Hugh Paddick

Hugh William Paddick (22 August 1915 – 9 November 2000) was an English actor. He starred in the 1960s BBC radio show Round the Horne, performing in sketches such as "Charles and Fiona" (as Charles) and "Julian and Sandy" (as Julian). He and Kenneth Williams were largely responsible for introducing the underground language Polari to the British public.

Paddick also enjoyed success as Percival Browne in the original West End production of The Boy Friend, in 1954.

Born in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, Paddick preferred theatre to any other form of acting and spent most of his life on the stage, from his first role while at acting school in 1937 until his retirement. He appeared in the original Drury Lane production of My Fair Lady as Colonel Pickering. He was an accomplished musician – singer, pianist and organist. He can be heard at the piano accompanying Julian and Sandy in a number of their sketches on both Round the Horne and The Bona World of Julian and Sandy.

In his diaries, Kenneth Williams, so often scathing of his colleagues, spoke warmly of Paddick's kindness as a man, and of his "subtlety and brilliance" as a performer.

Paddick was gay and lived for over thirty years with his partner Francis, whom he met at a party in London. The two men were keen gardeners at their west London home. He was distantly related to Brian Paddick, now Lord Paddick, Britain's first openly gay police commander.[citation needed ]

Paddick died in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on 9 November 2000, aged 85.

In the 2006 BBC television film Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!, about the life of Williams, Paddick was portrayed by Guy Henry.