His cousins, "the Workmans", performed in concerts at Moseley Road Swimming Baths in the city, where Field made his stage debut, singing "What A Life" at the age of nine.

He later worked as an understudy to Wee Georgie Wood in a Birmingham pantomime, then appeared in review at the Bordesley Palace and the Mission Hall in Church Road, Yardley.

To assuage the young Sid's stage fright, Bertha gave him a glass of port to drink: by the age of 13, he was dependent on alcohol.

Despite his flair for comedy and acting, it was not until he had spent decades touring provincial music halls that Field finally achieved prominence, appearing in London's West End as Slasher Green, the Cockney "wide boy" or "spiv".

[9] On 3 February 1950, during the run of Harvey, Field died from a heart attack at his home, Arran Cottage, Parkside, Wimbledon, London.

[12] A midnight matinée benefit for his wife and children, held on 25 June 1951, was attended by the Duchess of Kent, Aneurin Bevan and Noël Coward.

The cast list included Jack Hylton, Bud Flanagan, Arthur Askey, Tommy Trinder, all six of the original Crazy Gang, Peter Ustinov, George Robey and many more, totalling over 240.

There is a Birmingham Civic Society blue plaque commemorating Sid Field on the front of 152 Osborn Road,[13] where he grew up, and a memorial in the foyer of the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, which says:"To the memory of the great comedian Sid Field, who made his first appearance in the West End at this theatre on 18 March 1943 and who played his last performance here on 2 February 1950.

In the programme, Suchet meets stars such as Eric Sykes, Leslie Phillips and Nicholas Parsons who remember Field's epic stage shows.