In Memory Benny Hill

Benny was one of the most famous British TV comedy stars. His shows went global and his cheeky sexy 1970s jokes and great humorous songs made the man a legend. He worked for the BBC before transferring to Thames Television where The Benny Hill Show became a huge money earner for the network.

Benny was born in 1924 in Southampton. He actually also appeared in the 1969 film The Italian Job, but was far better known for his TV appearances and his cheeky songs. Benny had several songs chart in the 1960s including the amusing Harvest Of Love.

But it was 1971 when he scored a No. 1 with Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West, a song about a milkman that Benny could relate to as he used to be a milkman. It is all about a battle between milkman Ernie and Ted who drove the Bakers van. Sorry to say Ernie died in the song.

Benny himself lived alone in London. He was known to be gay and lonely. He also suffered a heart attack in 1992 and was told he needed a bypass, but for some reason Benny declined and a week later he suffered Kidney failure and died in April of that year.

70s Music Christmas 1971

The 70s music Christmas charts were so important in the 1970s, with not only the prestige of getting a Christmas hit, but a NUMBER One Christmas hit was the icing on the cake, the Christmas Cake.

During this 70s music  Christmas Season we look at the music of Christmas Day 1971 and highlight those Christmas records to stir the memory of the 70s music.

Having to use a bit of editorial control here to decide what was a Christmas hit, so if it does not match your criteria, apologies.

This Chart is from 25th December 1971.

Not much in the snow and Christmas tradition in this chart, but the No.1 was a Christmas novelty record, following on from a big hit with Grandad the previous year, another comedy actor the legendary Benny Hill managed to get the Christmas Number One with:-

Benny Hill and Ernie, (The Fastest Milkman In The West)