Leslie Crowther

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Leslie Crowther (6 February 1933, Nottingham – 29 September 1996, Bath) was an English comedian.

Crowther was born in Nottingham but moved to London in 1945 with his parents, just after the war ended. His father, also called Leslie, was an alcoholic, but was also an actor. Crowther had stage experience from the mid-1940s. He married Jean Stone in March 1954. They had five children. One of his daughters, Liz Crowther, is an actor.

Crowther made a name for himself in television in the 1950s, with appearances as presenter of such programmes as The Black and White Minstrel Show, and later the long-running children's institution Crackerjack (with Peter Glaze) for the BBC, from 1960 to 1968.

From the 1970s, he also achieved renown as the face of Stork SB Margarine for which he appeared in a number of memorable television commercials. In 1971 he made The Leslie Crowther Show, a sketch show, with three older comics, Arthur English, Chic Murray and Albert Modley ("Eee it's grand to be daft!") as the internal "rep" company. In 1972 and 1973 he appeared in a TV sitcom called My Good Woman with Richard Wilson, Sylvia Syms and Keith Barron.

Crowther was also an alcoholic, battling the problem throughout the 1960s, '70s and '80s. In November 1983 he was banned for driving for nine months, after being pulled over for drunk-driving. His battle against alcohol was publicized in the press just before Christmas 1988, by which time he had accepted he had a serious problem and needed help. In October that year he turned up at a gala in Glastonbury drunk, where he was opening something. Crowther was in Clouds House in Salisbury from January to March 1989. This was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre (Robbie Williams was to end up there after Take That split up). Crowther never drank alcohol again for the rest of his life after that.

Leslie Crowther is also well remembered as host of the first British version of the popular game show The Price Is Right, from 1984 to 1988, during which time his come on down catchphrase entered television folklore. He was also the father-in-law of Thin Lizzy vocalist Phil Lynott. From 21 July 1990 he was host of the TV show Stars In Their Eyes, hosting the first three series. He was a popular president of the Lord's Taverners from January 1991 to December 1992. He was a huge cricket fan and had a flat near Lord's Cricket Ground for many years.

Crowther was almost killed in a car crash on the afternoon of Saturday 3 October 1992 on the M5 near Cheltenham, sustaining serious head injuries which effectively brought his TV and stage career to an end. He previously had been very busy with Lord's Taverners business, and on Friday 2 October had been to a dinner in Swansea. He was then opening Allied Carpets stores in Birmingham that Saturday morning. It is speculated that he fell asleep at the wheel and his car smashed into the central reservation and overturned several times. The truth of what happened that afternoon will never be known.

After the accident, Crowther was able to recall to police attending the scene personal details including his home telephone number and what Warfarin tablets he was taking for his heart. He didn't appear to be too severely injured at first, apart from being shaken up and sustaining a cracked bone in his neck. However, after being taken to Cheltenham general hospital, his condition deteriorated and a brain scan revealed a blood clot had formed on his brain. Crowther was taken to Frenchay Hospital for brain surgery to remove it that evening. On the Monday afternoon another scan revealed another blood clot had formed on his brain and Crowther had to have a brain operation a second time. He remained in a coma for 17 days after the accident and was a patient in Frenchay Hospital until February 1993.

Crowther was awarded the CBE in the 1993 New Year's Honours list in recognition of his years of charity work. He went to Buckingham Palace to collect it in July 1993 and, shortly after publishing his autobiography, The Bonus of Laughter, retired from showbusiness in November 1994. He appeared that autumn on This Is Your Life for the second time, having first appeared in March 1973.

He was a supporter of West Bromwich Albion F.C., and was particularly friendly with officials and players of the club during the Ron Atkinson era (late 1970s to early '80s).

Leslie Crowther died from heart failure at 5am on 29 September 1996 in the Royal United Hospital in Bath, at the age of 63, with his wife Jean and family at his side.

Preceded by First Host

Host of The Price is Right UK 1984 - 1988

Succeeded by Bob Warman

Persondata
NAME	Crowther, Leslie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	English comedian
DATE OF BIRTH	6 February 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH	Nottingham, England
DATE OF DEATH	29 September 1996
PLACE OF DEATH	Bristol, England

[edit] External links

• Leslie Crowther on the BBC guide to comedy