Peter Butterworth's naval career was tragically cut short when the plane he was piloting was shot down by the Germans during World War II, leaving him to spend time in a prisoner-of-war camp.
It was during his confinement that he formed a strong bond with fellow prisoner Talbot Rothwell, who would later go on to work on the "Carry On" film series, which Butterworth would frequently collaborate with.
Despite never having performed in public before, Butterworth found himself overcome with nerves when he was persuaded to take the stage to sing a duet with Talbot in a camp show.
However, his initial apprehension soon gave way to a newfound enthusiasm for show business, and with Talbot's encouragement, he began to pursue a career in the entertainment industry after the war.
Butterworth's distinctive talent lay in his ability to bring to life gentle, well-meaning, and slightly eccentric characters on both the big and small screens.
In real life, he was known to embody these traits, and his personal life was just as colorful, having met his wife, impressionist Janet Brown, while performing in a summer show at Scarborough.
Their son, Tyler Butterworth, would also follow in his father's footsteps and become an actor in his own right.
Tragically, Peter Butterworth's life was cut short in 1979, when he died suddenly while waiting in the wings to take the stage in a pantomime show.
