The singer who starred with Spike Milligan in Curry & Chips

Variety star Kenny Lynch has died at the age of 81.

His family broke the news on Twitter, saying: ‘Saddened to share this news with you all. Sadly our dad passed away in the early hours this morning. He will be remembered & missed by many.’

The Londoner had a string of hits in the 1960s – one of the few prominent black British singers of the time – and appeared in several entertainment shows on TV.

As an actor, he starred in Curry And Chips, the controversial sitcom that featured Spike Milligan in ‘brownface’ as a Pakistani factory worker.

He also acted the 1979 version of Eric Sykes’ silent film The Plank, played a bus conductor in 1970’s Carry On Loving, and had a regular role in the 1960s sitcom Room At The Bottom with Kenneth Connor and Deryck Guyler.

Other appearances include the Little And Large Show, The Kenny Everett Show and Les Dawson’s Dawson’s Weekly 

Last year he took part in the ITV series Last Laugh in Vegas, with old-school entertainers including Cannon and Ball, Bernie Clifton and Mick Miller trying to make it in the home of US cabaret.

But he was best known as a musician, having top ten hits in the 1960 with Up on the Roof and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You, and also wrote the Small Faces hit Sha-La-La-La-Lee and Cilla Black’s Love's Just A Broken Heart.

He also wrote Love Crazy the theme from Carry On Emmannuelle, and oversaw production for Hylda Baker and Arthur Mullard's comedy version of You're the One That I Want.

Danny Baker was among those paying tribute this morning, tweeting: 'Kenny Lynch has died. Huge talent, a pioneer and tremendous company. One of the key witnesses to the 20th UK music/entertainment scene he had a million stories. Yet one of the cagiest interviewees when on air. Wasn't interested in his 'place' in pop culture. He was there.'

BBC journalist Samira Ahmed added: 'A hugely important & stylish figure in British culture. Lucky to have grown up with you on stage and screen&music, proving to kids like me that we belonged.'

Here's a clip from Curry And Chips, which was considered offensive even at the time:

Published: 18 Dec 2019