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WHERE ARE THEY NOW... ?

COMEDIAN SYD LITTLE

yd Little and his partner
Eddie Large, better known
as Little and Large, became
S one of TV’s most popular
comedy double-acts of the 70s.
Blackpool-born Syd, 75, who
had a solo career after Eddie
suffered health problems in 2001, now works
with his wife Sheree at her restaurant in
Fleetwood. The couple, who live in Lancashire,
have two children and two grandchildren.

They also had a son, Paul, who died in 1995.
“I wasn’t a comedian at school and had no idea
that I would end up in entertainment. But I loved
music and bought a guitar with my paper round
money and began learning Lonnie Donegan and
Buddy Holly numbers on it. I became an
apprentice painter and decorator and also sang and Eddie Large prepares
played my guitar in working-men’s clubs for £3 a to fire Syd from a
night at weekends. One night, Eddie got up on cannon in the late 1970s
stage beside me and began singing, bouncing Monday night. Timing was everything and our “Eddie’s health was deteriorating and he was
around to the music and threw some comedy in. show was a big hit with viewers. seriously ill. He felt poorly; his heart was giving
“The club owner asked me to come back as a “After doing Seaside Special, the producer way, he was on medication and eventually had a
double act with Eddie. It was 1961 and we were approached our agent and signed us up for our heart transplant. We decided to stop in 2001.
called Cyril Mead and Friend – as that was my real own BBC series in 1977. We were on Saturday “Afterwards, Eddie did after-dinner speaking –
name – and we went round the clubs for eight years. nights, sandwiched in-between The Generation which he was very good at – while I returned to my
“Comedian Bernard Manning, who owned Game and Dallas: you couldn’t go wrong with that! roots and spent the next 11 years doing
clubs in the north, gave us our first weeks’ work “Our big year was 1977 when we commanded pantomime, singing and playing my guitar.
after we went semi-pro in the early 60s. huge TV ratings, did a sell-out summer “I’ve also done reality shows such as Trust Me
We did three clubs a night for him, season at Blackpool North Pier and – I’m A Holiday Rep and MasterChef, where I got
seven days a week for £50. “I GOT THROUGH starred in The Royal Variety Show in through to the fourth round. It was a big surprise,
“We changed our name to TO THE FOURTH ROUND the Queen’s jubilee year with Bob because I can’t cook!
Little and Large and went on to Hope and Julie Andrews. “While I don’t plan to return to TV, I’ll still feature
win Opportunity Knocks in OF MASTERCHEF, WHICH “We had 14 wonderful years with Eddie on shows about comedy. Eddie and I
1971. When the series ended, WAS A BIG SURPRISE, until the BBC chose not to renew have been friends since we first met in 1961 and it’s
the producer, Royston Mayoh, our contracts. Eddie and I were lovely when we get together. It’s like the old days!”
offered us our own TV series, BECAUSE I CAN’T COOK” fine about that because comedy Tony Padman
which went out in the same slot was changing. We continued to do The Little Restaurant is at The Steamer Pub, 2 Queens
– just before Coronation Street on a SYD LITTLE pantomime and summer seasons. Terrace, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6BT.

20 YEARS AGO FROM THE
PHOTOGRAPHS: BBC ARCHIVE; PA IMAGES; REX FEATURES BEACH BOY CARL LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

1961 formed the band
Vibrations. The band,
Carl’s wife Gina and
February 9, 1998
that was to define the
Beach Boys founder
known for their laidback
sons Jonah, 28, and
member Carl Wilson has
style of music, had a string
California ‘surfing sound’.
Justin, 26, were with him
died after a fight against
when he died of
of big hits, including
He played guitar and
California Girls, Fun, Fun,
sang lead vocals on one of
complications from the
lung cancer. He was 51.
Carl was the second of
cancer in Los Angeles on
Fun, Help Me Rhonda and
the celebrated group’s
Xyxyxy
Friday night.
biggest hits, Good
God Only Knows.
three brothers who in
SATURDAY MAGAZINE 69