Comedian Smithers dies at 79
Charlie Smithers, one of Britain’s top clubland comics, has died, aged 79.
Chris Tarrant, Charlie Smithers and Jeremy Beadle at the Variety Club Jokers Awards 2003 when Charlie Smithers received the lifetime achievement award Photo: Doug McKenzie
The Cockney entertainer began his career in working men’s clubs and went on to appear in cabaret at many leading London hotels, including the Savoy, the Dorchester and Grosvenor House. The Variety Club of Great Britain presented him with the Top Comedy Award in 1973.
In 1978, Smithers became the only comedian to have signed a three-year contract with the London Palladium. He performed in more than a dozen Royal shows and made regular appearances at the Lakeside Club, Camberley and Caesar’s Palace, Luton.
He was a guest on numerous TV shows including The Comedians, The Des O’Connor Show, Celebrity Squares and Look Who’s Talking and was made King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1982. Smithers died on May 8, 2007.
A full obituary will appear in a future print edition of The Stage.
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