Little and Large
Encyclopedia
Little and Large were a British comedy double act
comprising straight man Syd Little
(Born Cyril Mead in 1942) and comic Eddie Large
(Born Edward McGinnis in 1941). They formed their partnership in 1962, appearing as singers in local pubs around the North-West of England. They later turned to comedy and, after appearing on Opportunity Knocks they had their own Thames Television
series in 1977, and then appeared on BBC1 from 1978 until their show was cancelled in 1991. They continued to appear in theatres and pantomimes, including "Babes in the Woods" written by Ian Billings. The two were at the peak of their popularity, along with Cannon and Ball
, in the 1980s. However, as mainstream comedy moved away from their pantomimish
style towards alternative comedy
, their popularity dwindled.
When they first appeared Little and Large were seen for a time as successors to Morecambe and Wise
, who defected from the BBC to ITV
in 1978, but despite the long run of their show the pair never entered the public consciousness in the way Eric and Ernie did.
Syd Little performs on cruise ship
s, notably on the QE2
during September 2007. Eddie Large also remains in showbusiness. Eddie Large revealed in an interview in 2010 that he hasn't spoken to Syd Little for several years.
Double act
A double act, also known as a comedy duo, is a comic pairing in which humor is derived from the uneven relationship between two partners, usually of the same gender, age, ethnic origin and profession, but drastically different personalities or behavior...
comprising straight man Syd Little
Syd Little
Syd Little is an English comedian and straight man in the double act Little and Large, with Eddie Large....
(Born Cyril Mead in 1942) and comic Eddie Large
Eddie Large
Eddie Large is the stage name of Edward Hugh McGinnis, a British comedian. He is best known as a partner in the double act Little and Large, with Syd Little....
(Born Edward McGinnis in 1941). They formed their partnership in 1962, appearing as singers in local pubs around the North-West of England. They later turned to comedy and, after appearing on Opportunity Knocks they had their own Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
series in 1977, and then appeared on BBC1 from 1978 until their show was cancelled in 1991. They continued to appear in theatres and pantomimes, including "Babes in the Woods" written by Ian Billings. The two were at the peak of their popularity, along with Cannon and Ball
Cannon and Ball
Cannon and Ball are an English comedy double act consisting of Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball. The duo met in the early 1960s while working as welders in Oldham, Lancashire...
, in the 1980s. However, as mainstream comedy moved away from their pantomimish
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
style towards alternative comedy
Alternative comedy
Alternative comedy is a term that originated in the 1980s for a style of comedy that makes a conscious break with the mainstream comedic style of an era, and typically avoids relying on a standardised structure of a sequence of jokes with punch lines. Patton Oswalt defines it as "comedy where the...
, their popularity dwindled.
When they first appeared Little and Large were seen for a time as successors to Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
, who defected from the BBC to ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1978, but despite the long run of their show the pair never entered the public consciousness in the way Eric and Ernie did.
Syd Little performs on cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s, notably on the QE2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
during September 2007. Eddie Large also remains in showbusiness. Eddie Large revealed in an interview in 2010 that he hasn't spoken to Syd Little for several years.