Oh yes? Still smiling. Newspaper interviews were very rare; he never appeared on a chat show. He's willing to let the world decide for itself. He was also aware of the need to have a cover. Early on she used to say, That woman's following you around like a wee dug! And she was right. where are we up to? She was in love with him and Baxter believed he was falling in love with her. In the book, Stanley admits he hid his sexuality throughout his career and explained he initially decided to end his relationship with Moira when she told him she wanted to get married. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images The critics loved it. Just a couple of years later he landed a five-picture deal with Rank Films. Stanley knew he was gay. I don't think you know what you're talking about and I don't think you realise that the future will be bleak for you and difficult for me., Stanley was adamant. One of them might be him, I thought. . Kenneth Williams certainly thought so. Can I call you tomorrow, then, to see if youve changed your mind? He is an absolute control freak, said the critic Mary Brennan. For good. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. It was all very selfish of me and a bit macho. Baxter appeared alongside Jimmy Logan and Rikki Fulton in extravagantly-produced shows with Ziegfeld-scale sets and dancing girls, but also made his first BBC television appearance in 1951. Eccentric. Stanley walked through the doors of the Gorbals theatre and into theatre heaven, loving this avant-garde world populated by the likes of Sybil Thorndyke and Duncan Macrae. At close range, under the cap and behind the scarf, he turned out to be an elderly woman. His wife Moira, from whom he was separated, was tormented by mental illness and had attempted suicide by cutting her wrists in the bath. Did Bessie Baxter have any idea of Stanleys true sexuality? Not him, then. Although we'd spend lots of time in each other's beds, nothing happened. Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. He had recorded a radio version of Compton Mackenzies book, Whisky Galore! Can you tell me where they are? Stanleys marriage to Moira became difficult over the next few years, as she struggled with mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. For a journalist, it can be difficult to tell. Overwhelmed by the knowledge that he was making a mistake that would ruin both their lives, Baxter sat on the wedding bed and sobbed. Clerical Office Worker. Stanley's wife of over 45 years Moira Robertson died in 1997 (Picture: REX) At a time when being gay was illegal in Britain, the actor would bring men home with his wife's knowledge. He is an actor and writer, known for Crooks Anonymous (1962), The Fast Lady (1962) and The Stanley Baxter Moving Picture Show (1974). The truth is, I dont really want to be me.. He has a talismanic quality that makes people feel hes very much in touch with their lives, and then suddenly, out he zooshes looking really rather sexy. I sloped away to look around some of them, then went for some Fishermans Bake and a pint at the local pub, feeling pretty miserable. She would turn up at the stage door in Glasgow, unannounced. What about? Im a character actor. . Vergrern Sie die Reichweite Ihrer Marke authentisch und teilen Sie Markeninhalte mit Kreativen im Internet. I dont deserve it, I know, but if anyone can help me at this dreadful period, it is him, Williams wrote before leaving home. Hes not there anyway. 'I admired how fashionable she looked. And the sex was fine not rockets going off or anything.. And since that time he hasnt been able to surrender the thought had he not married the fragile, vulnerable woman she may have lived more of a happy life. And as the years progressed, the medicated Moira and Stanley became close again. Managing Director. To order a copy for 17.60 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193. Not Stanleys fee, particularly, but you have to pay the Musicians Union, youve got to pay all the dancers, Equity and so on. Tanned and fit-looking, straight-backed, with his broad face exactly as it was on the television years ago, eyes that were calm but curious, and slightly sparkling. It was a dark day. I rang David White again the following morning. Baxter is appearing on a charges of soliciting and public indecency. Yes. I dont see Stanley ever leaving himself that vulnerable hes too self- obsessed a cookie), not about Baxter the human being. The Real Stanley Baxter by Brian Beacom is published by Luath Press Ltd, 20. It was so long ago, the production team was disbanded straight after the last show, and theres nobody left here who worked on it. And by the time the then-teenager landed a place in the entertainment corps during his National Service years, Stanley was convinced that acting was his destiny. At the same time, Moira's mental health deteriorated. What would the neighbours think? Stanley maintains incredible control, but he can also come on like the wee woman on the stairhead talking about the price of mince, said Mary Brennan, who reviews around 20 panto performances a year. At one point during my researches I was intrigued to meet a person in north London who had lived near the Baxters for a while in recent years, and who believed that they now lived apart, but that Stanley visited his wifes new home for lunch most days. Kenny thought I was making a terrible mistake, says Stanley. "And she was very good about letting them go to bed with me. ', Beset with doubts, he confessed to Moira that all his previous affairs had been with men. Baxter resolved to repress his sexuality when he returned to Glasgow two years later to live, as he put it, 'as a straight actor'. There are 30+ professionals named "Moira Robertson", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. "Thankfully Moira was very understanding. '. Im not giving any interviews at the moment. An edge in his voice. And I did love her deeply, in my own way.. What else did I expect? This would be NO life for you, married to someone who is essentially and primarily homosexual!, Moira's reaction was surprising, even to those who knew how liberal she was. The star, who is best known for his self-titled comedy shows and his childrens TV series Mr Majeika, stepped away from the spotlight 25 years ago. Anxious, he took a taxi to the house. "There are many gay people these days who are fairly comfortable with their sexuality, fairly happy with who they are. Therapy proved useless: his psychiatrist, learning that he was married, advised him simply to return to his wife. But he hadnt been in that afternoon. Gay men up and down the UK lived in constant fear of having their careers and lives wrecked. When he sat down on a streetcar bench between a priest and a woman with a hat box on her lap, he suddenly saw another female rider in front of him lose her clothes (through a double-exposure dissolve), and then his seat-mates on his right and left turned female without clothes. I began to be scared someone else would do better than me on stage, and my mother would clatter me.'. If I wanted a closer look at him it would have to be on my television on 4 January. As I approached the flats, a figure bundled up in odd layers of clothing and a heavy overcoat came towards me, and turned towards the gate. MORE : Inside the love life and Strictly Come Dancing romances of Giovanni Pernice, MORE : Saira Khan claims lockdown does not work during heated clash with Loose Women co-stars, Brendan Fraser didnt speak to Dwayne The Rock Johnson on set of The Mummy Returns for pretty good reason, Kate Moss talks proudly about nickname she earned in Ireland unaware its actually an insult, Did we hear that right? He revealed he was worried his career would be over because of the incident before his lawyer got the charge dropped. This girl finally gets to head back to work soon! January 1977: Talented Stanley could sing, dance, deliver broad panto comedy and perform pinsharp impressions of any star, male or female, 'I was in love with Bill,' Stanley says, 'but he certainly wasn't in love with me. OK. Baxter was a great talker among his close-knit circle of friends, said Mr Young, but was also wary of outsiders. He says: Did she carry some hope that I would get off the plane, rush round and save her again? Find him.. But there was no chance of a reconciliation. Im not being naughty, but no. Stanley reckoned his wife's place was in the home. He returned to the BBC but, after a one-off in 1986 in which he played 37 roles (including Mae West, whom he first impersonated aged six), that contract also ended. By that time, I had so many tender feelings for her, he explains. 'Silly boy,' the actor noted pithily in his diary. Lara Clark, who said she was terribly sorry, but she couldnt show me round: the RAC liked to keep a low profile. In an extract publicised by The Scotsman, Stanley said he tried to split from Moira, who died in 1997, when she wanted to get married. Managing a portfolio of SME clients across a range of sectors and complexities. She was very good about letting them go to bed with me. Sometimes it can blur ones sense of right and wrong. I never wanted to be gay. The star, who is best. Face full of character. The rest was silence. I don't wish that to stop. When he returned, he decided to seek medical treatment for his sexual urges. Stanley weighed up what this all meant. Hes having a holiday with his wife, Moira. And then my impulse to pick up the trail again received further encouragement, when, out of the blue, one of the many former associates of Baxter with whom I had placed calls finally decided to ring me back. It was a relief. Club gossip suggested that he preferred the bigger and busier squash changing- rooms to those by the poolside, and was a bit of a loner.) No. And, yes, the address I had was the correct one. He had indeed dreamed of being a professional actor since appearing on stage as a seven-year-old at local talent contests. The show featured interviews about his life alongside new comedy material including a skit about the Queen's Christmas speech. And after nearly a year of thinking about this man, after all the work I had done to find him, I had absolutely no idea what to say. It was partly a feeling of I'll show them, that I could be as heterosexual as the rest of them.. Im not entirely sure who I am. Having made it big south of the border, he regularly returned to direct and star in big-budget productions. Possibly even liberation is distasteful, because it encourages people to come out and make features of themselves, whereas your social and sexual life should be, as Noel Coward had it, behind closed doors. Aug 2017 - Aug 20225 years 1 month. 'I thought, 'My career will never survive this. Moira meanwhile, had pushed aside question marks against Stanleys sexuality, partly because she adored her boyfriend and loved his talent. He said: Anybody would be insane to choose to live such a very difficult life. It was real weakness on my part.. 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Anyone trying to hide will be photographed from a distance or forced on to daytime television. Stanley Baxter was a star on the Glasgow talent circuit aged six, in 1932. I still don't. Stanley was bringing the values of a different time and place into a world that had changed. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The star penned: "Anybody would be insane to choose to live such a very difficult life. Wearing a calf-length tweed coat with a smart scarf folded across the throat. Everythings being raked around in here ready for Christmas. Im not a personality, he once said. So funny that hes disappeared. . Is it possible that we can have a chat with him? After 11 months of waiting, I was becoming frustrated. His act was so daring that he was probably the first TV comedian to impersonate the Queen. Its just prohibitive, you know, because they were such big specials. I wondered if I could have a word? In January, 1962, he was focused hard on his career. To pre-empt that, he agreed to let me tell his story . Beaten with sticks.'. My dad said This is a very big step you're taking, Stanley. A year later, on March 5, 1952, the train sped west to Moiras parents home in Dumbarton for the ceremony. HP10 9TY. Baxter began to turn work down not playing Captain Hook in a production of Peter Pan opposite Lulu, not appearing with Cannon and Ball at the Palladium. In January 1962, he visited the public toilets in Madras Place, Holloway, hoping to pick up a man for casual sex. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Editors' Code of Practice. Exclusively representing clients who are going through a divorce and . However he changed his mind when she became very, very upset and appeared to be heartbroken. 'I turned down too many parts . Baxter was charged with soliciting for sex. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Tayside & Stirling. She punched me and my glasses flew off. Calls went unreturned, faxes unanswered. . The book was 10 years old, but it was worth a try. Stanley managed to survive the threat to his career just and Moira, as expected stood by her man. . Client stories Our approach Blog FAQs Contact us Feel the value of financial planning First-class financial planning for people who strive for more. A psychiatrist diagnosed schizophrenia, but she refused to take medication. Young was cagey, preferring to ring Baxter before he would talk to me. But Stanley couldnt contain his sexual frustrations. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's However the charges were dropped when the police officers who arrested him admitting he was on his own at the time. London, England, United Kingdom. Moiras death left Stanley bereft. Moira tried to take her own life on two occasions. Yet he was, and is, missed: in England, as the funniest man on television; in Scotland where they take panto very seriously as the greatest dame of the century: a master of the double entendre and the quick, stunning costume-change. The more I got to know of her I realised she was a lovely person, a woman of enormous heart.. The most outrageously funny man on British television 50 years ago was Stanley Baxter. They moved to London and Moira gave up the theatre, to be a housewife. He was left with a terror of being held up to public shame. Add a New Bio Also known as Moira Spouses Stanley Baxter (1951 - 1997) Died 1997 Edit Submitted on July 23, 2013 Citation Use the citation below to add to a bibliography: Style: MLA Chicago APA "Moira Robertson." . He said, Oh well, if you did I should just follow you. . My mother didnt think any woman was good enough for me [Bessie Baxters principal purpose in life was to grow a showbiz star] but there was more to her criticism of Moira. Men just look nelly, however hard they try. And he had been sighted on a visit to Scotland in July 1994, to unveil a tribute to his late friend and fellow comic Duncan Macrae, during which he had confirmed that it had been his intention to drop out of public life completely: Most comics work till they drop, but Im happier now than ever. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. I thought, I really hate this. The decriminalisation of gay sex between consenting adults was still five years away. As his mother Bessie, a blacksmith's daughter, accompanied him on the piano, the boy belted out saucy music hall numbers with titles such as I'm One Of The Lads Of Valencia: 'You can't beat a Spaniard for kissing, Oh ladies, just think what you're missing!' Just to be with. She then went to their new Glasgow flat to cook spaghetti for his supper.". Moura Robertson. Royal Family will find it 'impossible' to compromise with Sussexes, Shamima Begum never considered turning back during journey to ISIS, Russian pro-war fanatic warns Britain could be 'wiped off the map', BBC Breakfast celebrates forty years of hilarious bloopers, Russian marksman flees Ukraine to reunite with wife before being shot, Motorists slowly drive down snowy hill in treacherous conditions, Bungling helicopter pilot blows over stadium roof injuring eight, Ken Bruce will be joining the Greatest Hits Radio family in April, As it happened: UK Government blocks Scotland's new gender law, Kamala opts out of kneeling with Biden for Warriors photo op, Extinction Rebellion douse the Home Office building in black paint, Harrowing moment woman begs father not to kill himself. What had happened to Stanley Baxter? Today aged 94, he lives as he has for 25 years a virtual recluse at his flat in Highgate Village, North London. Ah-ha. 'I could be as heterosexual as the rest of them.'. 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