Richard Murdoch

Richard Bernard Murdoch received his education at Charterhouse School in Surrey and Pembroke College at Cambridge University, where he took part in performances with the Footlights Dramatic Club.

His film debut came unexpectedly as an uncredited dancing extra in the 1932 movie "Looking on the Bright Side." By 1937, he was already listed among the cast of "Television Follies," one of the pioneering programs on BBC Television.

Murdoch's significant breakthrough occurred in 1938 when he joined the BBC's comedic radio show "Band Waggon," performing alongside the emerging talent Arthur Askey. It was during this time that he earned the humorous nickname "Stinker," poking fun at his privileged educational background.

As Askey transitioned from radio to film in the late 1930s, Murdoch accompanied him, featuring in several films that showcased Askey's star power. Their contrasting appearances—Murdoch's tall and athletic frame paired with Askey's shorter stature and working-class persona—created a unique comedic dynamic. Although their partnership was interrupted by World War II, when Murdoch enlisted, they briefly reunited in the late 1950s for the television series "Living It Up."

In 1941, Murdoch was conscripted into the Royal Air Force, serving as a junior intelligence officer with Bomber Command before advancing to the Department of Allied Air Force and Foreign Liaison as a Flight Lieutenant. By 1943, he was working in the Directorate of Administrative Plans at the Air Ministry alongside Wing Commander Kenneth Horne, overseeing the supply of aircraft and equipment to Russia, ultimately concluding the war as a Squadron Leader.