Search for local Laurel and Hardy stories

8 minutes ago

Charis Scott-HolmBBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Dean and Rebecca Sills are looking for stories about Laurel and Hardy's visits to the Humber region

Dean Sills Rebecca Sills - a young woman with blonde hair, wearing a waterproof coat, and Dean Sills - an older man wearing a black Laurel and Hardy T-shirt. They are standing next to statues of Laurel and Hardy. — Dean and Rebecca Sills are looking for stories about Laurel and Hardy's visits to the Humber region

A father and daughter filmmaking duo are searching for stories about a pair of Hollywood legends and their visits to the Humber region.

Dean and Rebecca Sills are looking for people who have a connection to comedy pair Laurel and Hardy.

They are creating a film called Laurel and Hardy: To Hull and Back, a follow-up to their documentary Laurel and Hardy's Yorkshire Adventures, released in 2025.

Dean said they were looking for "anyone that's got any connection with them, or has family who may have been in the audience or met them or worked at the theatres, or anything like that, so we can interview them for the film".

Getty Images Stan Laurel sews the trousers of Oliver Hardy, who is bent over his knee, as they perform a scene in the film Hollywood Party. — Laurel and Hardy began their career in the silent movie era

The comedy pair visited the Humber region several times during their career - appearing at Hull New Theatre in 1947 and Hull's Palace Theatre in 1953.

In 1954, they performed at the Palace Theatre in Grimsby and the Dolphin Hotel in Cleethorpes.

Dean said he and Rebecca had "a lot of success" with the debut documentary, which sold out on DVD and was featured on TV streaming services and at film festivals.

He said: "Fans have been asking for us to do another one, so we thought we'd do it on Hull and Grimsby, which is perfect."

Dean Sills Rebecca and Dean Sills pose for a photo with two Laurel and Hardy lookalikes. The father and daughter smile and wear black t-shirts, while the performers wear Demin dungarees, white shirts and ties. — The filmmakers are appealing for people with stories of Laurel and Hardy to get in touch

Dean said he first began watching Laurel and Hardy films with his father, before watching their films with his son and daughter.

"What I find interesting is they were both dead before I was even born," he said.

"So, to pass it on, and the humour which everybody gets, it's international as well, it's not political, it's modern in a way, and everybody loves slapstick."

The filmmakers said 10 people had already come forward with stories, but would like anyone who has any more information for the documentary to get in touch.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East YorkshireorLincolnshireon BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look Northor tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices