{"product_id":"it-aint-half-late-mum-my-story-paperback-1","title":"It Ain't Half Late Mum: My Story - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMelvyn Hayes\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMelvyn Hayes has spent over 75 years in show business, carving out a unique path from child performer to beloved character actor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Born in South London in 1935 and evacuated during WWII, Melvyn had his first taste of the stage playing the Gingerbread Man at primary school.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A brief attempt to become a jockey gave way to his first paid role in entertainment - performing The Indian Rope Trick for The Great Masoni for  4 a week.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis career began in earnest in the early 1950s, leading to repertory theatre, West End productions, and eventually over fifty film appearances. He signed with Associated British Picture Corporation in 1958, starring in films such as \u003cem\u003eNo Trees in the Street\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCrooks in Cloisters\u003c\/em\u003e, and the Cliff Richard classics \u003cem\u003eThe Young Ones\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSummer Holiday\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eWonderful Life\u003c\/em\u003e. He also appeared with Peter Cushing in several films including Hammer horror film \u003cem\u003eThe Curse of Frankenstein\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the 1970s, Melvyn won over TV audiences as Gunner 'Gloria' Beaumont in the hit BBC sitcom \u003cem\u003eIt Ain't Half Hot Mum\u003c\/em\u003e. His stage success included over 1,000 performances of \u003cem\u003eSpring and Port Wine\u003c\/em\u003e in the West End, followed by decades of pantomime and television appearances.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTold with warmth and comedic flair with laugh-out-loud humour, Melvyn's memoir is full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, from famous co-stars to flops and odd jobs between roles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe reflects candidly on his personal life - three marriages, six birth children, the adoption of two sons, and the devastating loss of his third wife, Jayne.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHonoured as King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats and once the subject of \u003cem\u003eThis Is Your Life\u003c\/em\u003e, Melvyn continues to perform, most recently on \u003cem\u003eNot Going Out\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eWould I Lie To You?\u003c\/em\u003e. His story is a rich, funny, and moving tribute to a lifelong love of showbiz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 436\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.18 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 22, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53146207060275,"sku":"9781838259877","price":58.28,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/u4XyuFKc3A9781838259877_3bbc88d4-fad6-41a2-891e-349da743a9f6.webp?v=1773863738","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/it-aint-half-late-mum-my-story-paperback-1","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}