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Frankie Howerd was a comedian who reached the height of his popularity in Up Pompeii! but who had been a mainstay of British film and TV comedy for a long time before this success. Although his star tended to wax and wain, he died on a career high with a new generation of fans appreciating his unique talents. With his "titter ye not", "Ooh, no, listen missus" and "shut your cake holes", he was one of a handful of unique comedy talents such as Eric Morecambe, Benny Hill and Tommy Cooper whose deaths have left a vacuum in British comedy. Strangely enough, Hill and Howerd died on the very same weekend.

'Internet pioneer' Howard Pitfield has created a tribute to the man and keeps his memory very much alive by helping to arrange open days at Frankie's house and running the information and news-packed website. Here, Howard tells us more. 

 

Frankie Howerd – a bit like Christmas really. Always been there, timeless and provides an abundance of entertainment – plus you never quite know what you are going to get! 

I grew with Frankie Howerd, from watching him in a St Trinians’ film at the cinema, then a few appearances in “Carry On” films, appearances on TV and of course the magic variety shows that seemed a staple of British TV in the 60’s. He became an essential bit of British-ness along with things such as Dr Who that turned up on a winter’s day back in 1963 when I was but eight.   

 

    

"Here, no.... now, steady on. Shut your gobs, missus, no, now listen!"

      

Co-stars in Up Pompeii! Bernard Bresslaw and Madeline Smith

   

Co-stars in Up Pompeii! Lance Percival and Adrienne Posta

 

From the 70’s I worked overseas and cherished everything that was to represent “home”. So my fascination with British comedy (and Daleks!) continued. Shortly after my return to the UK in 1984 I began to fiddle with computers, both at work and at home and so became interested in the emerging Internet. 

In the mid-90’s I was looking around for Frankie related material on the web, but found a vacuum there – which was very surprising for such a popular star.   

 

    

 

Although Frankie had endured several dips in his public affection, he was riding the crest of a wave in the early 90’s with a sell-out national tour. People were sporting “Frankie says….” T –shirts and his cult status at universities was legendary. In 1992 he died after a short stay in hospital – my site had already been in operation by this time and I had started to build a collection of films, music, theatre programs and such. 

The site is currently in its 3^rd regeneration (that Dr Who reference again) and his fame seems as undiminished now as at the height of his fame. His partner, Dennis, and friends are in contact with me, and the house he loved is usually open to the public several times a year. His agent, Tessa Le Bars, is also very helpful so I can almost claim to be an official site – but it’s very much a tribute to one of Britain’s’ best loved comedians.

 

   

Great friend Cilla Black

 

It is nice to see that material from Frankie’s past still surfaces – and this year alone there is a box-set out featuring much material from “Up Pompeii” and other shows to one of his earliest films from the 1950’s “The Runaway Bus”. I am always being asked if I have this (I do but on VHS) and respectful of copyright I have to decline such requests – but only last week an official DVD company (Pickwick Group) contacted me with the news that they are releasing this film on DVD – great news and it just shows what a pull our Frankie is. Long may he reign!!

 

Howard Pitfield

4 November 2006

www.frankiehowerd.com

 

 

For further information:

Frankie Howerd's Wikipedia listing

Frankie Howerd's IMDB listing