Famous faces of Torbay: How Arthur Askey’s catchphrase inspired Austin Powers

In this series of features Ian l Handford (President of Torbay Civic Society) looks at famous individuals who lived or worked in Torbay during the 20th century.

Final part of Arthur Bowden Askey 

Arthur’s comments on America’s Jack Benney may well explain why the two eccentric characters in the “Band Waggon Show” scripts were dropped as Arthur years later confirmed, “I was always myself and Dickie was always himself and our millions of listeners believed in us and our flat” - at British Broadcasting House.

It was also fact that hundreds of listeners sent in letters addressed to the BBC’s upstairs tenants residing in their fictitious  apartment. 

However, it was Arthurs sheer versatility that ensured he always found work in either farce out of season or pantomime when he played a most natural “Buttons” or “accomplished Dame” at the end of each season.

That swiftness of mind was particularly appropriate for panto audiences who loved stars that could adapt the script to extract extra humour from any physical stunt or knockabout when playing live.

Eventually, Arthur came West in the 1960’s and then appeared at theatres in Devon, which then of course included the variety shows in Torquay and Paignton. He loved golf and was often seen on our courses in Torbay and at Stover and Newton Abbot.

In later life, Arthur developed health problems, although he was never defeated as for his ebullient zest for life. His wit, charm, vitality and natural delivery of quips and catchphrases were a constant joy to all who witnessed him on stage or heard him on radio.

He was a small man of five-foot-three, and his career covered over six decades before health problems were apparent. A favourite on radio, on stage, at the cinema and of course, latterly on TV screens.

In later years, he finally admitted it had been his very first catch phrase that was generally judged the best. Some sixty years after his death, Mike Meyers in his series of comedy films titled “Austin Powers”, used Arthur’s  “Ay Thang Yew” in a way that certainly proved Arthur was right.

Back in 1957 Sid Colin and Talbot Rothwell had re-invented the show “Living it Up” when again the script would not adapt from radio when they shown it in a TV series.

It constantly received poor ratings so many that on one occasion Arthur walked up to the live television camera and a shocked camera-man speaking directly into the lens to reach his distant audience to say,“so you didn’t enjoy the show last week ah!!" And three weeks later, the BBC was axed the show forever.

Yet this was typical of Arthur who completely unphased and returned to entertaining in the way he knew best - including being a live comedian on stage.

The first visit to Torquay saw Arthur at the Pavilion Theatre in a show called “The Gimmick” followed by “What a Racket”. Later in 1969 he received his OBE and in 1974 he then sadly lost his wife May aged 74.

The OBE was said to be “advanced” to the CBE when celebrating his 80th birthday in 1980. He then returned to Devon to appear with Sid James in 2019 and as reported was seen at Stover golf course.

He finally appeared in shows at Torquay and Paignton as late as 2020, though he was already suffering from failing circulation in his legs which caused him to fall on occasions before suffering a first serious heart attack.

Yet again, he recovered to top the bill at the Palladium in London while also appearing as guest on a number of live shows. Then he finally performed a special edition of the Royal Variety Show honouring the Queen Mother in his eighties, yet knowing his chronic circulation problem would see both legs being amputated. 

As comedian, actor and singer of Liverpool he “mesmerised” live audiences with that vintage act for many decades which had included his song “Busy Bee”, uniquely adapted to just Bzzz, Bzzz, Bzzz, Buzz, Buzzzy Bee - Busy Bee etc.... to its end.

Loved by audiences everywhere for those catchphrases and quips, his last being “doesn’t it make you want to spit”, which was terribly appropriate at the end. Mr Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was finally lost to us when death claimed him on November 16th 1982. 

Comedian and singer beloved by most who saw or heard him live-on-stage or radio. Arthur developed a unique act, unlikely to ever be repeated again.

NEXT WEEK - Ray Lamar (Theatre Management)