Arthur Bowden Askey CBE (6th June 1900 - 16th November 1982) was a prominent English comedian. Askey was born in Liverpool and started work as a clerk when he was 16. At 24 he joined a concert party and started touring the halls. What he lacked in height he made up for in energy. His act consisted of silly jokes, sillier songs and really silly dances. His big break came with the radio comedy/variety show Band Wagon. The first few episodes were poor and the programme was cancelled after the third broadcast. With another three weeks to fill before a replacement could be found, Askey and his team mate Richard Murdoch were able to do what they wanted with the time. Their anarchic humour based around the idea that they were sharing a flat in Broadcasting House quickly caught on. He only stopped working a few years before his death when poor circulation meant his legs had to be amputated. Askey is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery.