It was in the shopping aisles of Eastleigh's Woolworth store that a cheeky chappy called Alfie Hill was building a stock of impersonations which helped turn him into one of the world's greatest comics.

The 16 year-old, born in nearby Southampton, was a stockroom clerk and in between unloading delivery vehicles and sweeping floors at the Leigh Road store he was clocking the faces and mannerisms of shop customers.

Many of them were probably later used as characters in those classic Benny Hill comedy sketches which filled our TV screens. Hill changed his first name from Alfie to Benny in homage to his favourite comedian, American mirth making legend Jack Benny.

The Benny Hill Show with its vaudeville saucy slapstick humour had a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic. It was one of the most watched programmes in the UK and ran for four decades attracting more 21 million viewers.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

It will be remembered for its mix of slapstick, burlesque and double entendres in an eye catching ground breaking format that included live comedy and filmed segments.

Rarely a show went by without a scene of its star chasing half naked milk maids.

By the late 1980s tastes were changing with some critics claiming that Benny's routines were smutty, sexist and politically incorrect. ITV dropped him from his schedules.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

TV critic Gary Bushell, who campaigned to get a statue in honour of Southampton's famous son and the world celebrated comic genius, has always felt that Hill was unfairly treated.

He says: “It is shocking that someone of Benny's talent was treated as a pariah. He was the first comic to exploit TV'S full potential.”

But now The Benny Hill show is making what is probably one of TV's most unlikely comebacks.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

In a real Christmas cracker for his fans, the comedian , who passed away in 1992 aged 68, is returning to British TV screens for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The comic idol – who passed away in 1992 aged 68 – will be back on the small screen with his classic programme, as nostalgia channel That's TV Gold will be renamed That's TV Christmas and will be part of a festive package of favourites from back in the day, featuring other late stars Kenny Everett and Tommy Cooper, as well as impressionist Mike Yarwood.

That's TV Christmas Head of Programming Kris Vaiksalu said: "These shows are part of our national cultural heritage.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

"We all need some festive cheer following the past year. Our viewers have inundated us with requests to show Benny Hill and we're thrilled to be able to make this Christmas wish come true.”

Hill only worked at Woolworth's Eastleigh store for six months but in that short time he made a big impact on his co-workers who called him Sunny Boy because he was always smiling and cracking jokes. He had a face straight out of showbiz casting.

His father, Big Alfie did not think it was funny when young Alfie packed in his steady job, believing his son was throwing away the golden opportunity of making something of himself.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

But the ambitious teenager who headed for the bright lights of London had the last laugh as he carved out a career which was to make him a household name.

Benny never forgot his roots and his days as a milkman in Eastleigh. He became a most unlikely pop star when he galloped into the charts with a gold top hit, Ernie , the fastest milkman in the west.

The catchy song which was a Christmas number one in 1971 recounted the fictional exploits of Ernie Price, a 52 year old milkman who drove a horse drawn milk cart.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

Mentioned in the third line of the lyrics was Market Street, part of Benny's town centre round in his Eastleigh milko days.

Away from the showbiz glitter Hill had become rather a recluse although he was seen walking around his native Southampton. He still had a home in the city and would always engage in friendly banter if he was stopped by fans.

He died alone in his London flat on April 20, 1992 and is buried at Southampton's Hollybrook Cemetery.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

And his life had a showbiz finale as members of Hill's Angels, the legendary troupe of lovelies, never far away from a Benny Hill sketch, were among the mourners.

Nearly 30 years after his death there are few permanent reminders of the iconic mirth maker who brought international fame to Southampton.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the site of the former Hanns Dairy in Eastleigh and his old school, now Taunton's College in Hill Lane, Southampton has a memorial garden.

 

Benny Hill through the years.

Benny Hill through the years.

 

A campaign for statute has still not borne fruit but a play in London's West End, Dead Funny paid homage to Hill and his fellow post war British funny men who were still working the music halls while entertaining the country via the new medium of TV.

Now as a special Christmas stocking filler, Benny Hill fans can sit back and belly laugh again at the hilarious antics of the master of slapstick comedy.

As a cheeky young lad he had been the Wonder of Woolworths as he laid the foundations for what was to be a star studded global showbiz career.