Bill Maynard - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Maynard was born at 5 Oak Cottages, Heath End, Surrey, and attended Kibworth Beauchamp Grammar School in Leicestershire, and started as a variety performer, taking his professional surname from an advertising board (billboard) for Maynard's Wine Gums, a popular British confectionery at the time. He was placed fourth in the UK heat of the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest. With Terry Scott he appeared at Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness and partnered him in the TV series Great Scott, It's Maynard!.

In 1973 Maynard worked with television actor and comedian Ronnie Barker in the (original) "Football Blues" which aired as "Spanners Eleven" and was part of a series called Seven of One. In 1975 he had a film role as Yorkshire farmer Hinchcliffe in It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet. At this time, he starred in the Yorkshire Television sitcoms Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! where he played the eponymous lead role and for playing Fred Moffatt in The Gaffer. In the 1970s he also played small roles in some of the Carry On films, including Carry On Matron (1972) and Carry On Dick (1974).

In 1984, Maynard stood against Tony Benn in the by-election at Chesterfield as an Independent Labour candidate. It was his only foray into politics and was purely to try to prevent Benn winning the seat and thus re-entering Parliament. Benn won the seat; Maynard took fourth place.

Maynard published his autobiography The Yo-Yo Man in November 1975 (by Leicester's Golden Eagle books). and "Stand Up...And Be Counted in 1997 Publisher: The Breedon books Publishing Company limited. In 1992 he returned to Yorkshire Television and began playing the lovable old rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the popular and long-running television series Heartbeat, remaining in the show until December 2000, and its spin-off series The Royal until 2003. Maynard became very popular for his portrayal of the money-making old farmer, and the role of Greengrass probably made him beloved by the whole of Britain. In Europe, Maynard is still very popular for his portrayal in "Heartbeat".

Having originally retired from acting in 2000 following a series of strokes, he made a comeback to radio presenting in March 2003 for BBC Radio Leicester where he had last worked in 1968. His show, called Bill of Fare, aired every Sunday afternoon from 2pm–4pm for nearly five years, until he was dismissed without notice on 5 February 2008.

In October 2009 he made a return to the stage when he appeared as the main guest of honour at the Pride of Bridlington Awards held in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Maynard was introduced to the audience by British politician the Rt Hon Greg Knight MP, who praised his work and described the actor as "one of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars". Maynard made an entertaining and amusing speech and was mobbed by the audience, showing, even at 81, that he was still held in great affection by the public. On 15 October 2010 he appeared on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, where he revealed that the BBC had asked him to change his surname, so as he was walking around London, he saw a poster with Maynards Wine Gums, written on it so he said to himself "That'll do", and that's how he became known as "Bill Maynard".

He was a great fan of BriSCA Formula One stock car racing at the former Long Eaton track and made a record called "Stock Car Racing is Magic!", which was broadcast at stock car meetings.