Tony Capstick

Joseph Anthony 'Tony' Capstick (July 27, 1944 – 23 October 2003) was a British comedian, actor, musician and broadcaster. He was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England and for over 30 years he was a presenter on BBC Radio Sheffield. Outside Sheffield, he is perhaps better known as one of the policemen in the sitcom "Last of the Summer Wine".

A regular performer on folk circuits, in 1981 he reached number 3 in the UK singles chart with "The Sheffield Grinder"/"Capstick Comes Home". As a comedian he had an eight-part television series, "Capstick's Capers", on Channel 4 in 1983.

Capstick was also a prolific bit-part actor, with a career including minor roles in the soap operas "Emmerdale" and "Coronation Street". In the latter he played the recurring character of the brewer Harvey Nuttall.

His career at Radio Sheffield came to an end in January 2003, when he was dismissed for an alleged drop in quality, following the latest in a string of drunk driving offences. He continued to write a regular column in a local weekly newspaper, the "Rotherham Advertiser", but his mood and health never recovered from the sacking.

His record "Capstick Comes Home" was based on the well-known Hovis Wholemeal Bread commercials directed by Ridley Scott.

He was found dead at his cottage in Hoober, near Wentworth, Rotherham.

He was survived by wife Gillian, and first wife Carol, mother of his children: son James and daughter Vicky.

Capstick was author, with Paul Donoghue, of a book on the Appleby Horse Fair.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/3210035.stm BBC Obituary]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/01_january/14/tony_capstick.shtml Press release on Capstick's dismissal from Radio Sheffield]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/c/capstick_tony.shtml BBC list of his work]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0135701/ IMDb entry]