He eventually gained national fame through his unique "rock star" comedy style, notably his long-running stint on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and his victory on Strictly Come Dancing .

Raised in Bath, he initially struggled to find his niche, blending his classical music training with unconventional observational humor.

A South Dakota local legend who joined the military at 14, rode the rails as a hobo, and became a civil rights advocate in Reno.