Eddie Large

Edward Hugh McGinnis (25 June 1941 – 2 April 2020), better known by the stage name Eddie Large, was a British comedian. He was best known as one half of the double act Little and Large, with Syd Little (the stage name of Cyril Mead).

Eddie Large
Birth nameEdward Hugh McGinnis
Born(1941-06-25)25 June 1941
Glasgow, Scotland
Died2 April 2020(2020-04-02) (aged 78)
Bristol, England
MediumComedian
NationalityBritish
Spouse
  • Sandra Baywood
    ​
    (
    m. 1965; div. 1979)
  • Patsy Ann Scott
    (
    m. after 1983)
Children3
Notable works and rolesThe Little and Large Show

Early life

Large was born Edward Hugh McGinnis in Glasgow in 1941.[1] His father Teddy served as a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy during World War II and after he returned from the war the family moved to a tenement in Oatlands.[2] When he was nine years old, the family moved again to Manchester, where he attended Claremont Road Primary School[3] and a grammar school.[4] He played football as a schoolboy, becoming a supporter of nearby Manchester City which had its ground opposite his home,[5] and he maintained a lifelong devotion to the club. After he left school, he worked as an electrician and was a singer.[6]

Little and Large
Main article: Little and Large

Large met singer and guitarist Cyril Mead in the Stonemason's Arms pub in Timperley and they formed a double act following the reaction to Eddie's comic heckling of Cyril,[3] who switched to comedy. The duo then performed in northern clubs, turning professional in 1963.[7] As Little and Large, the two men began their television career on the talent show Opportunity Knocks winning in 1971[8] and starred in many television comedy programmes, including their own series The Little and Large Show[1] and the ITV series Who Do You Do? doing impressions and also performing as pantomime stars.[9]

In an interview in 2010, Large said that he and Syd Little had not spoken to each other for several years.[10] During the 2010–11 football season, football entertainment show Soccer AM produced comedy sketches with Peterborough footballer Mark Little, and Eddie Large, as the newly reformed Little and Large.[11]

Later career

Large worked on the after-dinner circuit[12] and, in the latter years of his life, performed some cameo acting roles in dramas such as The Brief and Blackpool.[9] His autobiography, entitled Larger than Life, was published in 2005.[13] In 2013, Large released his first single without Little, a parody of "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg entitled "Gee Musky... Moi Non Plus".[14]

Personal life

Large married his first wife, Sandra Baywood, in 1965. The marriage ended in divorce, with Large marrying his second wife, Patsy Scott, in 1983.[15] Large lived in Portishead, near Bristol, with his wife Patsy and 26-year-old son.[9] He also had two daughters and three grandchildren.[1]

After being admitted to hospital in March 2002 due to kidney problems, Large underwent a heart transplant at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge in 2003 at the age of 62, and recovered fully.[9] Large was hospitalised for some weeks in late 2013 after tripping over a road sign near his Portishead home.[16]

Large died at the age of 78 on 2 April 2020 at Southmead Hospital in Bristol after contracting COVID-19 while in hospital receiving treatment for heart failure.[17] Large had suffered from kidney and heart problems for a number of years.[13] Large's funeral took place at South Bristol Crematorium on 24 April 2020 in Bristol, with Syd Little in attendance, who said that Large was his "best friend".[18]

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References
  1. Dixon, Stephen (2 April 2020). "Eddie Large obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. Eddie Large and Stafford Hildred (1 July 2005). Larger Than Life: My Autobiography. John Blake. ISBN 1844541282.
  3. Wythenshawe Famous locals Little and Large Retrieved 11 February 2016
  4. Who's Who on Television. ITV Books, 1982
  5. Chronicle, Evening (18 June 2003). "Heart swap for Eddie Large". nechronicle.
  6. Gray, Sarra. "Eddie Large: Little and Large star made millions from impressive 50 year career". Daily Express. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. Owen, Cathy (2 April 2020). "Comedian Eddie Large of Little & Large has died". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. "Little and Large 'haven't spoken for a long time'". Independent. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  9. "Eddie Large: Comedian dies aged 78 with coronavirus". BBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  10. "Little and Large 'haven't spoken for a long time'". The Independent. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  11. "Soccer AM | Sky Sports". Soccer AM. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  12. "Eddie Large, funnyman half of the prime-time television double-act Little and Large – obituary". Daily Telegraph. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  13. Evans, Mel (2 April 2020). "Comedian Eddie Large dies aged 78 after contracting coronavirus". Metro. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  14. Lavender, Jane (2 April 2020). "Eddie Large's regret about heart transplant that saved his life". Mirror. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  15. "Comedian Eddie Large dies aged 78 after contracting coronavirus". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  16. "Comedian Eddie Large in hospital after road sign fall". BBC News. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  17. Peplow, Gemma (2 April 2020). "Coronavirus: Little and Large comedian Eddie Large dies 'after contracting COVID-19 in hospital'". Sky News. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. "Coronavirus: Eddie Large funeral held in Bristol". BBC News. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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