After national service with the Seaforth Highlanders in Egypt, he moved to Montreal, where he wrote advertising jingles for radio. He formed a calypso group and, as Lord Lance, toured Canada and the US.
When he replaced Charles Hawtrey in Carry on Cruising (1962), he was paid £600. This was quite a saving for the producers, as Hawtrey's wage would've been around £4,000.
A fan of English football club Chelsea FC, based in London.