Veteran entertainer Max Bygraves dies aged 89 after battle with Alzheimer's

• Born the son of a dockworker, Bygraves grew up to be a millionaire
• Celebrities tweet condolences for beloved father-of-six
  
• Topped the London Palladium bill dozens of times
• Beloved entertainer awarded OBE in 1982

By Anna Edwards

PUBLISHED: 07:34 EST, 1 September 2012 | UPDATED: 10:45 EST, 1 September 2012

Veteran comedian and entertainer Max Bygraves has passed away, it was revealed today.

The beloved performer died at his daughter's home last night after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, his son Anthony confirmed.

The 89-year-old singer, who topped the bill numerous times at the London Palladium, emigrated from his home in Bournemouth to Australia in 2005.

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His daughter Christine nursed him through a difficult last six months of his life as Alzheimer's Disease increased its grip over him. 

'Sadly, Dad died last night as a result of the Alzheimer's,' said his 65-year-old son Anthony, who still lives in Bournemouth. 

'He was six weeks off celebrating his 90th birthday which would have fallen on October 16.' 

Now performers are paying tribute to the comedian, who was awarded an OBE in 1982.

Lord Alan Sugar wrote on Twitter: 'Funny fellow RIP.'

Comedian Les Dennis, who presented Family Fortunes after Max had appeared on it, ‏tweeted: 'So sad to hear that Max Bygraves has died. A great performer and a gentleman.

'Very gracious when I took over Family Fortunes. RIP.'

Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck told the BBC: 'He was one of the all-time greats of British showbusiness.'

Confirming his death Johnny Mans, Mr Bygrave's agent, said: 'His death is a great loss to the entertainment profession and a great loss to all of his friends in the industry.'

The BBC reported that former radio presenter Ed Stewart said his friend was a 'unique talent' who 'gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of people'.

'He as a person never dated.'

'He was a great character with a great sense of humour, a lovely family and it's just a shame that he's gone, but at nearly 90, he had a good run.'

Richard Attenborough tweeted: 'I'm very saddened to hear of the death of a dear old friend Max Bygraves. A wonderfully talented entertainer and a gentleman. RIP.'

Magician Paul Daniels said: 'Goodbye Max. Truly one of the greatest live acts I ever saw. RIP Max Bygraves'.

Max Bygraves: The man behind the laughs

Critics poked fun at his repertoire of music hall numbers but he had the last laugh, because they helped make him a multi-millionaire.

The chirpy cockney, who made his name with songs like You Need Hands and Tulips from Amsterdam, did not have the easiest start in life.

He was born Walter William Bygraves on October 16, 1922, in Rotherhithe, south-east London, the son of Henry Bygraves, a boxer and a docker, and Lilian.

Bygraves was one of nine children in a staunchly Roman Catholic family, living in a council flat in Rotherhithe rented for 8s 4d (about 42p) a week. He used to drag the River Thames for driftwood to earn pocket money.

But his way out of poverty opened up when he realised he could make money from his talent for and love of music.

He won a school talent competition at the age of 13, and as an altar boy made his first public appearance singing Handel's Largo in Westminster Cathedral.

As a teenager, he sang at a pub in Dagenham for 10 shillings (50p) a night.

Later Max was to start work with an advertising agency, carrying copy to Fleet Street.

He made his first home in a Romford council house. When the Second World War broke out, he volunteered for the RAF and served five years as a fitter.

During this time he realised he could make people laugh and was christened Max for his impressions of the cockney comedian Max Miller.

After the war, Bygraves's commanding officer tipped him off about some auditions at the BBC for a show for ex-servicemen. He went along and got work, singing, telling jokes and doing impersonations.

He turned professional in 1946 and toured variety theatres throughout Britain and three years later made his West End debut at the London Palladium. From then on there was no looking back.

It was around this period he met the comedian Frankie Howerd. He recalled later: 'Frankie read my palm and told me that I was going to be a millionaire and top of the bill one day. I thought he had got his wires crossed. Years later, he reminded me of it and used it to get a free lunch out of me.'

By 1956, Bygraves was earning £1,000 a week, worth around £20,000 in today's money.

His albums sold over 6.5 million copies, earning 31 gold discs.

Bygraves also topped the bill at more Royal Variety Performances than any other artist, appearing in no fewer than 17 royal shows.

He took to the good life easily, buying the first of 53 Rolls-Royces with the registration MB 1 — which he liked to boast he changed every year.

He was a hit in the 1950s radio comedy Educating Archie - with his catchphrase 'That's a good idea, son' - and had TV series like Singalongamax, Max Rolls On, Side by Side and the game show Family Fortunes.

Bygraves also appeared in films including Charlie Moon, A Cry From The Streets and Spare the Rod, and also starred in numerous pantomimes.

He turned his hand to writing in 1976 with his aptly-named autobiography I Wanna Tell You A Story, and his novel The Milkman's On His Way. Later, in 2002, he was to have another book published, Stars in My Eyes, which he described as 'about name-dropping, the laughter moments'.

He was awarded an OBE in 1983 but simply described himself as 'Just an ordinary cockney bloke who made it'.

He met his wife Gladys - known as Blossom - at a concert at RAF Hornchurch in 1941.

She died in 2011, a few years after the couple had moved to Australia.

They had three children, Christine, Anthony, and Maxine.

The singer also has three other children: John Rice, Beverly Mayhew-Sass, and Stephen Rose.

Max last appeared in public in the UK at revival shows in Blackpool and London in 2006.

Anthony, who recently visited Max on the Gold Coast in Australia, had organised a campaign for the public to send him their stories on how they affectionately remembered him.

The appeal came after more than 2,000 people sent well-wishing postcards and messages of support to Max in March when it was revealed he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's.

'I had wanted to compile it with the help of the public. Dad still had a loyal fan base all around the world,' said Anthony.

'I had wanted people to contribute a written memory of Max to appear in 'I Wanna tell you a Story'.

'Their own personal recollection of my father, a meeting, of a show, a time, a place - anything that was interesting or unusual.'

VIDEO: Max Bygraves at the 1960 Royal Variety Performance 

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