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by Melvyn Hayes (Author)
Melvyn Hayes has spent over 75 years in show business, carving out a unique path from child performer to beloved character actor.
Born in South London in 1935 and evacuated during WWII, Melvyn had his first taste of the stage playing the Gingerbread Man at primary school.
A brief attempt to become a jockey gave way to his first paid role in entertainment - performing The Indian Rope Trick for The Great Masoni for 4 a week.
His career began in earnest in the early 1950s, leading to repertory theatre, West End productions, and eventually over fifty film appearances. He signed with Associated British Picture Corporation in 1958, starring in films such as No Trees in the Street, Crooks in Cloisters, and the Cliff Richard classics The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, and Wonderful Life. He also appeared with Peter Cushing in several films including Hammer horror film The Curse of Frankenstein.
In the 1970s, Melvyn won over TV audiences as Gunner 'Gloria' Beaumont in the hit BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum. His stage success included over 1,000 performances of Spring and Port Wine in the West End, followed by decades of pantomime and television appearances.
Told with warmth and comedic flair with laugh-out-loud humour, Melvyn's memoir is full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, from famous co-stars to flops and odd jobs between roles.
He reflects candidly on his personal life - three marriages, six birth children, the adoption of two sons, and the devastating loss of his third wife, Jayne.
Honoured as King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats and once the subject of This Is Your Life, Melvyn continues to perform, most recently on Not Going Out and Would I Lie To You?. His story is a rich, funny, and moving tribute to a lifelong love of showbiz.
