Hugh Paddick

HUGH PADDICK
1915- 2000

Born in 1915, Hugh Paddick was a stalwart of radio during the ground breaking 1960's. That rare item, a gay man playing a gay man in the hugely popular Kenneth Horne series' on the then named Home Service, Hugh was the never-sidelined sidekick to outrageous Kenneth Williams' Sandy in the perennially popular Julian and Sandy sketches and often ad libbed at the same pace as Williams. Written by Barry Took and Marty Feldman , these innovative characters were the first long running gay characters in popular entertainment. Created even before decriminalisation of homosexuality, Julian and Sandy set the (some would say unfortunate) tone for all comic gays for decades to come. Think John Inman and Larry Grayson's love child and you are halfway there!
But this was only part of Hugh's repertoire. Paddick was a farmer's son who, trying to better himself, studied law but failed his exams and enrolled in drama school instead, much to his family's disappointment. Tall and good looking, Hugh was, for many years, a leading man in Liverpool Rep. His next break came with the part of Percival Brown in The Boy Friend in 1954. This led to many more West End roles including revue and eventually to his success on radio in beyond Our Ken and Round The Horne. Although theatre was his first love (he had success in My Fair Lady at Drury Lane along with virtually every stage hit of the time. He even did a season at the National with Paul Schofield and Ben Kingsley), he never thought TV and film were beneath him and was seen in a multitude of sitcoms (usually as the 'straight' man) and plays alongside his prodigious number of supporting roles in films.
I first met Hugh Paddick in the 70's when I was living in Brighton and he was touring with some show at the Theatre Royal. I met him in a tea shop having a bun and a cuppa. An avid fan, I stopped to say hello and congratulate him on his past work. For some reason we clicked and saw each other every time he came to Brighton, nothing special, just a nice chat. He would come to my flat for tea between performances. He was not in the least bit pretentious or starry and endeared himself to all who met or worked with him.
Hugh died on 9 November 2000 and is survived by his partner of more than 30 years, Francis.

First published on Gay UK Net
© Paul Towers 13/11/2000