 He then won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he trained as a comedian.From childhood he had the ambition to be a professional dancer, but he became well known for the funny walks which formed part of his well-loved comedy act.In 1942 at the age of 15, he made his stage debut in the pantomime "Mother Goose", starring Norman Evans and Patricia Burke, where he played the back end of a dancing pantomime donkey called "Asbestos".