Tommy Handley was a showbiz conjuror as a child, and he became a good baritone singer during World War I. He soon discovered that he was talented in the field of comedy. He appeared on a number of radio shows. A very talented comedian, especially on radio, Handley created a number of characters including the Farmer Jollop and Funf, an elusive spy. When he died suddenly in 1949, 10,000 mourners flocked to his funeral.