Ken Platt

Ken Platt (born Kenneth Platt in Leigh, Lancashire 17 February 1921: died Blackpool 2 October 1998) was a British North-country comedianCite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19981003/ai_n14195333|title=Obituary: Ken Platt|accessdate=2008-03-28|publisher="The Independent"|date=1998-10-03|author= Denis Gifford]

tyle

With a flat cap and droll line, he was best remembered by the catchphrase with which he began every performance: " 'I won't take me coat off - I'm not stopping!' ". Platt was one of the last links with music hall and variety in Great Britain. Platt decided to become a comedian at the age of 15. He bought a ukelele and performed at local concert parties where he was billed as " 'the Pocket George Formby' ", in homage to his idol.

War Service

He joined the Army in 1942 and was posted to North Africa where he appeared in a concert party, The Forest Mummers. Demobbed five years later he tried his hand at show business with little success. Disillusioned bought a grocery store in his home town.

Radio and TV

A chance audition with the BBC in 1950 led to him being eventually asked to be resident comedian on the BBC's popular radio show Variety Fanfare. It was on radio that Platt was in his true element with his immaculate timing and brilliant ad-libbing.

Variety Fanfare ran for two years and made Platt a household name. He was a guest comedian on numerous radio variety shows and later topped the bill in pantomimes and summer seasons throughout Great Britain. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he was a regular guest star on television programmes such as " 'Big Night Out' ", " 'Spot the Tune' " and " ' [The Liver Birds' ". He evoked considerable nostalgia by a memorable appearance on BBC's " 'The Good Old Days' " using much of his material from his days on " 'steam radio' ".

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External links

*imdb name|id=686881|name=Ken Platt