Life's a cavalcade - Glen Michael

Glen Michael's "Cavalcade" was one of STV's most popular programmes ever, playing to millions of viewers during its 26-year run. As its host, Glen (together with Paladin, the talking lamp, Totty the Robot and dogs Rudi and Rusty) introduced generations of Scots to some of the world's cartoon greats, including Asterix the Gaul, Bugs Bunny, Caspar the Friendly Ghost and Spiderman. But cartoons are only a small part of the story. In "Life's a Cavalcade", Glen looks back over an eventful and varied life which began in the picturesque Devon town of Paignton, where he was born Cecil Buckland. Glen spent an itinerant childhood as his parents gave up the boarding house they ran in Devon and entered domestic service. In his early teens Glen made for London to seek fame and fortune. Service in the RAF with Ralph Reader's famous "Gang Shows", as well as other successes, led to films and a role in the Academy Award Winning Ealing Studios film "The Blue Lamp".Glen's career continued with a move to Scotland, where he continued to appear on stage as well as in numerous TV plays and light entertainment shows for the BBC and the fledgling STV.Working with Jack Milroy for thirteen years, he found himself in the famous Howard and Wyndham's "Five Past Eight Show" and subsequently starring with Jack Milroy and Rikki Fulton in the "Francie and Josie" TV shows. In a career that has spanned more than 60 years, Glen has worked with hundreds of legends of stage and screen, and here he includes personal recollections of stars such as Peter Sellers, Dirk Bogarde, Boner Colleano, Jean Simmons, Dick Emery, Chic Murray, The Krankies, Thora Hird, Benny Hill, Ronnie Corbett, Laurence Olivier, Clint Eastwood, Una Mclean and John Mills, and countless others.At an age when most people would be content with a quiet retirement, for Glen the show goes on, most recently in his stint on "Saga FM". He continues his charity work and his road shows to primary schools all over the country.