in its three-year residency at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End and in tours of the Middle East and Australia. Edwards and Sykes also performed the show for Rhodesian troops at the request of the country's prime minister, Ian Smith, a controversial event at the time. Edwards also starred in the stage revival of Maid of the Mountains. Personal life Jimmy Edwards published his autobiography, Six of the Best, in 1984, as a follow-up to Take it From Me. He was vice-president of the City of Oxford Silver Band, and an accomplished player of tuba and euphonium. He was founder and a lifelong member of the Handlebar Club, in which all the members had such moustaches. He played at Ham Polo Club. Roy Plomley interviewed him for Desert Island Discs on 1 August 1951. Edwards was a lifelong Conservative and in the 1964 general election stood for Paddington North, without success. His candidature drew wide media attention, much of it derisive, although the local party insisted they had chosen "Jimmy Edwards the man" rather than the comedian. As a result of this failed candidature, he took to introducing himself as "Professor James Edwards, MA, Cantab, Failed MP". He was a devotee of fox hunting at Ringmer, near Lewes. He was Rector of the University of Aberdeen for three years in the 1950s, a university with a history of celebrities and actors as honorary rector. He was married to Valerie Seymour for 11 years. In 1979, however, he was exposed as a homosexual to his annoyance. After the ending of his marriage, press reports spoke of his engagement to Joan Turner, the actress, singer and comedian, but the reports were suspected to be a mutual publicity stunt. During the 2015 Gold documentary Frankie Howerd: The Lost Tapes Edwards was mentioned by Barry Cryer as one of several performers of the postwar era forced to conceal their homosexuality as a result of prevailing norms. He lived in Fletching, East Sussex and died from pneumonia in London in 1988 at the age of 68. His home movies are held by the Cinema Museum in London. Selected filmography Trouble in the Air (1948) – B. Barrington Crockett Helter Skelter (1949) – Dr James Edwards Treasure Hunt (1952) – Hercules Ryall / Sir Roderick Ryall Innocents in Paris (1953) – Captain George Stilton An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) – Alligator Owner (uncredited) Three Men