Lennie Bennett
Encyclopedia
Lennie Bennett was an English
comedian
and game show host.
After attending the Palatine Secondary School in Blackpool
, Bennett became a journalist for the West Lancashire Evening Gazette before becoming a professional entertainer and appearing on The Good Old Days
in 1979. Bennett starred in the Lennie and Jerry Show with Jerry Stevens. It ran from 1978 to 1980. He was also the host of Punchlines
and Lucky Ladders
in the 1980s.
He also performed in twelve Royal Variety Shows, and had a brief stint as a chat show host on London Weekend Television
in 1982.
He then worked as a speaker on the after-dinner circuit. In 1994, Bennett suffered a serious heart attack, which necessitated a bypass operation
.
He died in the Royal Lancaster Infirmary on 8 April 2009 following a fall at his home from which he failed to regain consciousness. His funeral took place at Carleton Crematorium
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and game show host.
After attending the Palatine Secondary School in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Bennett became a journalist for the West Lancashire Evening Gazette before becoming a professional entertainer and appearing on The Good Old Days
The Good Old Days
The Good Old Days is a popular BBC television light entertainment programme which ran from 1953 to 1983.It was performed at the Leeds City Varieties and recreated an authentic atmosphere of the Victorian–Edwardian music hall with songs and sketches of the era performed by present-day...
in 1979. Bennett starred in the Lennie and Jerry Show with Jerry Stevens. It ran from 1978 to 1980. He was also the host of Punchlines
Punchlines
Punchlines was a comedy game show series that was produced by LWT and aired on the ITV network from January 3, 1981 until December 22, 1984...
and Lucky Ladders
Lucky Ladders
Lucky Ladders was a United Kingdom daytime game show based on the American format titled Chain Reaction that was produced by Anglia Television and aired on ITV from 21 March 1988 until 14 May 1993...
in the 1980s.
He also performed in twelve Royal Variety Shows, and had a brief stint as a chat show host on London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
in 1982.
He then worked as a speaker on the after-dinner circuit. In 1994, Bennett suffered a serious heart attack, which necessitated a bypass operation
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
.
He died in the Royal Lancaster Infirmary on 8 April 2009 following a fall at his home from which he failed to regain consciousness. His funeral took place at Carleton Crematorium
Carleton Crematorium
Carleton Crematorium, together with the adjacent necropolis, Carleton Cemetery, is a graveyard on Stocks Road in Carleton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. It was opened on 18 July 1935....
.
Notable TV appearances
- Joker's WildJoker's Wild (TV series)thumb|200px|Host Barry Cryer on Joker's WildJoker's Wild is a British comedy panel game that was produced by Yorkshire Television and broadcast for eight series on ITV from 1969 to 1974...
- panel game, regular guest, ITV 1972-3 - Celebrity Squares - panel game, regular guest, ITV 1970s
- International Cabaret - variety show, host, BBC2 1978
- The Lennie and Jerry Show (originally titled Lennie and Jerry) - sketch show, BBC1, 1978–80
- Blankety BlankBlankety BlankBlankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the 1977–1978 Australian game show Blankety Blanks ....
- game show, regular panellist, BBC1 1979-80 - Punchlines - game show, host, ITV 1981-4
- Names and Games - game show specials, host ITV 1984-5
- Lucky Ladders - game show, host, ITV 1988-93
- You Bet! - game show, regular panellist, ITV 1990
- After They Were Famous - documentary, subject, ITV 2004