Following the sad news of the death of Mike Yarwood a week or so ago, there will be many of the younger generation who will not have a clue who he was or what he did, and did so well. He still holds the record for the largest ever Christmas Day viewing figure in 1977 when he topped 21.4 million viewers. A figure any show can ever dream of now. He was the UK’s greatest impressionist and confirmed my many people he inspired including Rory Bremner, Jon Culshaw, Bobby Davro and he Bob Monkhouse of which Mike was his hero.

He spent his later years in Brinsworth House in West London, a home for retired members of the entertainment industry which have included, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman, Thora Hird, Kathy Kirby, Hylda Baker, the wrestler Mick McManus and Charlie Drake. Mike Yarwood’s best friend at Brinsworth was Richard O’Sullivan who still resides there. Let’s remember the time he ‘played’ with one of the world’s most famous groups. RIP Mike Yarwood.