Tommy Handley

Tommy (Thomas Reginald) Handley (1892 -1949) was a British comedian mainly known for the BBC radio program ITMA ("It's That Man Again").

Related Topics:
1892 - 1949 - British comedian - BBC - ITMA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born at Toxteth Park, (Liverpool) on 17 January 1892 and died on 9 January 1949 from a brain hemorrhage.

Related Topics:
Liverpool - 17 January - 1892 - 9 January - 1949

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He served in the army during World War I, then worked in variety, and in the infancy of radio became known as a regular broadcaster. He worked with people such as Arthur Askey and Bob Monkhouse, and wrote many radio scripts, but it is the BBC comedy series ITMA for which he is best known. He later starred in the IMTA film in 1942 and in Time Flies in 1944.

Related Topics:
Arthur Askey - Bob Monkhouse - 1942 - 1944

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In later years, he suffered with high blood pressure, the result of his driving commitment to ITMA, and died suddenly on January 9, 1949. In a eulogy at his memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral, the Bishop of London said that "he was one whose genius transmuted the copper of our common experience into the gold of exquisite foolery. His raillery was without cynicism, and his satire without malice...".

Related Topics:
January 9 - St Paul's Cathedral - London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The BBC decided that he was such a key figure of ITMA that the show must die with him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His daughter, Jenny Handley, became a TV presenter in the 1970s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~