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Tributes are paid to comedian Mike Winters

Tributes are paid to comedian Mike Winters

TRIBUTES have been paid to the comedian Mike Winters who has passed away at the age of 82.

He and his younger brother Bernie had formed one of Britain’s best-loved comedy double-acts of the 1960s and 1970s.

Mr. Winters, who was born Michael Weinstein in North London in 1930, played the straight man to his brother. He had studied the clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music and had gone on to form a band in which Bernie played the drums.

By the late 1950s the brothers had developed their comedy act and were touring with Tommy Steele when they were spotted by a BBC producer who offered the pair a slot as resident comics on the TV show Six-Five Special. It was the break which was to make the brothers household names.

During the 1960s the brothers regularly appeared on TV shows such as Sunday Night At The London Palladium, as well as starring in three Royal Variety Shows. They appeared in the 1963 film The Cool Mikado alongside Tommy Cooper and Frankie Howard.

They also released several records, including There’s An Elephant In My Bedroom (see below).

In the mid-60s they got their own show on ITV, Mike and Bernie’s Show, which ran until 1972.

But in the late 1970s the double-act split up after the brothers fell out. Bernie went on to pursue a solo career. In later years Mike and Bernie were reconciled but they never again appeared on stage together.

Bernie Winters passed away in 1991.

Mike Winters went on to live in Miami for a time. During his time there he was involved in a number of business ventures, including a soccer franchise. He also wrote several thrillers as well as being involved in the writing of I Only Talk Winning (1983) with the boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.

He published his memoir The Sunny Side Of Winters in 2010 (see below).

Mr. Winters passed away in Gloucestershire. He is survived by his wife Cassie and their two children.

To see footage of Mike and Bernie Winters performing There’s An Elephant In My Bedroom, click here.

To view an interview in which Mike Winters discussed his memoir, The Sunny Side Of Winters, click here.

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