Bygraves, Max (1922– )

English singer and entertainer. He had UK hits with ‘You Need Hands’ and ‘Fings Ain't Wot They Used to Be’, and recorded a highly successful sequence of standards albums, starting with Singalongamax (1971). His television shows include Max Bygraves, Singalongamax, and Max Bygraves – Side by Side With.

His popular semi-novelty songs include ‘The Cowpuncher's Cantata’, ‘Deck of Cards’, and the tongue-twister ‘Gilly Gilly Oscenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea’.

Bygraves was born in London. He gained his stage name doing impressions of the legendary Max Miller while in the RAF. His early career included performances at the Sheffield Empire and at the London Palladium, the latter with Judy Garland. He made his broadcasting debut with a part in BBC Radio's Educating Archie, and also hosted one series of the gameshow Family Fortunes. His film appearances include Skimpy in the Navy (1949), Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951), and Spare the Rod (1961).