Willie Rushton was born here

'Willie Rushton', cartoonist, satirist, comedian...was born here

Location: Cromwell Road, Earl's Court, SW5 0TU

Description: William George Rushton, commonly known as 'Willie Rushton' was born in this very hospital - the Cromwell Hospital - on the 18th August 1937.

Not only that but he was an English cartoonist, satirist, comedian, actor and performer who co-founded the Private Eye satirical magazine...the talented swine!

In a long and esteemed career he appeared in the film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), in Frankie Howerd's ancient Rome farce Up Pompeii! (1970), he recorded adaptations of Asterix books and Alice in Wonderland... and for 22 years, he was a panelist in the long-running BBC Radio 4 radio panel comedy game show I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue which he joined as a regular team member from the third series in 1974, and continued until death in 1996.

In fact he is honoured by a Comic Heritage blue plaque at Mornington Crescent tube station, a reference to the game Mornington Crescent on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

Willie Rushton was a wonderful man and a jolly funny and talented chap!

Tours: Cartoonists and Illustrators

Themes: Comedy Comedy Theme