His father, Dick Henderson (1891–1958), was a music hall comedian and singer famous for his short, rotund appearance, bowler hat and beautiful singing voice; he was well known for making the original British recording of the popular song "Tiptoe Through the Tulips".

[4] Henderson was privately educated in both Hollywood, when his father was touring in vaudeville, and Britain, at St Joseph's College, Beulah Hill, London.

[3][5] In America, Henderson broke into show business, aged 10, when he was offered a role as the son of Clive Brook and Diana Wynyard in the Frank Lloyd film version of Noël Coward's play, Cavalcade (1933).

[6] He starred in his own ITV television programme: The Dickie Henderson Half Hour in 1958, the success of which led to a touring stage show with Anthea Askey who played his wife, and their eventual immortalisation in a comic strip.

[9] He also made many working trips abroad to the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.