Born Wigan 1904 as George Hoy Booth; son of James Booth, noted musical hall comedian, who used the stage name George Formby; after his father's death in 1921 George abandoned his apprenticeship as a jockey and took to the musical stage, at first as George Hoy; married dancer Beryl Ingham in 1924 who had a great influence on his career; took up playing the Ukelele which he introduced into his musical comedy routine; became hugely successful in the 1930s, appearing in popular films produced by Associated Talking Pictures (ATP); entertained troops during second world war; awarded OBE in 1946; died of heart attack in 1961.