He lived to a great age and had a wonderful life . Dance on Lionel
One of the ‘genuine’ entertainers who had a certain bounce to him; always happy with a smile and very quick one-liners
I can’t say I had a particular fondness for him, but I still find it sad. When you reach the phase of your life that most of us on this site are in, this happens more and more often. As these well known figures die off, it’s like watching the slow death of the world you grew up in.
I liked Lionel, he always had a smile for everyone, a lovely man.
RIP Lionel.
I agree, Mags…I always remember him smiling.
So sad
It’s sad to hear that, he was such a great dancer
Enjoy a series of jokes at his expense from Humphrey Littleton on Sorry I Haven’t a Clue over a thirty-year period making fun of his alleged sexuality :D. The ones at 9:40 and 12:17 in particular had the audience in stitches for almost a full minute. Some almost filthy innuendo in this lot.
Sad news but, at 92, he reached a good score in the great scheme of things.
RIP Lionel
Except to my knowledge, he was as straight as a yard of pump water. Married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren, he liked to play to his audience and lapped up attention as all good entertainers do
I think its wrong to judge someone’s sexuality based on how they behave. Who cares if he is (was) effeminate…he had grace and finesse and was clearly happy with his life. I feel sorry for his family who have to carry on without him now.
He was definitely a family man too and despite his entertaining commitments, always tried to get as many home runs in as possible.
Weren’t they all like that though? Stayed with their families, none of this messing about stuff of today, and still managed to maintain some semblance of normality. None of the celebrity nonsense you see now.
He was straight, and he didn’t mind being made fun of, much like Des O’Connor with Morecambe & Wise’s constant ribbing. Do you think that if he’d objected to jokes at his expense he would have said something about it and had the jokes stopped?
I suppose so, yes (even though you weren’t replying to me ) It was a different time back then, and everyone teased each other in a good natured way. I’m too used to people being offended now I suppose
You’ve got that right. These days, people don’t know what humour is, it’s all backstabbing, snide remarks and politically driven comments.
He seemed a really nice bloke.
Yet another great happy chappie wanders off up above.
Get 'em moving up there Lionel.
He smoked like a trooper and lived to the grand old age of 92.
The ever lovely Dick Van Dyke, thankfully still with us, smoked like a trooper too and he’s still with us at 95.
Perhaps it’s something in the fags.
I used to watch him on Give Us A Clue.
He was very over-the-top and flamboyant but think that was his personality better than being miserable and grouchy. Think its entertainers of that generation.
I recall an interview or something where someone asked him about “being the butt of jokes” from the BBC programme Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue think he said something like it was water off a ducks back but that he minded more for his wife and family saying the jokes were at times plainly mean
Do you know what no idea why I recall any of that a bit I suppose like the “attack on” Andrew Sachs by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross with the prank call both events were very nasty and small minded in my opinion I never listen to Radio 4 but turn of Brand and Ross and anything to do with them.
I remember that whole things with Brand & Ross against Andrew Sachs…it was awful for him and his family. People forget that what is funny to them may not be to anyone else!
I liked Lionel. I remember one of his dancers made a mistake in a show and he laughed it off. I was going to add another sick joke by another so called comedian but I don’t want to put the thread off course. I forget the correct term
I can remember when Joe Loss introduced Lionel’s new dance, The Kick during '65 at The Cafe de Paris … I’ll see if I can find anything about it.
EDIT:-
Here we are … 29th Sept 1965
Big Bandleader Joe Loss introduces Lionel Blair’s new dance 'The… News Photo - Getty Images