Tommy Handley

1892 -- 1949

Thomas Reginald Handley served in the army in WW1 (he was called up in 1917), then went on to work in variety before moving to BBC radio. There he wrote scripts, working with the likes of Arthur Askey and Bob Monkhouse. He is most famous for the radio show ITMA (It's That Man Again), which became synonymous with British wartime spirit during the Second World War. He bought his variety patter -- and the, sometimes remarkable, speed of delivery -- to the radio as a man who was variously Minister, Mayor and businessman but always a loveable rogue.

The pressure of his committment to ITMA affected his health and Handley died of a brain hemorrhage in 1949. The show was cancelled by the BBC; though there had been a huge number of regular and recurring characters, it was thought to be Handley's show and could not go on without him.