Remembering Paul Shane

Actor Paul Shane has died aged 72. He’ll be best remembered for his BBC sitcom roles in shows such as 1950s-set holiday camp Hi-De-Hi and Upstairs Downstairs spoof You Rang M’Lord.!

Jeffery Holland and Paul Shane as Spike Dixon and Ted Bovis in Hi-de-Hi!

“Paul Shane was a consummate professional, a true gentleman, a good friend, and a joy to work with over the past 15 years. He didn’t suffer fools, always maintained his sense of humour, never stinted on the time he gave to his fans. He lightened my life and I’ll miss him enormously.” – Speaking to ITV News his agent, Linda Kremer

Shane was born as George Frederick Speight in Yorkshire in 1940. In 1959 he became a semi-professional performer; juggling entertainment, notably singing and a comedy routine, with his ‘day job’ as a miner. In 1967 he was forced to quit coal board work after an accident. His unexpected change in circumstances saw Paul turn to full time professional performing two years later. His first club booking was at St. Ann’s Club in Rotherham, for thirty shillings (£1.50).

Writer Brian Glover was impressed by Shane’s stand-up routine and wrote a part for especially for him in the 1975 BBC Play for Today drama Keep an Eye on Albert. It was his major telly break. Across the rest of the 1970s bit-parts on television came his way, including two short stints in Granada’s Coronation Street for ITV and guest comedy spots on shows such as The Comedians also for Granada. It was 1979 however when his most memorable role would offered.

The cast and crew of Hi-de-Hi! in 1987 with Paul Shane dressed as a clown in the left middle of the photo.

As Ted Bovis, the wheeler-dealer holiday camp entertainer, in sitcom Hi-De-Hi! he became a much in-demand star. The comedy, set in the 1950s at the fictional Maplins Holiday Camp, ran from 1980 to 1988 and 58 episodes. There were also endless spin-off ventures including a stage version and in 1981 he performed the single release of the theme tune ‘Holiday Rock‘. Ken Barrie – of Postman Pat fame – sung the lyrics on the television version of the theme, although many people believed it to be Paul Shane on both tracks.

When Hi-de-Hi! finally saw off its final campers most of the cast and crew moved onto a new production. Spoofing LWT’s period saga Upstairs, Downstairs the beeb drama spoof You Rang M’Lord?, launched the same year Maplins went off air. In You Rang M’Lord? Paul played and also co-performed the theme tune alongside the late Bob Monkhouse.

Following its demise the majority of the cast moved over to a further period sitcom with 1960s set railway series Oh, Doctor Beeching! between 1995 and 1997. It would be Paul Shane’s last major role.

Other bit parts followed over the years including in ITV’s Emmerdale – however it will be Ted Bovis he’ll be best remembered. ATV Today salutes him with the theme tune to Hi-De-Hi.