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After leaving school at fifteen, he started work at North
Biddick Colliery, earning seven shillings and sixpence a week. He would supplement his income by playing the harmonica around local public houses and competing in Domino tournaments. His first stand-up performance took place at the Gem Cinema
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a few years later, but the engagement was called off. In 1982, Thompson married his housekeeper, Eleanor Cicely Palmer, more commonly known as Cissy Ward (née Wake). Thompson was her third husband and she was famous for being taller than him.
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Thompson was married three times. His first wife was Anna
Marjoram . His second wife, Phyllis, died on 25 April 1967. He announced his engagement to Mary Douglass, 62, of
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He was the seventh child of John and Mary
Thompson, both of whom died by the time Bobby was eight years old. He was then raised by his elder sister in the village of
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Personal problems and his health affected his career in the 1970s, but he remained a North East favourite, particularly on the club scene, until his death.
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due to his short stature, which he often played on during his act. His most famous outfit was a worn-out striped jumper and a
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380:"Bobby's secret love children revelation; Comedy favourite's son on his shock discovery. - Free Online Library"
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were limited and hindered by the regional bias of his humour, although he did enjoy some success with the
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cigarette stub hanging from the corner of his mouth was also an integral part of his on-stage persona.
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206:(18 November 1911 – 16 April 1988) was an English stand-up comedian, actor and entertainer from
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Bobby made recordings of three comedy songs written for him by local composer
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489:"Bobby Thompson's son speaks about dad on the 25th anniversary of his death"
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Thompson died on 16 April 1988, after suffering from emphysema and cancer.
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266:accent, self-deprecating humour and mastery of the
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436:"Little Waster's son is branded drunken nuisance"
314:. The songs incorporated jokes from Bobby's act.
408:"COMEDY: The Little Waster | the Spectator"
364:"Bobby Thompson marks 50 years as entertainer".
394:"Watch Lifestyle: The Little Waster Makes Good"
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106:Learn how and when to remove this message
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270:, Thompson was affectionately known as
118:British actor, entertainer and comedian
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422:"Bobby Thompson - the Little Waster"
44:adding citations to reliable sources
514:North East Comedian Bobby Thompson
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487:Proctor, Kate (16 April 2013).
31:needs additional citations for
554:Male actors from County Durham
549:Male actors from Tyne and Wear
368:. 16 February 1976. p. 2.
55:"Bobby Thompson" comedian
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569:Deaths from cancer in England
544:Comedians from Tyne and Wear
285:His attempts to move beyond
214:. Although he was raised in
462:"Bobby's real life tragedy"
246:in Penshaw as a young boy.
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301:Wogan television talk show
204:Robert Michael Thompson
137:Robert Michael Thompson
559:20th-century comedians
539:English male comedians
299:, and appeared on the
262:Famous for his broad
222:and Barley Mow, near
197:Eleanor Cicely Palmer
564:People from Fatfield
40:improve this article
442:. 29 September 2003
410:. 14 November 2010.
293:radio variety show
218:, he also lived in
345:. Sunday Sun. 2007
287:North East England
278:. An ever-present
268:mother-in-law joke
226:, later moving to
466:Evening Chronicle
440:The Northern Echo
312:You Little Waster
296:Wot Cheor Geordie
272:The Little Waster
224:Chester-le-Street
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168:(1988-04-16)
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38:Please help
33:verification
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534:1988 deaths
529:1911 births
495:29 December
472:29 December
446:29 December
234:Early years
228:Whitley Bay
523:Categories
329:References
212:Sunderland
186:Occupation
155:Sunderland
143:1911-11-18
96:April 2022
66:newspapers
303:in 1985.
180:, England
157:, England
349:25 April
280:Woodbine
276:flat cap
264:Pitmatic
240:Fatfield
189:Comedian
216:Penshaw
208:Penshaw
151:Penshaw
80:scholar
258:Career
194:Spouse
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321:Death
87:JSTOR
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497:2019
474:2019
448:2019
351:2009
163:Died
133:Born
59:news
291:BBC
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