Left, in the 1954 revue "First Edition", with Beryl Reed. Right, Nicholas with Benny Hill in his sketch sending up the film "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, 1971.
Left, with Arthur Haynes and Maria Pavlou receiving some production notes from George Black during "Get Happy," 1956 - the forerunner of The Arthur Haynes Show. Right, playing it straight as a policeman outside Number 10 with Arthur Haynes and Dermot Kelly as dustmen, 1960.
With Arthur Haynes as his famous tramp character.
Left, playing another Vicar in Dr Who with Sylvester Mc Coy.
Right, with Benny Hill in one of his period romps. |
Early Years
NICHOLAS PARSONS: THE EARLY YEARS
After distinguishing himself at St Paul's School both in Latin, Greek and Rugby, he tried to become an engineer to please his family. He always wanted to act, but found himself beginning an apprenticeship for a firm that made pumps and turbines where his first pay packet for a 48 hour week was 49p! He started doing impersonations, joined an amateur concert party, survived the rigours of Clydebank where he endeared himself to his workmates by taking off his various foremen. He also went to Glasgow University where he excelled at rugger and even played in an East - v - West Scottish trial game.
His first professional engagement, whilst still an engineering apprentice, was as a Carroll Levis discovery on his radio shows, doing impersonations.
He served his acting apprenticeship in Repertory at Bromley in Kent. After two years playing a different part in a different play each week, he proved that comedy and character roles were his particular strength. Failing to obtain work in the West End, he moved to the legendary London cabaret circuit in the 1950's. He starred at Quaglino's, The Allegro, The Colony, the famous Cafe de Paris and many other venues.
In 1952 he became resident comedian at the famous Windmill Theatre for six months, which was followed by a lot of radio variety. Even now, he is still doing a lot of solo work, after dinners, one man shows, and recently his new show at the Edinburgh Festival.
PARSONS & POLITICS
Nicholas Parsons' father was a doctor in a country practice in Grantham. Among his patients were the Robert's family which included young Margaret who became Margaret Thatcher. Nicholas went to the same school as her, Grantham & Kesteven High School for Girls! In the kindergarden they took boys … not what you might think. He moved to London with his family when he was 8 years old.
In 1976, Nicholas was asked to stand as Liberal Party candidate for the Yeovil constituency. He refused with regret, and some newcomer called Paddy Ashdown was adopted and won the seat. Nicholas preferred to concentrate on his chosen profession.
After a hard-fought, student-run campaign in 1988, he was elected to the prestigious position of Rector of St. Andrews University, thrashing a popular politician named Glenda Jackson. At the end of his three year term of office he was honoured with a Doctor of Laws. You can address him as Doctor Parsons if you wish!
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CULT PERFORMANCES 1960s-1990s
FOUR FEATHER FALLS,
as the hero in Gerry Anderson's first TV puppet series, 1959.
THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW,
the cult American TV entertainment programme, with Arthur Haynes.
DR. WHO,
the vicar in The Curse Of Fenric.
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW,
as the Narrator, including the outrageous cross-dressing gag.
THE COMIC STRIP,
with Rick Mayall and Adrian Edmundson, in Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door.
THIS IS YOUR LIFE,
as the unsuspecting subject, of course.
HOUSE PARTY,
the subject of Noel Edmunds "Gotcha!"
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TV & RADIO COMEDY
Every one a classic:
LISTEN TO THIS SPACE
(1965 award-winning radio satire show)
THE ARTHUR HAYNES SHOW
(10 years to 1966 as the definitive Straight Man.)
THE BENNY HILL SHOW
(1968-1971)
JUST A MINUTE
1967 and still presenting the show without hesitation, repetition or deviation.
Nick has guested in so many other radio and tv shows, we don't have room to feature them! E-mail him if you're really obsessive. nicholas@nicholasparsons.co.uk
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