Frankie Howerd: Stand Up Comic [Paperback] McCann, Graham

Frankie Howerd perfected the art of looking terrified in front of an audience — and somehow turned that into comedy gold. With his stuttering delivery, mock-horrified asides, and ability to make innuendo sound both filthy and innocent, he went from postwar music halls to becoming one of Britain's most beloved performers. Graham McCann traces Howerd's rise from a shy, anxious kid to the man behind *Up Pompeii!* and countless double entendres that somehow got past the censors. This is the story of a comedian who revolutionized stand-up by making the audience complicit in every joke, breaking the fourth wall before it was even fashionable. For anyone who loves British comedy history or wants to understand why "Titter ye not!" became a national catchphrase.