Billy Dainty

[gracol435]

I can just imagine the X-Factor/BGT judges sitting there with a scowl of utter bewilderment on their faces...

"Why is this classy, why is this elegant - above all, WHY IS THIS FUNNY???"

And Cowell, in particular, making cutting remarks about a talent he wouldn't recognise if it bit him on the bum...

Billy Dainty is an all too forgotten hero of British entertainment....

[UISTMAN59]

It's a pity that it isn't the full routine, this is just a taster.

[Poppapygar]

Who gives a Frig about the X factor, this was raw talent. Those on the X fator wouldn't know talent if it jumped, and bit their arses. I agree with "Irishmanufan"

[miket477]

The man was talented with years of seaside pier shows, small venues paying his dues - now everyone expects fame and fortune on a plate! another great hoofer is Noman Wisdom!

[SirLeeOldgit]

No bloke ever danced as well as Billy - wish there was more of him on this site.

[coracleman]

love billy dainty - what a guy!

coraclewoman

[crankbv1]

Just in passing...Does anyone remember Dickie Henderson. A very talented comedian who compered the Palladium show. He was an unconventional dancer too and l remember him doing his thing and remarking that he was the only one left that knew how upon which,one after another he was joined by, Billy dainty,Max Wall, Richard Hearne, Nat jackley and a couple more whose names elude me.All in a line and dancing in their own unique styles.lt brought the house down. Sadly,all gone now. What a loss to us.

[gracol435]

@crankbv1 It is so sad that we've lost the appreciation of such simple (yet utterly complex) things as silly dancing... These guys were giants.

I remember Dickie Henderson doing his "fighting the microphone wire" routine, and ending up sitting on a single spike of his upturned stool.

Laugh? I think I wet myself...

[crankbv1]

If ever a comedian worked hard for his living it has to be Billy Dainty and l sometimeswonder if that contributed to his early demise. One of the best from an era when comedy really was funny.

[irishmanufan]

i see people are talking about x factor and would older perfomers have made it though the show . i don't think you can compare the x factor entrants with guys like billy dainty . they spent years honing thier craft in clubs and small venues . none of the pos stars oof today have done it . they want to be famous but are not prepared to work to become so . having said x factor is about music . comedians can be differnt . they are small comedy clubs out there .

[Bluequotations]

my favorite!

[poodledreams]

I met Billy Dainty in the 1970's in Blackpool after a show he performed in. He came to the stage door and signed autographs. The thing with shows like X Factor and Britains Got Talent is performers like Billy Dainty plied their craft over years on stage & music hall and bit parts in movies before being famous. Todays's X Factor and BGT performers get instant success handed to them on a plate. As talented as they may be that is no guarantee of long term career or fame.

[679hot]

fuck xfactor.it comes no wear near these wonderfull entertaners.god bless you all.

[dowling1981]

@679hot Do you enjoy Billiam Dainty?

[679hot]

@dowling1981 .yes i love all them old time emtertainers.max wall tommy cooper.and all the old time comady show steptoe and son hanckocks half hour on the buses ect.thay can never be beten

[dowling1981]

@679hot Yes they bide fine, and the trallish hordes do flay. Do you like Harold Enfield?

[BjornSvenson]

anyone know the song?

[matelot95]

Billy Dainty - AKA Captain Percival1!!

[rarebutgreat]

I used to love Billy Dainty when I was growing up. Good clean family fun RIP Billy

[crimpo2008]

Billy did a fine job recreating Mr Pastry and he isn't quite up to the original but then he hadn't been doing it for forty years!

[88888888BBBBBBBB]

I never knew Billy Dainty on stage, I just knew him on the EBC1with Rod Hull and Emu. It is a pity he is no longer with us.

[redredreds100]

there was only one mr. pastry, i've never heard of billy dainty

[darrowby1972]

@redredreds100 - obviously not old enough then sadly.

[annie482000]

@darrowby1972

I remember both Mr Pastry (Richard Hearne) and Billy Dainty, with great affection.

[gink333]

this is good Billy was one of the old greats

[awol2602]

This is choreographic humour of an amazing quality

[wenglishsal]

Has anyone got the whole dance Billy did to 'The Lancers'... it is fabulous and make me smile like my face was going to split in half... :0)x

[triz4340]

comedy genius

[VeraAllen]

I believe that Richard Hearne was the originator of this 'solo' version of The Lancers. As a young girl of 16, I learnt this dance in Harold Wood's British Legion Hall,in Essex, next to Matthew's (the Seed Merchants). What fun we had. Are there any other Old Time Dancers out there. Vera Allen (Nee Warby)

[Hollcall]

I'm 59 years old. I remember watching Mr.Pastry dance the Lancer's on the Ed Sullivan Show , with my parents as a young boy. I believe Mother had to change after the "Performance" . lol !

He had to keep repeating the dance because these beautiful young ladies kept telling him they had missed it. Would he do it "one more time?"

[dfarmbrough]

You don't see many 'eccentric dancers' these days, even on talent shows, and Billy Dainty was one of the best in the game. As a lad I remember his talents being put to good use on Rod Hull's show.

[Pablo6872]

Roy Hudd was probably "doing" Max Miller "The cheeky chappie"

[re6356]

Billy Dainty was an excellent comedian as well as being a very versatile 'dancer'. I recall he and Max Wall together, doing the 'WALK'. Whenever he was appearing on TV I always made sure I did`nt miss him, you were gauranteed first class entertainment. I wish VCR`s had been available during his 'time'.

[carmania2182]

the music is known as "the Lancers"........

hope this helps

[binkyboobosh]

Bloody marvelous. Somebody please post the full clip!

[jeanniedee]

Billy Dainty had a 'funny dance' much better than Max Wall,s and funnier !!

[I85PIES]

Its a shame that such a talented entertainer seems to be largely forgotten now. I bet there isnt many people under forty who has even heard of him.

[MalquiLans]

AHH, I remember Mr Pastry, vaguely. Born in the same city as me. I totally understand it now...

[MalquiLans]

3 Q's: If Billy wasn't versatile would he still be missed?? Do you think this performance would have passed the audition for X factor? Should we all just turn off the TV on a Saturday evening?

[collos53]

At the time this performance stole the show at the London Palladium. I don't think he would have got through Xfactor but that's not a bad thing.

[MalquiLans]

I've seen again,this time with no sound ? I'm going to have to check out Mr Pastry if I'm to understand the significance of that going backwards & forwards across the stage. Roy Hudd doing Chesney(or is it Bud)reminds me of The Good Old Days(BBC) & I just remember then(1970's) the only decent thing on TV on Sat nights was 'Bilko' b4'Closedown' around midnight!My old Dad was hip enough to let us kids stay up to see that.He sure as Hell wouldn't have let us watch Xfactor! Mr Pastry,here I come...

[Harvey030547]

The greatest British Pantomime dame EVER!

I was really sorry to read that Richard Hearn's (Mr Pastry) grave is overgrown.

Where is it? I will look at rectifying that.

[Perranporth]

According to Find-a-Grave, Richard Hearne is buried at St Mary's Platt churchyard in Kent. There's a picture of the churchyard and it does look rather run down.

[sturdle]

Brill that BD was great, Mr Pastry has an overgrown grave.... who cares???

It is really sad about lovely forgotten? people.....

[Steverocky]

LOVELY!

[Crewedaddy]

I remember seeing Billy Dainty in panto in Hastings around 1970. Two years running. Think he must have had a residency.

[sallyalma]

So sad to hear that as he was a versatile performer.Thankyou matelot95,me old tar.

[matelot95]

Billy Dainty died in 1986.

[sallyalma]

Great stuff.Where is Billy now?

[elvischevy]

fab , more of the please

[Tombbo]

I find this very funny and it has brought back some very nice memories , has anybody got the full version of it. i remember seeing it on the show but would love to see it all again

[splattherat]

I agree he was much better at the funny walk i would like to see it again, if anyone has it please put it on,

[peterlivingstone]

Anyone got footage of him doing the Max Wall walk? In my opinion he was the greatest at this somewhat underrated craft.