DS Icon: Paul Shane

Rotherham-born roly-poly Paul Shane is an unlikely TV star. Born George Frederick Speight, he originally worked as coal-miner before becoming a full-time funnyman in Yorkshire's clubland. His rubbery features and portly figure didn't suggest that he would make it out of the working men's bars, but after a few small TV parts, he was eventually picked up for a cameo in Coronation Street.

His turn as Dave-The-Rave in the ITV soap attracted the attention of prestigious comedy writer Jimmy Perry, who snapped him up to play lead character Ted Bovis in his new corny holiday-camp sitcom Hi-De-Hi!. It proved a huge success for the Beeb and Shane followed it up with similar broad comedies such as You Rang, M'Lord? and the all too often forgotten classic Oh Doctor Beeching!. His unsophisticated and unsubtle approach to comedy hasn't held up well over the years, but he has managed to keep himself in work with serious roles in Emmerdale, A Touch Of Frost and Holby City.

Click through our tribute gallery to see pictures of Shane during his illustrious career.