Norman Evans
Norman Evans (11 June 1901 – 25 November 1962) was an English stage and radio comedian, best remembered for his sketches and programmes entitled "Over the Garden Wall". Biography He was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, and started his working life as a commercial traveller, while also taking part in amateur dramatic groups. He gained a local reputation for his after-dinner speeches, and decided to become an entertainer, initially appearing at local functions and concert parties. In 1934 he was reportedly discovered by fellow Rochdale entertainer Gracie Fields, though in fact he had already been seen by impresario Oswald Stoll. He had his first London appearance alongside a young Betty Driver, and gained a place on national variety tours, where he was an immediate success. According to writer Michael Kilgarriff, his "broad boisterous comedy and warmth of personality swiftly elevated him to lasting stardom." The act for which he is best remembered was "Over the Garden Wall", in which he played Fanny Fairbottom, a toothless hatchet-faced Lancastrian housewife gossiping over a garden wall. The caricature was reportedly based on his mother. The one-sided conversations would embrace local gossip, including scandal about the neighbours and personal medical complaints, including silently mouthing words