Arthur Mullard

He rejoined the army during the Second World War, becoming a Warrant Officer, (sergeant major) in the Royal Artillery. Following the end of the war in 1945, he worked as a stuntman at Pinewood and Ealing Film Studios.

An enigmatic and much loved comedy actor Arthur Mullard carved a unique niche for himself in a host of British comedy films and tv shows. The sterotype Cockney he was born in Islington, North London where he was known by locals as 'The Dook of Islington'. He left school at 14 to work as a butcher's boy. At 18 he joined the Army and became his regiment's boxing champion. After leaving the Forces he became a professional boxer for a brief period. After World War Two he took up acting, mainly as a stuntman working at Pinewood and Ealing Studios in their heyday. He then graduated to small parts in classic comedy films and on television he began to be in great demand as a straight man to a range of comics including Frankie Howerd, Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper and Arthur Askey. In 1962 he scored a critical success in Sparrows Can't Sing with Barbara Windsor.

He achieved stardom on television in the series Romany Jones (1973). Mullard and Queenie Watts played Wally and Lily Briggs, a colourful couple who lived in a caravan and were experts at swindling the social services.

He entered the UK Singles Chart in 1978 with his cover of "You're the One That I Want", (from the film Grease) with Hylda Baker, who was in her seventies at the time. The single peaked at Number 22 in the UK.

In 1996, "The Sunday Mirror" reported that a "This Is Your Life" special about Mullard was planned, until producers contacted his eldest son and discovered Mullard's history of extreme domestic violence, and years of sexual abuse against his daughter, starting when she was 13.