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{{Short description|English comedian and radio presenter (1914–1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| birth_place = [[Eastbourne]], [[Sussex]], England
| birth_place = [[Eastbourne]], [[Sussex]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1997|6|26|1914|04|26|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1997|6|26|1914|04|26|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Twickenham]], [[Middlesex]], England
| death_place = [[Twickenham]], [[London]], England
| spouse = {{marriage|Dorita Langley|1939|1992|end=died}}<br /> {{marriage|Joan Jarvis|1994|1997|end=his death}}
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Dorita Langley|1939|1992|end=her death}}
* {{marriage|Joan Jarvis|1994}}
}}
| children = 1
| children = 1
| years_active =
| years_active =
}}
}}


'''Charlie Chester''', [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (26 April 1914&nbsp;– 26 June 1997), was an English [[comedian]], [[radio]] and television presenter and writer, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s. His style was similar to that of [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]].
'''Charlie Chester''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (26 April 1914&nbsp;– 26 June 1997) was an English [[comedian]], [[radio]] and television presenter and writer, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s. His style was similar to that of [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]].


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==


Chester was born '''Cecil Victor Manser''' in [[Eastbourne]], [[Sussex]]. His first job after leaving education was as a grocer's errand boy, but he won talent competitions for his musical instrument playing and singing. Working as a travelling salesman for an embroidery company, Chester realised he had the gift of the gab and decided to become a professional comedian. Known as "Cheerful"<ref>per Russell Davies, (Show) BBC Radio 2, Sunday 15 April 2007: common form of nickname "Cheeky" is incorrect</ref> Charlie Chester, he was well known to British audiences in the 1940s from his [[BBC]] radio show ''Stand Easy''. This show was adapted for [[television]] as ''The Charlie Chester Show'' in 1949 and became a standup and sketch show for the next 11 years. Frequent cast members included Edwina Carroll, [[Henry Lytton, Jr.]], Eric 'Jeeves' Grier, [[Len Lowe]], [[Deryck Guyler]], Len Marten, [[Arthur Haynes]] and Frederick Ferrari. A later recurring mini-serial in the show was "Whippit Kwik the Cat Burglar", whose whistled signature tune made Chester a national favourite. Tenor St Clair was replaced by Ferrari, known as "The Voice", and for whom Chester wrote the signature song "When Love Descended like an Angel". That was in fact the only fragment written, until listeners' demands forced him to write a full version so that Ferrari could record it.<ref name=gifford>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-charlie-chester-1258200.html|title=Obituary: Charlie Chester |author=Denis Gifford |author-link=Denis Gifford |date=27 June 1997|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=7 October 2017}}</ref>
Chester was born '''Cecil Victor Manser''' in [[Eastbourne]], [[Sussex]]. His first job after leaving education was as a grocer's errand boy, but he won talent competitions for his musical instrument playing and singing. Working as a travelling salesman for an embroidery company, Chester realised he had the gift of the gab and decided to become a professional comedian.


Known as "Cheerful"<ref>per Russell Davies, (Show) BBC Radio 2, Sunday 15 April 2007: common form of nickname "Cheeky" is incorrect</ref> Charlie Chester, he was popular with British audiences in the 1940s from his [[BBC]] radio show ''Stand Easy''. This show was adapted for television as ''The Charlie Chester Show'' in 1949 and became a stand-up and sketch show for the next 11 years. Frequent cast members included Edwina Carroll, [[Henry Lytton, Jr.]], Eric "Jeeves" Grier, [[Len Lowe]], [[Deryck Guyler]], Len Marten, [[Arthur Haynes]] and Frederick Ferrari. A later recurring mini-serial in the show was "Whippit Kwik the Cat Burglar", whose whistled signature tune made Chester a national favourite. Tenor St Clair was replaced by Ferrari, known as "The Voice", and for whom Chester wrote the signature song "When Love Descended like an Angel". That was in fact the only fragment written, until listeners' demands forced him to write a full version so that Ferrari could record it.<ref name=gifford>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-charlie-chester-1258200.html|title=Obituary: Charlie Chester |author=Denis Gifford |author-link=Denis Gifford |date=27 June 1997|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=7 October 2017}}</ref>
⚫
Chester's radio shows included ''A Proper Charlie'' and ''That Man Chester''. Another series&nbsp;– which started out as a section of ''The Charlie Chester Show'' in 1950&nbsp;– was the quiz ''Pot Luck'', the first British TV programme to offer prizes for correctly answering questions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Pot_Luck|title=Pot Luck - UKGameshows|website=www.ukgameshows.com|accessdate=7 October 2017}}</ref>


⚫
Chester's radio shows included ''A Proper Charlie,'' ''That Man Chester'', and ''Pot Luck''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Pot_Luck|title=Pot Luck - UKGameshows|website=www.ukgameshows.com|accessdate=7 October 2017}}</ref>
⚫
In 1961, Chester starred in a BBC series called ''Charlie Chester On Laughter Service'', a music and comedy show which visited military bases throughout Britain. Most were co-written by Bernard Botting and Charlie Hart. Late in his career, Chester appeared in the [[Channel 4]] television sitcom ''Never Say Die''.


⚫
In 1961, Chester starred in a BBC series called ''Charlie Chester On Laughter Service'', a music and comedy show that visited military bases throughout Britain. Most were co-written by Bernard Botting and Charlie Hart. Late in his career, Chester appeared in the [[Channel 4]] television sitcom ''Never Say Die''.
⚫
In the 1960s he began presenting a record show on the [[BBC Radio 2|BBC Light Programme]], later BBC Radio 2. On 5 October 1970 he started his weekday show which from 1 October 1972 became his long-running radio show ''Sunday Soapbox'', which in later years came from the BBC's [[Birmingham]] studios (previously from [[Manchester]]). He opened the programme each week with the introduction "With a box full of records and a bag full of post, it's radio Soapbox and Charlie your host!" The programme was transmitted on Sunday afternoons until Chester suffered a stroke in November 1995, after which he could not walk or talk. Its opening and signature tune was called ''Music To Drive By'' by Alan Moorhouse.


⚫
In the 1960s, he began presenting a record show on the [[BBC Radio 2|BBC Light Programme]], later BBC Radio 2. On 5 October 1970 he started his weekday show which from 1 October 1972 became his long-running radio show ''Sunday Soapbox'', which in later years came from the BBC's [[Birmingham]] studios (previously from [[Manchester]]). He opened the programme each week with the introduction "With a box full of records and a bag full of post, it's radio Soapbox and Charlie your host!" The programme was transmitted on Sunday afternoons until Chester suffered a stroke in November 1995, after which he could not walk or talk. Its opening and signature tune was called ''Music To Drive By'' by Alan Moorhouse.
⚫
==Honours==
⚫
He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1961 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC Television Theatre.


⚫
==Honours and recognition==
⚫
Chester presented [[brass band]] music in the series ''Listen to the Band'' and also featured in the [[BBC Radio 2]] show ''The Gag Cracker's Ball''. In his leisure time he enjoyed painting.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} He was awarded the MBE in 1990.<ref name=gifford/>
⚫
He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1961 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC Television Theatre.

A casino club in Archer Street, Soho, was named "Charlie Chester's" after him.<ref>{{cite book|first=Frankie|last=Fraser|author2=James Morton|title=Mad Frank's Underworld History of Britain|publisher=Virgin Books|page=92|date=2007}}</ref>

⚫
Chester presented [[brass band]] music in the series ''Listen to the Band'' and also featured in the [[BBC Radio 2]] show ''The Gag Cracker's Ball''. In his leisure time he enjoyed painting.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} He was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[1990 Birthday Honours]] for charitable services.<ref name=gifford/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52173 |date=15 June 1990 |pages=13 }}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
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*{{IMDb name|id=0156312|name=Charlie Chester}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0156312|name=Charlie Chester}}
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-charlie-chester-1258200.html Obituary, by Denis Gifford, in The Independent]
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-charlie-chester-1258200.html Obituary, by Denis Gifford, in The Independent]
*[http://www.bigredbook.info/charlie_chester.html Charlie Chester's appearance on This Is Your Life]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
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[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century English musicians]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 2 presenters]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 2 presenters]]
[[Category:British military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English radio DJs]]
[[Category:English radio DJs]]
[[Category:English radio people]]
[[Category:English radio people]]
[[Category:People from Eastbourne]]
[[Category:People from Eastbourne]]
⚫
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:20th-century English musicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:20th-century British comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from Sussex]]
[[Category:British military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Marble Arch Records artists]]

Latest revision as of 21:49, 23 March 2024

Charlie Chester
MBE
Born
Cecil Victor Manser

(1914-04-26)26 April 1914
Eastbourne, Sussex, England
Died26 June 1997(1997-06-26) (aged 83)
Twickenham, London, England
Spouses
Dorita Langley
​
​
(m. 1939; died 1992)​
Joan Jarvis
​
(m. 1994)​
Children1

Charlie Chester MBE (26 April 1914 – 26 June 1997) was an English comedian, radio and television presenter and writer, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s. His style was similar to that of Max Miller.

Life and career

[edit]

Chester was born Cecil Victor Manser in Eastbourne, Sussex. His first job after leaving education was as a grocer's errand boy, but he won talent competitions for his musical instrument playing and singing. Working as a travelling salesman for an embroidery company, Chester realised he had the gift of the gab and decided to become a professional comedian.

Known as "Cheerful"[1] Charlie Chester, he was popular with British audiences in the 1940s from his BBC radio show Stand Easy. This show was adapted for television as The Charlie Chester Show in 1949 and became a stand-up and sketch show for the next 11 years. Frequent cast members included Edwina Carroll, Henry Lytton, Jr., Eric "Jeeves" Grier, Len Lowe, Deryck Guyler, Len Marten, Arthur Haynes and Frederick Ferrari. A later recurring mini-serial in the show was "Whippit Kwik the Cat Burglar", whose whistled signature tune made Chester a national favourite. Tenor St Clair was replaced by Ferrari, known as "The Voice", and for whom Chester wrote the signature song "When Love Descended like an Angel". That was in fact the only fragment written, until listeners' demands forced him to write a full version so that Ferrari could record it.[2]

Chester's radio shows included A Proper Charlie, That Man Chester, and Pot Luck.[3]

In 1961, Chester starred in a BBC series called Charlie Chester On Laughter Service, a music and comedy show that visited military bases throughout Britain. Most were co-written by Bernard Botting and Charlie Hart. Late in his career, Chester appeared in the Channel 4 television sitcom Never Say Die.

In the 1960s, he began presenting a record show on the BBC Light Programme, later BBC Radio 2. On 5 October 1970 he started his weekday show which from 1 October 1972 became his long-running radio show Sunday Soapbox, which in later years came from the BBC's Birmingham studios (previously from Manchester). He opened the programme each week with the introduction "With a box full of records and a bag full of post, it's radio Soapbox and Charlie your host!" The programme was transmitted on Sunday afternoons until Chester suffered a stroke in November 1995, after which he could not walk or talk. Its opening and signature tune was called Music To Drive By by Alan Moorhouse.

Honours and recognition

[edit]

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1961 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

A casino club in Archer Street, Soho, was named "Charlie Chester's" after him.[4]

Chester presented brass band music in the series Listen to the Band and also featured in the BBC Radio 2 show The Gag Cracker's Ball. In his leisure time he enjoyed painting.[citation needed] He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1990 Birthday Honours for charitable services.[2][5]

Death

[edit]

He suffered a stroke and died in Twickenham on 26 June 1997 aged 83.

TV credits

[edit]
  • The Charlie Chester Show (1949) (performer and writer)
  • Christmas Box (1955) (performer)
  • Educated Evans (1957) (performer)
  • These Are The Shows (1957) (performer)
  • The Two Charleys (1959) (performer)
  • Charlie Chester On Laughter Service (1961) (performer and writer)
  • The Charlie Chester Music Hall (1961) (performer)
  • Jokers Wild (1969) (performer)
  • Never Say Die (1987) (performer)

Film credits

[edit]
  • Holiday Camp (1947) as himself
  • Can I Come Too? (1979) as Mr. Royal

Bibliography

[edit]
  • The World Is Full of Charlies (Autobiography) published NEL (1974)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ per Russell Davies, (Show) BBC Radio 2, Sunday 15 April 2007: common form of nickname "Cheeky" is incorrect
  2. ^ a b Denis Gifford (27 June 1997). "Obituary: Charlie Chester". The Independent. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Pot Luck - UKGameshows". www.ukgameshows.com. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. ^ Fraser, Frankie; James Morton (2007). Mad Frank's Underworld History of Britain. Virgin Books. p. 92.
  5. ^ "No. 52173". The London Gazette. 15 June 1990. p. 13.
[edit]
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