Walter William "Max" Bygraves (16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012) was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer.

He made twenty Royal Variety Performance appearances and presented numerous programmes, including Family Fortunes between 1983 and 1985.

His catchphrase "I wanna tell you a story" became an integral part of his act, although it had originated with comedian Mike Yarwood impersonating Bygraves.

He then became a messenger for W S Crawfords, an advertising agency at 233 High Holborn before serving as a fitter in the Royal Air Force in the Second World War and working as a carpenter.

[citation needed] After the end of the war, Bygraves worked on building sites, while entertaining in pubs in the evenings.

"[5] In August 1946, he toured in a variety show with Frankie Howerd,[6] who in turn introduced him to Eric Sykes, and they began writing routines together.

One of his most popular recordings, "You Need Hands" in 1958, was written by Bygraves under the pseudonym Roy Irwin (or Erwin), a name picked at random from a telephone directory.

"[7]He also occasionally worked as an actor, appearing in British films including Bless 'Em All (1948) and Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951).

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1961 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while rehearsing his new show, Do Re Mi at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.

[13] From 1972, Bygraves recorded a series of albums, Sing Along With Max (later Singalongamax), in which he sang medleys of familiar songs aimed at an older audience.

[citation needed] On 9 August 1974, Bygraves became trapped on a cliff-face near his house in Westbourne, Bournemouth, while attempting to retrieve a kite flown by his grandson Michael which had become stuck beneath the edge of the cliff.

[19] Bygraves was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2010, and he died from complications of this illness at his daughter's home in Hope Island, Queensland, Australia on the evening of 31 August 2012.