Johnnie - or Johnny - Wade was born in Bethnal Green, London, in 1933 but lived in Manchester until age sixteen. On leaving school he became an apprentice electrician for British and European Airways, and, following national service in the air force - where he first learned he could entertain with his singing - worked as cabin crew, market trader and furniture salesman. After winning a talent contest he became the vocalist with the Ronnie Keane band, later appearing at Hammersmith Palais and the Condor Club. His first big television break was in the soap opera 'Compact' set in a women's magazine office, where his character Stan also sang, allowing Johnnie to release a record. Over the next few decades he appeared in a vast number of television shows, many of them sitcoms, most notably 'You're Only Young Twice' as the put upon handyman Roger in a home for retired ladies.