Colin Crompton

Colin Crompton
Born	22 June 1931(1931-06-22) Manchester, Lancashire, England
Died	24 August 1985(1985-08-24) (aged 54)
Medium	Stand-up comedy
Years active	1960s – 1985
Notable works and roles	The Comedians, The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club

Colin Crompton (22 June 1931, Manchester  – 24 August 1985) was an English stand-up comedian. He found fame on the Granada Television programme The Comedians in the early 1970s.

From 1974 to 1977 he was also the "club chairman" in another Granada programme, The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. An attempt by producer Johnnie Hamp to reproduce the atmosphere of the working men's clubs in a television studio, Crompton was famous for ringing a hand operated fire alarm bell and telling the audience to "give order" when making announcements from "the committee" in between acts. He wrote his own scripts, with occasional additions by Neil Shand. The MC for the show, Bernard Manning claimed he was cast in the role because he "had been on The Comedians and he had that gormless look about him so he was ideal." 1

According to Johnnie Hamp; "Colin was criticised by real club chairmen for the way he acted. One actual club chairman wanted to appear and have it out with him on the show. He came along and met Colin, who was dressed in a very good suit, very smart, and here was this man looking more of a caricature than Colin ever did." 1

Later, Crompton also had a small role as 'Roughage' in the film Confessions from a Holiday Camp in 1977.

A favourite moment during The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club was when he rang his bell to interrupt ventriloquist Ray Allen halfway through his act: "...excuse me Mr. Allen we've had some complaints that they can't quite hear you at the back. Could you hold your dummy a little closer to the microphone please?" This particular joke, like the character of the club chairman itself, owed a heavy debt to the comedian Norman Collier.

In later life Colin bought and ran a pub called 'The Birch and Bottle' in Whitley, Cheshire.

Colin died of cancer, aged 54 years old, leaving 3 children, Cheryl, Erica and John.

External links

• Colin Crompton at the Internet Movie Database
• Off The Telly on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club
• Nostalgia Central on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club

Persondata
Name	Crompton, Colin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	22 June 1931
Place of birth	Manchester, Lancashire, England
Date of death	24 August 1985
Place of death