Maynard Williams

Walter Frederick George Williams (8 October 1928 – 30 March 2018), better known by his stage name Bill Maynard, was an English comedian and actor. He began working in television in the 1950s, notably starring alongside Terry Scott in ''Great Scott – It's Maynard!'' (1955–56). In the 1970s and 1980s, he starred in the successful British sitcoms ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' and '' The Gaffer'' and appeared in five films in the ''Carry On'' series. After a hiatus from television work in the late 1980s, Maynard starred as Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the long-running television series ''Heartbeat'' from 1992 to 2000, reprising the character in the spin-off ''The Royal'' in 2003.

Early life and career

Walter Williams began as a variety performer in the 1950s, under the stage name of Bill Maynard the surname was inspired from seeing a billboard for the popular British confectionery, Maynard's Wine Gums, when he was to do performances for the BBC. Maynard progressed to repertory theatre, touring army camps with Jon Pertwee. Maynard's first television broadcast was on 12 September 1953 on Henry Hall's ''Face the Music''. For much of his career until the 1970s, his work was mostly towards performances: he entered and placed fourth in the British heat of the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest; he worked alongside Terry Scott for the TV series ''Great Scott – It's Maynard!'', after they worked together at Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness; and he served as part of the news team on the ''One O'Clock Show'' for Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle (1959–64). He also served for BBC Radio Leicester during the 1960s, until his departure in 1968.

In 1971, Maynard entered into acting, securing a role on Dennis Potter's television play ''Paper Roses'', which was about the last day in the life of a reporter, and then securing another role for Colin Welland's television play, ''Kisses at Fifty'' in 1973. Around the same year, he 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 1974, Maynard became a subject of '' This Is Your Life'', when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews. Around the same time, Maynard went to work for Yorkshire Television, starring in a pilot episode for a new sitcom. In 1975, he published his autobiography, ''The Yo-Yo Man'', with Leicester's Golden Eagle books. Also in 1975 he appeared in ''The Sweeney'' episode ''Supersnout'' in which he played Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Quirk of the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad being the subject of a conspiracy by Joey Stickley, a dirty and weasley informant who attempts to ruin his reputation. After a pilot episode in 1974, Maynard took on the lead role in the sitcom ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' for three series, followed by its sequel '' Selwyn'' for one series, between 1976 and 1978. The Selwyn Froggitt role made Maynard a nationwide household name. In 1980, Maynard appeared in three episodes of ''Worzel Gummidge'' as Sergeant Beetroot, alongside long-time friend Jon Pertwee.

In 1981, Maynard starred in three series of the ITV sitcom '' The Gaffer'' until its conclusion two years later in 1983. In ''The Gaffer'', Maynard played Fred Moffat, a downbeat, cynical and cunning character focused on survival who runs a struggling engineering firm, and who is constantly trying to avoid his creditors, the tax man, the bank manager, trade unionists at his engineering firm, and indeed seeking to avoid anyone who might want him to pay for something. The character of Fred Moffat was in contrast to the high profile, upbeat, good hearted, bumbling, casual labourer Selwyn Froggitt from his earlier sitcom, with the contrasts between the two even going as far as Fred Moffat having a beard and Selwyn Froggitt being clean shaven.

During the 1970s, Maynard secured roles in a number of films: he starred in five of the ''Carry On'' films, including ''Carry On Matron'' (1972) and ''Carry On Dick'' (1974). He starred as Mr. Lea alongside Anthony Booth, Robin Askwith and Doris Hare in all four films in the ''Confessions'' series of sex comedies and appeared in the 1976 film ''It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet''.

In April 1992, he returned to Yorkshire Television as lovable rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in ''Heartbeat'', a new ITV drama series set in the 1960s. It was a major success, consistently drawing over 10 million viewers. Maynard published a new book, ''Stand Up...And Be Counted'', in 1997 with Breedon Books. He remained with ''Heartbeat'' until December 2000, when he decided to retire from the programme following a series of strokes. Despite this, he returned to acting in 2002 to reprise his character in spin off series ''The Royal'' until 2003. Maynard made a comeback to radio in March of that year on BBC Radio Leicester. His programme ''Bill of Fare'' aired every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm 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 the East Riding of Yorkshire. By then, his career slowly wound down due to his age and impaired mobility from his strokes, whereupon his final television appearance was made on 14 April 2018 for an episode of ''Pointless Celebrities''; filming took place prior to his death, while the episode aired 15 days after his death.

Personal life

Maynard was born in Farnham, Surrey, whereupon his family moved north to Leicestershire. He was educated at Kibworth Beauchamp Grammar School. Maynard lived in Sapcote, Leicestershire, during the latter part of his life.

Maynard married Muriel Linnett on 5 November 1949, and they had two children. She died in June 1983. He was a vegetarian. His son is musician Martin Maynard Williams.

Maynard was a supporter of the Labour Party, but in March 1984 he stood against Tony Benn in the by-election at Chesterfield as an Independent Labour candidate, after objecting to the way that Benn became the official Labour Party candidate in a safe seat. Maynard took fourth place in the by-election.

On 4 September 1989, Maynard married actress and singer Tonia Bern, the widow of Donald Campbell, at Hinckley Registry Office. They divorced in 1998. Bern died on 14 June 2021.

In later life, having suffered multiple strokes which resulted in a reduction in his mobility, he used a scooter or wheelchair. He died in hospital on 30 March 2018, not long after falling and breaking his hip.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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Bill Maynard's "Stock Car Racing is Magic" lyricsBill Maynard's "Stock Car Racing is Magic" recording Bill Maynard
(Aveleyman)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maynard, Bill
1928 births
2018 deaths
Accidental deaths from falls
Comedians from Leicester
English male comedians
English male film actors
English male soap opera actors
English radio personalities
Independent British political candidates
People from Farnham
Male actors from Leicester