Hugh Lloyd

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Hugh Lewis Lloyd, MBE (22 April 1923 – 14 July 2008) was an English actor famous for film and TV comedy from the 1960s to the 1980s. He is best known for Hancock's Half Hour, Hugh and I, and other sitcoms of the era.

Early life and career beginnings
Lloyd was born in Chester, Cheshire, and attended the King's School. After leaving school, he worked for two years as a newspaper reporter on the Chester Chronicle. He began acting with ENSA and spent time in repertory theatres before his television break.

Television and film work
From 1957, Lloyd appeared in Hancock's Half Hour, becoming memorable for the episode The Blood Donor, where he forgets to return Tony Hancock's wine gums. He later worked with Terry Scott in Hugh and I and The Gnomes of Dulwich, and with Peggy Mount in Lollipop Loves Mr Mole. He also appeared in Jury and You Rang, M'Lord?. Lloyd created the series Lord Tramp (1977), written by Michael Pertwee. The Comedy Playhouse episode Hughie, in which he played a recently released prisoner, did not succeed.

He acted in TV plays such as She's Been Away, The Dunroamin' Rising, and A Matter Of Will, and appeared in several Alan Bennett pieces, including A Visit From Miss Protheroe, Say Something Happened, and Me, I'm Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. He played Goronwy Jones in Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen and appeared on light entertainment shows with Victoria Wood, Jimmy Cricket, and Babble Quiz.

Stage work and national theatre
Lloyd spent three seasons at the Windmill Theatre and performed in the West End in When We Are Married, No Sex Please, We're British, and Tonight at 8.30. He was part of the Royal National Theatre company under Ian McKellen, appearing in The Critic, The Cherry Orchard, and The Duchess of Malfi, and he acted in more than twenty pantomimes.

Personal life
Lloyd was married at least four times. His first wife was Anne Rodgers (married 1948, divorced 1950). He later married pianist Mavis Polley and then Carole Wilkinson (married 1969). He married journalist Shän Davies in 1983, and they moved to Worthing in 2003. Some sources mention a later marriage to José Stewart, but the details are unclear.

Honours and death
Lloyd was awarded an MBE in the 2005 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity. He died on 14 July 2008 at his home in West Worthing, Sussex. Shan Lloyd died a few months later, in December 2008.