DS Icon: Syd 'Little' Little

It's hard to believe now, but there was one point in the late '70s/early '80s when comedy double act Little & Large were considered possible successors to the great Morecambe & Wise. Their simple slapstick routines, unusual, contrasting body shapes and friendly family humour made them huge telly stars for over a decade. Syd 'Little' Little was the lynchpin behind their gags, cutting a sophisticated figure as the straightman, opposite the rotund Eddie Large. The rise of risque alternative comedy brought a rather abrupt end to their success and during the '90s, the pair were often mocked as old-fashioned and for being little more than a cheap Butlins act.

After a seemingly endless run of pantos and summer seasons around the nation's seaside towns, Little & Large called it a day in 2001 when Eddie had to undergo heart surgery. Syd, real name Cyril Mead, has continued to plug away at the fame game and even appeared on dire Five reality show Trust Me I'm A Holiday Rep! in an attempt to resurrect his flagging career. Sadly, even that failed to bring him back to the limelight, but Syd still remains in the hearts of all those fans who remember him in his pomp. His unfashionable spectacles, bumbling nature and eternal looks of a 65-year-old gave him the feel of a cheeky uncle. He richly deserves his latest status as a DS icon.

Click along below to see our stunning gallery of DS icon Syd Little.