.

Aidan Crawley

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.

The Crazy Gang

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.

Andrew Cruickshank
Rosalie Crutchley

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

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

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

Rene Cutforth
1912 - 1984

Television and radio reporter and narrator who made many broadcasts after joining the BBC in 1946.



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