In later life he achieved stardom as the pompous ex-serviceman Percy Sugden in Granada Television's long-running soap opera Coronation Street.

Waddington, and his sister Connie, were brought up by family friends as their father fought in the First World War, and their mother worked all hours to keep the children fed.

Inspired by George Formby, Waddington played the ukulele and his talent as a comedian was spotted when he was an NCO cook in the army during Second World War.

[2] After the war, Waddington became a comedian, often appearing on the same bill as Jill Summers, who would eventually play Phyllis Pearce, Percy Sugden's foil in Granada TV's Coronation Street.

In 1955, Bill was chosen for the Royal Variety Performance, and when American stars such as Frankie Laine, Lena Horne, Billy Daniels and Dorothy Lamour toured Britain he was the opening comedian in their shows.

He also appeared as Eric Summers, Rita Sullivan's theatrical manager, in 1978 and George Turner, best man at the wedding of Emily Bishop and bigamist Arnold Swain, in 1980.

Two years into retirement, aged 67, Waddington played his best known role of cantankerous pensioner Percy Sugden in Coronation Street from August 1983 until quitting the serial in October 1997, because the soap had become too raunchy.

He resisted attempts by writers to kill the character off, instead leaving the street to live out the rest of his days at Mayfield Court; a retirement home.

Sugden forever compared the problems of today with the good old days of the war: "When you've prepared spotted dick and custard for 150 under heavy artillery fire, you can do anything," was one of his characters more memorable lines.

Waddington became increasingly frail, and spent his final months at a nursing home in Maltby, South Yorkshire, where his wife visited him daily.