Bill Waddington

Background

Waddington was born at Oldham on 10 June 1916, the son of a builder.

Career

After the war "Waddy" became a comedian, often appearing on the same bill as Jill Summers, who would eventually play Phyllis Pearce, Percy Sugden"s foil in Granada television"s Coronation Street. In 1955 Bill was chosen for the Royal Variety Performance, and when American stars such as Frankie Laine, Lena Horne, Billy Daniels and Dorothy Lamour toured Britain, he was the opening comedian in their shows. His agent was Lew Grade.

Waddington appeared in more than 800 variety and comedy programmes on radio, and made his mark on television, starring with Margaret Lockwood as early as 1946.

He appeared as a magician in Victoria Wood"s first play Talent for Granada Television in 1979. Bill played his best known role of cantankerous pensioner Percy Sugden on Coronation Street from August 1983 until quitting the serial in October 1997.

He died in Rotherham General Hospital on the morning of 9 September 2000 at the age of 84 after a 50-year acting career. He had been suffering from Parkinson"s Disease.

Bill had two daughters.

He is interred at Street Peters grave yard, Bradfield Green, Nr Crewe.

Achievements

• In later life he achieved stardom as the pompous ex serviceman Percy Sugden in Granada Television"s long-running soap opera, Coronation Street.

Membership

He played the ukulele and became a member of a group called the Blue Pencils, recruited to entertain forces during the Second World War.

Connections

Partner:

Sid James