In April 1974 he appeared on the television programme This Is Your Life, and finally retired from competitive racing having posted more than 900 winners.
[5] On 23 February 1957 Biddlecombe was unplaced on first ride on Balkan Flower at Wincanton[6] and rode his first winner, Burnella, at the same course on 6 March 1958 beating Fred Winter in a photo finish.
[11] On 27 February 1970, Biddlecombe suffered a life-threatening fall on King's Dream at Kempton Park where he ruptured a kidney and broke 3 ribs.
Due to increasing weight concerns, Fred Rimell replaced Biddlecombe with Bill Smith as stable jockey for the 1972/3 season.
On 14 March 1974, he retired from riding after finishing 3rd on Game Spirit in the Gold Cup and unplaced on Amarind in the final race of the day.
[15] Biddlecombe retired with 905 British winners - at the time, the only National Hunt jockey to have ridden more was Stan Mellor - and reputedly at least 47 broken bones.
With a large frame, he was 5 foot 11 tall, he fought a constant battle with his weight and increasingly with alcohol.
[17] On retirement, Biddlecombe applied for a permit to train, but was refused by the Jockey Club as his wife already ran a livery yard from the premises.
[22] Another of their star horses, Edredon Bleu won the 2003 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse.