Foreword ix Victoria Wood Introduction xi I get the showbusiness bug -- watching pantomime, variety and a disastrous first night 1(6) At Aldro and Charterhouse, where the showbusiness bug grows apace 7(9) RADA, the Saltburn show -- and meeting Sara 16(7) A chilly experience with Sea Breezes, an outing with Derek Farr, and getting married 23(8) My active service in the Western Desert and Italy, including the worst day of my life and being wounded 31(12) `Stars in Battledress, meeting the daunting Mrs George Formby and Benny Hill, giving Frankie Howerd the thumbs-down, and teaming up with Ian Carmichael 43(16) Reg Varney and Sara, our biggest earners, Benny Hill booked as Regs stooge after beating Peter Sellers at an audition. Billing problems with Terry Scott and Jimmy Logan and Shirley Eaton in Goldfinger 59(11) Summer shows on Clacton Pier, Dave Allen, Harry Secombe -- and dealing with Billy Butlin, Bernie Delfont and the Grades 70(19) The tide turns at Weymouth, Lance Percival, Danny la Rue -- and Benny Hill leaves the BBC 89(15) J.B. Priestley comes to see Fred Emney, the end of my summer shows, David Jasons first success. Derek Nimmo and Bill Maynard come to blows, and Victoria Wood spreads her wings 104(22) From producing to packaging, advice from a Hollywood pro, and celebrating my 50 years in show business 126(12) Gone fishing -- sailing round the world, Benny Hills death, and life at the Richard Stone Partnership goes on 138(9) Index 147
