Stan Stennett, the well-loved Welsh entertainer, has died aged 88 due to complications related to a stroke that occurred three weeks ago. Stennett's son Ceri Stennett confirmed that his talented father had died at the University Hospital of Wales during the night (26th Nov.), via BBC News.


A grieving Ceri said: "It's all very raw for the family now, but the wider public will say a prayer with us for a great life making people happy and doing a job he adored. "My dad was a showman through and through. When the final curtain fell he would want people to remember him as someone who tried to spread as much happiness as he possibly could," he added.

"He was one of those people who could spread happinesss throughout the country - not just Wales but much further afield."

Born in Cardiff in 1925, Stan began life as a performer when he played guitar in a jazz band during World War II, graduating to stage with a group called The Harmaniacs before making his foray into radio then television as a comic entertainer. Stennett's career began to boom in the 1950s when his talent took him to "all the major theatres," according to Welsh Icons.

As well as being a regular on BBC radio and in pantomimes, he performed with household names as notable as Morecambe & Wise, Ken Dodd, Ronnie Corbett, Jimmy Young, John Pertwee, Joan Turner, and Susan Maughan. Stan wasn't only known for his ability to make people laugh though. He also appeared in TV soaps including Coronation Street and Casualty with his most recognisable drama role being Sid Hooper in ITV's Crossroads.


In the past 30 years, Stan concentrated his efforts on Welsh entertainment, for TV, stage and radio. In fact, he holds the record for an impressive five consecutive years acting in pantomimes at Cardiff's New Theatre. However, it was his great love of Wales that prevented Stan from conquering the world's stages as he perhaps could have done.

"Stan did not want to divorce himself from south Wales, to become the international name that he might have been," said fellow entertainer Wyn Calvin speaking to BBC Radio Wales, adding "Although he had a reputation around Britain, there was always a love of his home in Cardiff, and of his lovely wife Betty and his family."

His son Ceri looked back upon his father's career: "There weren't many people who my dad hadn't worked with over the years and he could call most of them friends. But he never lost touch with his roots in Wales and Cardiff was home [...] he was as ordinary a person as you would want him to be.

"People always felt my dad was really approachable. He was always really happy to talk to people."