Merseyside Mirth Makers - Eddie Flanagan

Eddie Flanagan was born in Liverpool in 1936 as Stanley Rowlands. He was a hugely popular comedian whose trademark was his very slow delivery, with a lot of the laughter coming from the crowd during his pauses when he would just smile at the audience who would be anticipating what he was going to say next.
Eddie started in the working men’s clubs in Liverpool before getting his T.V. break on 'The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club'. This was set in a fictional working men’s club in the North of England and was hosted by comedian Colin Crompton as the club’s Chairman.

 Eddie was one of many Merseyside comedians who went on to gain a place on Granada TV's 'The Comedians', a show which ran throughout most of the 1970's. Like Tommy Cooper, Eddie was one of those people who didn’t even need to speak to make you laugh. He could just stand there on stage looking gormless and the audience would be falling about with laughter. Then when he did open his mouth it would take forever for him to tell the joke but his delivery style still had you laughing.
With his slow delivery he would wind the audience up until, with them in fits of laughter, he would deliver the punch line.
Unfortunately, Eddie never really gained any serious recognition outside of Liverpool where he was regarded as a true 'King of Comedy'.

Ricky Tomlinson said of Eddie: “A person I admired was the late Eddie Flanagan. He could take 15 minutes to tell one joke, but you wouldn’t be able to stop laughing for that 15 minutes.”
Les Dennis also has said “I feel sad that some brilliant comics have been forgotten. 'Google' Eddie Flanagan and you’ll see what I mean.” ( If you do you'll enjoy the experience ).

Eddie passed away in 2002 at the age of 66.

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