Radio and Television Personalities H

Norman Hackforth
1906 - 1996

Musician who accompanied many famous cabaret stars and who wrote shows and lyrics for radio and the theatre. Was often the 'Mystery Voice' on 'Twenty Questions'.

Pearl Hackney
1916 - 2009

Dancer who became a regular broadcaster, appearing in drama and comedy shows, including some with her husband Eric Barker (qv) including 'Merry-go-Round', 'Look At It This Way' and 'The Eric Barker Half-Hour'. Also in several films.

Peter Haigh
1925 - 2001

Ex-guardsman whose first broadcast was from a Forces station. BBC announcer from 1952. Presented 'Movie-Go-Round' on radio in the 1950's and later, with Derek Bond (qv), presented 'Picture Parade' on radio and TV.

Henry Hall
1898 - 1989

A cinema piano player who became a hotel bandleader and first broadcast in 1924. Later became director of the BBC Dance Orchestra, formed a band and became one of the UK's most famous bandleaders. 'Guest Night' was a long-running radio show from 1934 and Henry Hall later had a television show, 'Face the Music'.

Terry Hall
1926 - 2007

Ventriloquist whose act featured a dummy called Lenny The Lion (who always mis-pronounced his 'r's) in the children's show of that name from 1956 and later in two more shows, 'Lenny's Den' and 'Pops and Lenny'.

Tony Hancock
1924 - 1968

Highly popular comedian whose initial success came when he appeared in 'Educating Archie' as Archie Andrews' tutor, (catch phrase 'Flippin' Kids'), but achieved fame with his radio show 'Hancock's Half Hour' (1954-59) and later television version (1956-60). A subsequent show entitled simply 'Hancock' was less successful, as was his film career. He remains, however, one of the UK's best-remembered comedians.

Irene Handl
1901-1987

Comedy actress who appeared in 'Hello Playmates' on radio, going on to 'Hancock's Half Hour'. Also in television's 'For The Love Of Ada' with Wilfred Pickles (qv) and many other shows. An extensive list of film credits is another of her achievments.

John Hanson
1920 - 1998

Canadian-born singer who appeared in musicals like The Desert Song, The Student Prince and The Vagabond King. In radio's 'Variety Bandbox' and 'Songs from The Shows'.

Philip Harben
1906 - 1970

Author of many cookery books and the first BBC television chef, from 1946. Appearing in a striped apron he would produce various dishes during his popular programmes.

Gilbert Harding
1907 - 1960

Former Times correspondent who joined the BBC Monitoring Service, was then with Outside Broadcasts and was question master on radio's 'Round Britain Quiz' before making his TV debut in 'Crossword' in 1948. Other radio shows included 'The Brains Trust' and 'Twenty Questions'. He became a national celebrity as a panellist on television's ever-popular 'What's My Line' where his occasional bad tempered outbursts were a highlight of the programme.

Laurence Hardy
1911 - 1982

Actor who appeared in many television plays and in films.

Robert Harris
1900 - 1995

BBC newsreader during the war and actor who appeared in many TV plays and in films. Narrator for the 1950 television series 'War In The Air'.

Kathleen Harrison
1892 - 1995

Character actress who usually played cockney's although she hailed from Blackburn, Lancs, moving to London while still young. Popular in radio's 'Meet The Huggets' with Jack Warner (qv), she began her career on the stage and appeared in many films from the 1930s on. Also appeared as 'Mrs Thursday' on TV in 1966/67.

William Hartnell
1908 - 1975

Actor who achieved fame as the first Doctor Who on television from 1963 to 1966, but was in fact a versatile actor who could play comedy roles (Carry On Sergeant), symp-athetic roles (This Sporting Life) or villainous roles (Hell Drivers) in films, while on TV he was a formidable Sergeant Major in 'The Army Game'.

Hans and Lotte Hass
1919 - 2013 and 1928 - 2015

Austrian-born Hans became popular with his under-water sea-life filmed programmes in the 1950s. His wife and former secretary, Lotte, also appeared in the programmes.

Elton Hayes
1915 - 2001

First broadcast in pre-war days as part of a comedy act and appeared on 'In Town Tonight' on radio, later having his own show in which he sang, accompanying himself on guitar. Other radio and TV appearances followed and he made records also appearing in a few films, notably as Alan-a-Dale in 'The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men'.

James Hayter
1907 - 1983

Indian-born character actor who had one of the most distinctive voices in his profession, which television commercials made good use of. Was in an early BBC TV sitcom 'Pinwright's Progress' and appeared in 'The Forsyte Saga', 'The Onedin Line' and many other radio and television programmes. A memorable Friar Tuck in the 1952 Robin Hood film.

Jeanne Heal
1917 - 2010

Broadcasts on women's war work began her radio and television career. On TV in 'Forecast For Fashion' and often in her own programmes, generally aimed at women and including 'Meet Jeanne Heal'.

Richard Hearne
1909 - 1979

Actor who also appeared with his father's circus act. Later famous as 'Mr Pastry', mostly on children's TV. In some films and appeared on US television in 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.

Ted Heath
1900 - 1969

Played the trombone with several UK orchestras before forming his own band in 1944. A leading big band, making many records including 'Sucu, Sucu',and was popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s. With many top musicins who later became famous in their own right, his band made numerous radio and television appearances .

Thomas Heathcote
1917 - 1986

Indian-born actor who was seen frequently on TV and in films.

The Hedley Ward Trio

George Taylor, piano; Jack McKechnie, guitar; Derek Franklin, double bass player/main vocalist. The musical trio were formed in 1948 by band-leader Hedley Ward and they appeared at the Windmill Theatre in 1950 which led to a spot in radio's 'Educating Archie'.

Joe Henderson
1920 - 1980

Scottish-born pianist who accompanied Petula Clark with whom he app-eared in a 1950s radio series. Often seen on television and made several records, including the hit 'Trudie'.

Gladys Henson
1897 - 1982

Irish-born character actress who appeared in the theatre and on radio, TV and films. Was in 'A Life of Bliss' as Mrs Griffin.

Benny Hill
1924 - 1992

Began his comedy career in 'Stars In Battledress' and made his TV debut in 1949 and appeared on radio in 'Educating Archie' also making some films. His first TV show was in 1955 but after some years with the BBC he left them for ITV in 1969 when his Thames Television show made him a star. In 1989 the show was ended by the television company.

(Dame) Thora Hird
1911 - 2003

Popular actress who first broadcast in the early post-war years and made many film appearances. Well-known for her TV sitcoms, 'Meet The Wife', 'In Loving Memory', 'The First Lady' and 'Last Of The Summer Wine'.

McDonald Hobley
1917 - 1987

Falklands-born, he was one of the first TV announcers on the BBC, appearing from 1946 to 1956. He was also one of the comperes on 'Come Dancing' and appeared on various other shows as himself.

Kenneth Horne
1907 - 1969

With Richard Murdoch (qv) appeared in two comedy radio series, one of which, 'Much Binding In The Marsh' became a classic. Chairman of 'Twenty Questions' for a while, then from 1958 to 1964 starred in the very successful 'Beyond Our Ken' and then 'Round the Horne' from 1965 to 1969. Both shows had a supporting cast of accomplished comedians who helped make them popular pro-grammes.

Ursula Howells
1922 - 2005

Elegant character actress who appeared in many radio and television programmes and episodes of series and in films. Also in 'Father, Dear Father' and 'The Many Wives Of Patrick'.

Frankie Howerd
1917 - 1992

Appeared on radio in 'Variety Bandbox' and later in 'The Howerd Crowd' on BBC TV and in several other television and radio shows. An appearance in 'That Was The Week That Was' helped revive his career and in 1969 'Up Pompeii' became a popular series, followed by more shows and films. Many catch phrases, 'Please yourselves!" being one of them.

Jack Hulbert
1892 - 1978

Forever associated with Cicely Courtneidge (qv), his wife, he was a light comedian who appeared on stage and in films in pre-war days. His television appearances were fairly limited.

Raymond Huntley
1904 - 1990

Character actor who apeared in many films and was a regular on radio and TV. Starred in 'That's Your Funeral' in 1970.

Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson
1900 - 1969

Grenada-born singer/pianist who accompanied himself and who appeared in cabaret. Was a popular artist on radio and records. Appeared in the 'Tin Pan Alley Show' on TV.

Wilfred Hyde White
1903 - 1991

Actor who was best known for his many character performances in films, often in comic roles. Played many parts on radio and TV, both here and in the USA.

Jane Hylton
1927 - 1979

Actress who made many films and was Queen Guinevere in ITV's 'Sir Lancelot', one of many television shows she did.