Paul Shane

Early life and career

Shane was born George Frederick Speight in Thrybergh near Rotherham in the West Riding of Yorkshire. He was a miner at Silverwood Colliery until he slipped on soap in the pit-head baths in 1967, resulting in double herniated discs. He was pensioned from the pit at 27. Two years later he became a professional entertainer. He already had 10 years' experience as a part-time entertainer in pubs and clubs in South Yorkshire.

His first appearance, as a singer, was at the Grafton pub, now demolished, in St Ann's Road, Rotherham. His first club booking was at St Ann's Club in Rotherham, for 30 shillings (equivalent to £1.50). His transformation from singer to comedian was gradual, starting with his version of "Green Green Grass of Home", which was straight at first, but ultimately became a send-up of the version by Tom Jones.

Hi-de-Hi and You Rang, M'Lord?

Shane played small parts and made guest appearances in television series throughout the 1970s. In May 1979 the comedy writer Jimmy Perry spotted Shane playing Frank Roper in an episode of Coronation Street and offered him the part of Ted Bovis in his new holiday-camp sitcom, Hi-de-Hi!. The series ran from 1980 until 1988, when Perry and his co-writer David Croft wrote the pilot of You Rang, M'Lord? and invited Shane to play Alf Stokes. That show ran until 1993.

In 1991, Shane was given his own show, Very Big, Very Soon, but it ended after one series.

Later career

Shane's "cringe-inducing" performance of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" on Pebble Mill at One in 1996 was voted the 72nd funniest moment on British television in a poll on Channel 4 in 2004.

Between 1995 and 1997 Shane played Jack Skinner in two series of Oh, Doctor Beeching!. Subsequently he appeared most frequently in theatre, though he also had guest spots in Holby City and Emmerdale.

Shane also appeared in variety theatre in venues such as Blackpool in 2006, and in pantomime in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2008. In 2008, he was in an episode of the ITV drama series, A Touch of Frost, playing boatsman "Diesel Bob".

Personal life

Shane was married to Dory, who died in 2001. They had three daughters.

On 1 April 1984 Shane was inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Health and death

In May 2009 Shane was admitted to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for a heart operation and made a recovery.

After another short period of ill health Shane died, aged 72, in a hospice in Rotherham on 16 May 2013. His three daughters and his six grandchildren survived him. His funeral was at Rotherham Minster and was attended by former colleagues from Hi-de-Hi! among other mourners.

Film roles