Humphrey Lestocq

Humphrey Lestocq (23 January 1919 – 29 January 1984) was a British actor, best known for his roles in Angels One Five and The Long Shadow (1961), and guest appearances in the television series The Avengers.

Lestocq shot to fame as Flying Officer Kyte in the BBC radio wartime comedy Merry-Go-Round (1944–1948), which later evolved into Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh.

He was also the presenter of the TV series Whirligig, the first Saturday children's programme to be broadcast live from the BBC's Lime Grove Studios. It ran from 1950 to 1956. Calling himself "H.L.", he was the stooge of the puppet Mr. Turnip, voiced by Peter Hawkins. Lestocq's catchphrases were "Goody, Goody Gumdrops" and "Jolly D", and Mr. Turnip's was "Lawky, Lawky, Lum".

Family He was born Humphrey Lestocq Gilbert on 23 January 1919 in Chiswick, London, England. His parents were George Marx Gilbert and May Frances née Wooldridge, married 1911 in Brentford (Chiswick). They had three sons, George (1912), Maurice (1913), and Humphrey. He married Dallas E Edwards in 1943. They had two children – Michael (1945), and Patricia (1947). That marriage finished and Gilbert lived in common-law marriage with Mary Barnard Bilton until his death. After retiring from acting, he ran a fishing fleet from Rye Harbour, East Sussex. He was an avid collector of English silver coins. He died on 29 January 1984 in London.

Gilbert's mother came from a large family around Brentford, London. Her father was William Lestocq.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1949 Stop Press Girl Radio Commentator 1950 Once a Sinner Lewis Canfield 1950 Fake's Progress Commentator 1951 Two on the Tiles Jimmy Bradley 1952 Angels One Five Flight Lt. 'Batchy' Salter 1952 Miss Robin Hood Drunk Driver Uncredited1952 Come Back Peter Arthur Hapgood 1953 The Good Beginning Thoroughgood 1953 Meet Mr Lucifer Arthur 1954 Conflict of Wings Sqd. Ldr. Davidson 1958 The Son of Robin Hood Blunt 1959 Life in Danger Inspector Bennet 1960 Not a Hope in Hell Cricklegate 1961 The Unstoppable Man Sgt. Plummer 1961 The Long Shadow Bannister 1961 Two Wives at One Wedding Mark 1961 The Third Alibi Producer 1961 Pit of Darkness Bill 1961 The Court Martial of Major Keller Lieutenant Cameron 1962 The Golden Rabbit 1962 Design for Loving Club manager 1962 Waltz of the Toreadors Fox Hunter Uncredited1963 Bomb in the High Street Reporter