Bobby Thompson (1910-1986) was a legendary comedian from Tyne & Wear in the north east of England. Although actually born in Penshaw, near Sunderland, he later moved to Whitley Bay on Tyneside and became an adopted son of Newcastle upon Tyne.

He was the seventh child of John and Mary Thompson, who both passed away by the time he was 8 years old. He was then raised by his elder sister im the village of Fatfield.

After leaving school at 15, he started worked at North Biddick Colliery, earning 7 shillings and sixpence a week. He would supplement his income by playing the harmonica around local working men's clubs and competiting in domino tournaments.

He married twice and his second wife, Phyllis, was famously seven inches taller than he was. He was called up soon after their marriage in 1941 and his war-time experiences were to inspire his act for many years to come.

Career

Famous for his broad Geordie accent, self-depreciating humour and mastery of the mother-in-law joke, Thompson was affectionately known as The Little Waster due to his short stature. His most famous outfit was a worn out stripy jumper (wooly gansey in Geordie) and flat cap.

His attempts to move beyond North East England were limited by his accent and the regional bias of his humour, although he did enjoy some success with the BBC show, Wot Cheor Geordie, and with regular appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

He was also renowned for his problems with the tax man, stemming from the fact that he never seemed to pay any. This was an unfortunate fact that he turned to humour in his stage act.

Problems with drink, finances and his health affected his career in the 1970s, but he remained a North East favourite, particularly on the club scene, until shortly before his death.

Quotes

• "The dole is my shepherd, I shall not work."

• "I'll give y'u a bottle o' Brandy if you can tell us you pay the 'lectric bill before you get the red letter."

• "A man come to oor door. I says come in, take a seat. He says 'I'm coming in to take the lot.'"

• "Wu got off the train at Blackpool, the porter came up an' asked if 'e could carry me baggage. I said 'Na, let 'er walk'."

• "Wu went into the restaurant an' asked for a coffee. The waiter asked if wu wanted black or white. She says 'I'll have black wi' milk in'."

• On the night of the 1951 election when the Conservative Party was rumoured to be planning to abolish the National Health Service: "It came t' last orders and the barman shouted 'Come on, let's see yer glasses off', and I said 'Well, them Tories haven't wasted any time, have the!'"