{"product_id":"it-aint-half-late-mum","title":"It Ain't Half Late Mum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMelvyn Hayes has spent over 75 years in show business,\ncarving out a unique path from child performer to beloved character actor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Born\nin South London in 1935 and evacuated during WWII, Melvyn had  his first taste of the stage playing the\nGingerbread Man at primary school.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A brief attempt to become a jockey gave way\nto his first paid role in entertainment - performing The Indian Rope Trick for The Great\nMasoni for GBP4 a week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis career began in earnest in the early 1950s, leading to\nrepertory theatre, West End productions, and eventually over fifty film\nappearances. He signed with Associated British Picture Corporation in 1958,\nstarring in films such as \u003ci\u003eNo Trees in the Street\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCrooks in Cloisters\u003c\/i\u003e,\nand the Cliff Richard classics \u003ci\u003eThe Young Ones\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSummer Holiday\u003c\/i\u003e,\nand \u003ci\u003eWonderful Life\u003c\/i\u003e. He also appeared with Peter Cushing  in several films  including Hammer\nhorror film \u003ci\u003eThe Curse of Frankenstein\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1970s, Melvyn won over TV audiences as Gunner\n'Gloria' Beaumont in the hit BBC sitcom \u003ci\u003eIt Ain't Half Hot Mum\u003c\/i\u003e. His stage\nsuccess included over 1,000 performances of \u003ci\u003eSpring and Port Wine\u003c\/i\u003e in\nthe West End, followed by decades of pantomime and television appearances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTold with warmth and comedic flair with laugh-out-loud\nhumour , Melvyn's memoir is full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, from famous\nco-stars to flops and odd jobs between roles. He reflects candidly on his\npersonal life - three marriages, six birth children, the adoption of two sons, and the devastating\nloss of his third wife, Jayne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHonoured as King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats and\nonce the subject of \u003ci\u003eThis Is Your Life\u003c\/i\u003e, Melvyn continues to perform, most\nrecently on \u003ci\u003eNot Going Out\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWould I Lie To You?\u003c\/i\u003e. His story\nis a rich, funny, and moving tribute to a lifelong love of showbiz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Alliance Publishing Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56796823257432,"sku":"9781838259877","price":27.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9781838259877_0a75e709-c9cc-4c59-90ec-41ecb82069d2.jpg?v=1779345960","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/it-aint-half-late-mum","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}