Editing Hugh Paddick

{{Short description|Comedy actor (1915–2000)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Hugh Paddick
| image       = Hugh_Paddick.jpg
| caption = Paddick in a ''Round the Horne'' publicity shot
| birth_name  = Hugh William Paddick
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1915|8|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hoddesdon]], Hertfordshire, England
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2000|11|9|1915|8|22|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Milton Keynes]], Buckinghamshire, England
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| known_for   =
| occupation  = Comedy actor
| partner     =
}}
'''Hugh William Paddick''' (22 August 1915 – 9 November 2000)<ref name="indiobit">{{Cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20001116/ai_n14346128 |title=Obituary: Hugh Paddick |periodical=[[The Independent]] |date=17 November 2000 |access-date=31 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928011054/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20001116/ai_n14346128 |archive-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> was an English actor. He starred in the 1960s [[BBC]] radio show ''[[Round the Horne]]'', performing in sketches such as "Charles and Fiona" (as Charles) and "[[Julian and Sandy]]" (as Julian).<ref name="Stevens"/> He and [[Kenneth Williams]] were largely responsible for introducing the underground language [[Polari]] to the British public.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ptop/alabaster/A10357832|title=BBC – h2g2 – Polari – the Secret Language – A10357832|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

Paddick also enjoyed success as Percival Browne in the original [[West End theatre|West End]] production of ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)|The Boy Friend]]'', in 1954.<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book
|last= Stevens
|first= Christopher
|title= Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams
|publisher= John Murray
|year= 2010
|isbn = 978-1-84854-195-5
|page=370
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.120848&catNum=120848&filetype=About+this+Recording&language=English|title=The Boy Friend (Original London Cast 1954)|work=naxos.com|access-date=13 December 2014|archive-date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222193546/http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.120848&catNum=120848&filetype=About+this+Recording&language=English|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Biography==
Born in [[Hoddesdon]], Hertfordshire, Paddick preferred theatre to any other form of acting and spent most of his life on the stage, from his first role at acting school in 1937<ref name="times">{{Cite web|url=http://www.galeuk.com/times/|title=Gale/Times Digital Archive|date=6 September 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030906202207/http://www.galeuk.com/times/ |archive-date=6 September 2003 }}</ref> until his retirement. He appeared in the original Drury Lane production of ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' as Colonel Pickering. He was an accomplished musician – singer, pianist and organist. He can be heard at the piano accompanying Julian and Sandy in several of their sketches on both ''Round the Horne'' and ''The Bona World of Julian and Sandy''.

In his diaries, [[Kenneth Williams]], so often scathing of his colleagues, spoke warmly of Paddick's kindness as a man, and of his "subtlety and brilliance" as a performer.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/nov/13/guardianobituaries1 |title=Hugh Paddick obituary|work=The Guardian |location= London |date=13 November 2000 }}</ref>

Paddick was gay<ref name="polari">{{Cite news |title= What brings you trolling back, then? |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/17/gayrights.comment |first=Colin |last=Richardson |work=The Guardian |location= London |date=17 January 2005 |access-date=31 January 2008 }}</ref> and lived for over thirty years with his partner Francis, whom he met at a party in London.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.hingeandbracket-official.co.uk/Stars%20Of%20PAGES/Hugh_Paddick.htm |title=Biography of Hugh Paddick |access-date=8 August 2008 |last=Dunford |first=Paul |author2=Logan, George |author3=Fyffe, Patrick |date=10 June 2008 |work=hingeandbracket-official.co.uk |publisher=Paul Dunford}}</ref> Paddick was very guarded about his privacy, and he and his partner were keen gardeners at their home in Bedfordshire.<ref>[https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/hugh-paddick/ The Quiet One: The understated art of Hugh Paddick]. ''Comedy Chronicles'', by Graham McCann. 26 January 2025.</ref>

He was distantly related to [[Brian Paddick]], now Lord Paddick, Britain's first openly gay police [[commander]].{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Paddick died in [[Milton Keynes]], Buckinghamshire, on 9 November 2000, aged 85.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-56159-027 |title=Wills and Probate Notices: Hugh Paddick |access-date=7 March 2021 |date=27 March 2001 |work=[[The London Gazette]]}}</ref>

===In popular culture===
In the 2006 BBC television film ''[[Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!]]'', about the life of Williams, Paddick was portrayed by [[Guy Henry (actor)|Guy Henry]].

==Films==
* ''[[School for Scoundrels (1960 film)|School for Scoundrels]]'' (1960) – Instructor<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|id=0655606}}</ref>
* ''[[We Shall See]]'' (1964) – Connell
* ''[[San Ferry Ann]]'' (1965) – French Commercial Traveller
* ''[[The Killing of Sister George (film)|The Killing of Sister George]]'' (1968) – Freddie
* ''[[Up Pompeii (film)|Up Pompeii]]'' (1971) – Priest
* ''[[Up the Chastity Belt]]'' (1971) – Robin Hood
* ''[[That's Your Funeral]]'' (1972) – Window Dresser
{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

==Television==
* ''[[Here and Now (1955 TV series)|Here and Now]]'' (1956)
* ''[[The Two Charleys]]'' (1959) – Lionel Stone
* ''[[The Larkins (1958 TV series)|The Larkins]]'' (1963–1964) – Osbert Rigby-Soames
* ''[[The Strange World of Gurney Slade]]'' (episode 2, 1960) – Fairy
* ''[[Winning Widows]]'' (1961–1962)
* ''Worm's Eye View'' (play) (1962) see IMDB reference below<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1267113/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2|title=Sunday Night Play|work=Worm's Eye View}}</ref>
* ''[[Benny Hill]]'' (1963)
* ''[[Frankie Howerd]]'' (1965–1966)
* ''[[Pure Gingold]]'' (1965)
* ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' episode: ''[[The Wednesday Play#The End of Arthur's Marriage|The End of Arthur's Marriage]]'' (1965) – House Agent
* ''[[Before the Fringe]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Beryl Reid Says Good Evening]]'' (1968) – Various Roles
* ''[[Comedy Playhouse]]'' (1968–1972) – Bernard Hooper / Sidney Jelliot
* ''[[The Jimmy Tarbuck Show]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Wink to Me Only]]'' (1969) – Sydney Jelliot
* ''[[Here Come the Double Deckers]]'' episode: ''Summer Camp'' (1970) – Gerald
* ''[[Father, Dear Father]]'' episode: ''Housie – Housie'' (1971), episode: ''Flat Spin'' (1973) – Mr. Nash / Fanshawe
* ''[[The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine]]'' (1971) – Various Characters
* ''[[Benny Hill|The Benny Hill Show]]'' series 4, episode 1 (1972)
* ''[[Pardon My Genie]]'' (1972, children's comedy series) – The Genie
* ''[[Tell Tarby]]'' (1973)
* ''[[PG Tips]]'' advertisement (1976) (provided the voice of a chimpanzee)
* ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]'' episode: ''Television Film'' (1978) – Nigel Lambshank
* ''[[The Basil Brush Show]]'' (1979)
* ''Can We Get On Now, Please?'' (1980) – Charles Pettigrew
* ''[[The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968–1977)|The Morecambe and Wise Show]]'' (1980) – Adrian Fondle / Robin Caress
* ''[[Rushton's Illustrated]]'' (1980)
* ''[[The Jim Davidson Show]]'' (1980–1981)
* ''[[Babble (TV series)|Babble]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Jemima Shore Investigates]]'' episode: ''The Crime of the Dancing Duchess'' (1983) – Tony Jerrold
* ''[[Blackadder]]'' series 3 episode 4: ''[[Sense and Senility]]'' (1987) – David Keanrick, thespian
* ''[[Alas Smith and Jones]]'' episode 4.5 (1987)
* ''[[And There's More]]'' episode 4.1 (1988) – Various Characters
* ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' episode: ''Never Say Trevor Again'' (1988) – Don Pettifer
* ''[[Campion (1989 TV series)|Campion]]'' (1990) – 'Beaut' Siegfried
* ''[[Jackson Pace: The Great Years]]'' (1990) – Lord Taggon (Last appearance)
{{col-2}}

==Theatre==
* ''[[Noah]]'' (1937) [[Embassy Theatre (London)|Embassy School of Acting]]
* ''[[There's Always Tomorrow (play)|There's Always Tomorrow]]'' (1949) [[New Wimbledon Theatre]]
* ''[[The Thunderbolt (play)|The Thunderbolt]]'' (1952) [[Liverpool Playhouse]]
* ''[[The Two Bouquets]]'' (1953) [[St Martin's Theatre]]
* ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)|The Boy Friend]]'' (1953) [[Embassy Theatre (London)|Embassy Theatre]], (1954) [[Wyndham's Theatre]]
* ''[[The Impresario From Smyrna]]'' (1954) [[Arts Theatre]]
* ''[[For Amusement Only]]'' (1956) [[Apollo Theatre]]
* ''[[She Smiled at Me]]'' (1956) [[Connaught Theatre]]
* ''[[For Adults Only]]'' (1958) various theatres
* ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' (1959–1961) [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Theatre Royal]], Drury Lane
* ''[[See You Inside]]'' (1963) [[Duchess Theatre]]
* ''[[Let's Get A Divorce!]]'' (1966–1967) [[Mermaid Theatre]]
* ''[[The Madwoman of Chaillot]]'' (1967) [[Oxford Playhouse]]
* ''[[They Don't Grow on Trees]]'' (1968) [[Prince of Wales Theatre]]
* ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'' (1969) [[Chichester Festival Theatre]]
* ''[[When We Are Married]]'' (1971) [[Novello Theatre|Strand Theatre]]
* ''[[Cinderella]]'' (1974) [[Casino Theatre (New York, New York)|Casino Theatre]]
* ''[[Play by Play]]'' (1975) [[The King's Head Theatre]], [[Islington]]
* ''[[Beauty and the Beast (play)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (1975) [[Oxford Playhouse]]
* ''[[Some of My Best Friends are Husbands]]'' (1976) [[Mermaid Theatre]], (1983) [[Watford Palace]]
* ''[[Out on a Limb (play)|Out on a Limb]]'' (1976) [[Vaudeville Theatre]]
* ''[[Volpone]]'' (1977) [[Royal National Theatre]]
* ''[[Half Life (1977 play)|Half Life]]'' (1977–1978) [[Duke of York's Theatre]]
* ''[[Gigi (play)|Gigi]]'' (1980) [[Haymarket Theatre (Leicester)]]
* ''[[Soldier's Fortune]]'' (1981) [[Lyric Hammersmith]]
* ''[[Venice Preserv'd]]'' (1984) [[Lyttelton Theatre]]
* ''[[Wild Honey (play)|Wild Honey]]'' (1984) [[Lyttelton Theatre]]
* ''[[Noises Off]]''<ref>{{Cite book
|title=The Best of Round The Horne
|last=Took
|first=Barry
|author-link=Barry Took
|year=1989
|publisher=Equation
|isbn=1-85336-162-3
}}</ref> (1985) [[Savoy Theatre]]

==Radio==
* ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' (1958–1964)
* ''[[Gert and Daisy]]'' (1959)
* ''[[The Men from the Ministry]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Round the Horne]]'' (1965–1968)
* ''[[Stop Messing About]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Share and Share Alike (radio series)|Share and Share Alike]]'' (1978)
* ''[[A Chaste Maid in Cheapside]]'' (play) (1979)
* ''[[Just Before Midnight]]'' (1979)
* ''[[The 27-Year Itch]]'' (1979)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b25c20 |title=The 27-Year Itch |website=BBC Radio 4 Extra |accessdate=8 July 2021 }}</ref>
* ''[[I Love The 27-Year Itch]]'' (play) (1980)
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20201204024454/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba30bf71b Hugh Paddick] at the [[British Film Institute]]
* {{IMDb name|0655606}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paddick, Hugh}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Actors from Milton Keynes]]
[[Category:Actors from the Borough of Broxbourne]]
[[Category:Comedians from Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Comedians from Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:English gay actors]]
[[Category:English LGBTQ comedians]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:Gay comedians]]
[[Category:Male actors from Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Male actors from Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:People from Hoddesdon]]