Penny Nicholls

A 1961 programme from the Futurist Theatre in Scarborough has provided the following information.

Penny had been in showbusiness since the age of 7 and as a child performer was the holder of ten All England tap dancing medals. She began her adult career as a dance band vocalist and enjoyed a long spell with ‘Henry Hall’s Guest Night’. In 1950 she branched out as a solo variety act with the emphasis on comedy, appearing with such well-known comedians as Benny Hill, Harry Secombe and Al Read.

In 1958 she was at Scarborough with the Cyril Stapleton Show, the Bristol Hippodrome in 1959–60, then back to Scarborough with The Black & White Minstrels in 1961.

She appeared in several BBC1 editions of ‘The Black & White Minstrel Show’ along with Leslie Crowther. In February 1962 she was on BBC TV with the Minstrels at 7.15pm then at 9.50 on ‘The Good Old Days", presented by Leonard Sachs. A busy lass!