Biographie

6 mars 1931 · Luton, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

30 juin 2012 · Trinity Hospice, Clapham, Londres, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni (cancer du pancréas)

Individual freedom is daily being eroded in this country and in no area more insidiously than that concerned with freedom of expression and censorship. The highly organised, vociferous pro-censorship factions, in their role as self-appointed 'guardians of the nation's moral's', have, for far too long, succeeded in forcing their minority opinions on the much more liberal-minded, tolerant majority, often using highly emotive, dishonest propaganda to spread their repressive and bigoted doctrines. More recently they have been joined, in an 'unholy alliance', by feminist extremists who, just as dictatorially, wish to force their equally repressive, authoritarian demands for more censorship on everyone else. Parliament has hitherto paid heed to these two dangerous factions out of all proportion to the numbers they represent or the soundness of their logic...

So long as it's by and for consenting adults, nothing should be forbidden.

[on the idea that a reform of the Obscene Publications Act would increase sexual violence against women in the real world] Don't be silly! I've been in more comedy than you've had haircuts (and) it's had no effect on the amount of laughter you see in the streets!

[on his campaigning against obscenity laws] Just because a law is unenforceable doesn't mean it can't be rolled out now and again to destroy a few lives. I did my bit to make this country a better place. I'm not disappointed by the result.

On the telly, dear boy, you don't have to get it right first time, and the repeat fees mean you'll never run out of gin.