Hugh Paddick

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Hugh William Paddick (22 August 1915 – 9 November 2000)<ref name="indiobit">Template:Cite news</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>Template:Cite news</ref>

Paddick also enjoyed success as Percival Browne in the original West End production of The Boy Friend, in 1954.<ref name="Stevens">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite news</ref>

Paddick was gay<ref name="polari">Template:Cite news</ref> and lived for over thirty years with his partner Francis, whom he met at a party in London.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Paddick was very guarded about his privacy, and he and his partner were keen gardeners at their home in Bedfordshire.<ref>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.Template:Citation needed

Paddick died in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on 9 November 2000, aged 85.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In popular culture

In the 2006 BBC television film Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!, about the life of Williams, Paddick was portrayed by Guy Henry.

Films

School for Scoundrels (1960) – Instructor<ref name="imdb">Template:IMDb name</ref>
We Shall See (1964) – Connell
San Ferry Ann (1965) – French Commercial Traveller
The Killing of Sister George (1968) – Freddie
Up Pompeii (1971) – Priest
Up the Chastity Belt (1971) – Robin Hood
That's Your Funeral (1972) – Window Dresser

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Television

Here and Now (1956)
The Two Charleys (1959) – Lionel Stone
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>Template:Cite web</ref>
Benny Hill (1963)
Frankie Howerd (1965–1966)
Pure Gingold (1965)
The Wednesday Play episode: 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
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 episode: Television Film (1978) – Nigel Lambshank
The Basil Brush Show (1979)
Can We Get On Now, Please? (1980) – Charles Pettigrew
The Morecambe and Wise Show (1980) – Adrian Fondle / Robin Caress
Rushton's Illustrated (1980)
The Jim Davidson Show (1980–1981)
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 episode: Never Say Trevor Again (1988) – Don Pettifer
Campion (1990) – 'Beaut' Siegfried
Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990) – Lord Taggon (Last appearance)