LARRY GRAYSON

Shut that door with Larry Grayson

Nuneaton's Larry Grayson was one of the most popular performers of his generation, discover a little more about the fabulous comedian.

Pop-it-in-Pete, Apricot Lil and, best of all, Slack Alice and Everard became close friends of the British public during the 1970s and it was all thanks to one man.

It was the amazing Larry Grayson, star of the Generation Game and stages up and down the country - as well as a star of his beloved Nuneaton community, where he spent most of his life.

Larry was a true comic genius, who could make millions of people howl at their TVs on a Saturday night with just a raise of an eyebrow or a shout of "shut that door!". But it was from humble beginnings that one of the greatest ever light entertainers came.

Paying attention

Born William White in Banbury in 1923, he was put up for adoption by his unmarried mother Ethel. At the tender age of ten days, he arrived in Nuneaton to live with his new foster family, Alice and Jim Hammond and their daughters Flo and May.

Sadly, Alice died when young Billy was just six and eldest sister Flo took it upon herself to take special care of her baby brother. She adopted the role of Billy’s mother and their special and very deep relationship led to him thinking of her, and referring to her, as Mum for the rest of his life.

Larry's agent and star maker, Michael Grade

Billy’s early days in Nuneaton helped to form some of his comic creations for his later life. The closely-knit community was typical of its time, with plenty of gossip over back fences, on the bus and on the streets and he listened intently, storing up some of the seemingly mundane conversations for later life.

His showbusiness bent started early and he staged shows for friends and neighbours at his home - proving a huge success and paving the way for his future ambitions.

Becoming Larry

After leaving school, Billy started work in a shoe shop but he lasted only two days before a kindly neighbour offered him a slot at the local working men’s club. His stage debut saw him sing the music hall ditty In the Bushes at the Bottom of the Garden - and he became a roaring success.

His act progressed as he began working in other clubs around the Midlands and he eventually extended his act to include drag - he dressed as a woman in the first half and came back on as a man. Not many people realised the acts both side of the break were one and the same person, a testament to his success!

Larry takes to the floor

His act continued - under his new stage name of Billy Breen - until he linked up with agent Eve Taylor. They decided on a name change, she chose Larry and he chose Grayson after one of his idols, the singer Kathryn Grayson, star of Kiss Me Kate.

Shut that door!

He continued his trek around the country’s clubs for 30 years as Larry Grayson but though popular, wasn’t receiving the recognition he craved. His health began to suffer and he suffered three burst ulcers during 1969 and then from nervous problems.

Things were about to change, however, and when young Michael Grade spotted him performing in London, he was signed up immediately and under Grade’s management, he started to get some television appearances.

He proved a massive hit instantly and was signed up for his own show, Shut That Door - a half an hour long variety show, featuring his inimitable brand of comedy and led to him being voted Britain’s Funniest Man in the TV Times awards, voted for by the public.

He continued working for ITV for more than six years, recording more of his own shows and specials and worked in many of his famous characters, like Slack Alice, Apricot Lil and Everard.

However, he never left his roots and though he was able to move to a more exclusive part of the town, he remained in Nuneaton and the only visible show of his new fortune was a white Rolls Royce.

Larry Grayson with Isla St Clair

Scores on the doors

Larry Grayson finally engraved his name on the hearts of the nation forever when he moved to BBC One in 1978 To front the Generation Game after Bruce Forsthye’s departure.

Though at first reluctant to step into the shoes of the great Bruce, he decided to adopt the mantle with the encouragement of family and friends.

With his new sidekick - the forever giggling Scottish folk singer Isla St Clair - he made the show his own with the unique way he related to the inevitably badly dressed contestants and joined in the fun himself, usually with deliberately disastrous consequences!

His asides to camera, usually coming after he had misread a card containing the contestants’ biographical information, and withering remarks to guests as well as his tales of Slack Alice and the rest propelled the show to stellar heights.

Larry Grayson on the Generation Game

The show began to pull in 18 million viewers regularly and it was renamed Larry Grayson’s Generation Game as a mark of his success.

Arriving home

When the show was at its peak, Grayson decided to stand down and bade an emotional farewell in 1981. He retired back to Nuneaton after a brief spell in Devon and though he made guest appearances on various shows, he began to fade into the background.

His final appearance came at the 1994 Royal Variety Performance, when his parting words were his most famous catchphrase "Shut that door!".

Larry died in January, 1995 and his funeral was held in his beloved Nuneaton. Though gone, he could never be forgotten and many still travel to the town in his honour.