Bill Maynard

Walter Frederick George Williams (born 8 October 1928, Heath End, Surrey), more commonly known as Bill Maynard, is an English comedian and actor.

He attended Kibworth Beauchamp Grammar School and started as a variety performer, taking his professional surname from an advertising board (billboard) for Maynard's Wine Gums, a popular British confectionery at the time. He placed fourth in the UK heat of the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest. With Terry Scott he appeared at Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness and partnered him in the TV series Great Scott, It's Maynard!.

In 1973 Maynard worked with television actor and comedian Ronnie Barker in the (original) "Football Blues" which aired as "Spanners Eleven" and was part of a series called Seven of One. In 1975 he had a film role as Yorkshire farmer Hinchcliffe in It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet. At this time, he gained starring roles as Selwyn Froggitt in the sitcom Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! and for playing Fred Moffatt in The Gaffer. In the 1970s he also played small roles in some of the Carry On films, including Carry On Matron (1972) and Carry on Dick (1974).

In 1984, Maynard stood against Tony Benn in the by-election at Chesterfield as an Independent Labour candidate. It was his only foray into politics and was purely to try to prevent Benn winning the seat and thus re-entering Parliament. Benn won the seat; Maynard took fourth place.

Maynard published his autobiography The Yo-Yo Man in November 1975 (by Leicester's Golden Eagle books).

In 1992 he began playing Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the popular and long-running television series Heartbeat, remaining in the show until 2001, and its spin-off series The Royal until 2003.

Having originally retired from acting in 2000^{[clarification needed]} following a series of strokes, he made a comeback to radio presenting in March 2003 for BBC Radio Leicester where he had last worked in 1968. His show, called Bill of Fare, aired every Sunday afternoon from 2–4 pm for nearly five years, until he was dismissed without notice on 5 February 2008.

In October 2009 he made a return to the stage when he appeared as the main Guest of Honour at the Pride of Bridlington Awards held in East Yorkshire. Maynard was introduced to the audience by British politician the Rt Hon Greg Knight MP, who praised his work and described the actor as "one of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars". Maynard made an entertaining and amusing speech and was mobbed by the audience, showing, even at 81, that he was still held in great affection by the public.

He has lived in Leicestershire for many years. Maynard married Muriel Linnett on 5 November 1949 and they had two children. She died in June 1983. In 1989 Maynard married Tonia Bern, widow of Donald Campbell. He is a vegetarian. His son is Maynard Williams.

Filmography

• It All Goes to Show (1969)
• One More Time (1970)
• Carry on Loving (1970)
• A Hole lot of Trouble (1971)
• Carry on Henry (1971)
• Carry On at Your Convenience (1971)
• Bless This House (1972)
• Four Dimensions of Greta (1972)
• Carry on Matron (1972)
• Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973)
• Carry on Dick (1974)
• Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1974)
• Man About the House (1974)
• It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1975)
• Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975)
• Robin and Marian (1976)
• Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976)
• Confessions from a Holiday Camp (1977)
• Sky Pirates (1977)

Television Roles

Comedy

Drama

External links

• Bill Maynard at the Internet Movie Database
• Bill Maynard at tv.com
• Bill Maynard's "Stock Car Racing is Magic" lyrics
• Bill Maynard's "Stock Car Racing is Magic" recording