Showbiz
Nobody growing up wants to be the straight man. I doubt any young aspiring comic decides that they want to be the butt of the gags or the "less funny one" from a comedy double act. Sadly, someone always takes a fall. Occasionally you get two straight men (Ant & Dec are arguably two straight men looking hopelessly for a gag), but it is very hard to find a genuinely talented individual who is willing to let others take the credit for their hard work. When you do find one of these people, they should be celebrated and lavished with honours - hence, us giving our latest DS Icon honour to the 'King Of Playing It Straight', Nicholas Parsons.
Whether busy helming Just A Minute, holding court "live from Norwich" on sadly deceased gameshow Sale Of The Century or teaming up with Arthur Haynes, Parsons has always been willing to let others take centre stage. Some might say that the fact he looked like a frail pensioner from a very young age and that he's got about as much glamour as a tin of Lidl baked beans are the reason he's never become a superstar - but we think that's tosh! Plus, with a TV CV including cameos in bad late '80s Doctor Who, Cluedo and Bodger And Badger, he's definitely an old man after our hearts.
Click along our gallery below to see some classic snaps of Nicholas Parsons:
Whether busy helming Just A Minute, holding court "live from Norwich" on sadly deceased gameshow Sale Of The Century or teaming up with Arthur Haynes, Parsons has always been willing to let others take centre stage. Some might say that the fact he looked like a frail pensioner from a very young age and that he's got about as much glamour as a tin of Lidl baked beans are the reason he's never become a superstar - but we think that's tosh! Plus, with a TV CV including cameos in bad late '80s Doctor Who, Cluedo and Bodger And Badger, he's definitely an old man after our hearts.
Click along our gallery below to see some classic snaps of Nicholas Parsons:
Copyright: Rex Features
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