Ten reasons we love Stanley Baxter

To be recording a new radio play on the day he turned 90 is quite an achievement, but from legendary comedian Stanley Baxter it’s barely surprising – he’s been working in entertainment since he was a child. Here are 10 (of many more) reasons we love this newly-minted nonagenarian.

"Zarraburdorahairywullie?" - Stanley in a 1986 Christmas TV special

1. Stanley started his show-business career as a child actor under the instruction of his extrovert mother. He did impressions of Harry Lauder and Mae West, aged 7, without knowing who either of them were.

2. He invented "Parliamo Glasgow" in which he translated Glaswegian into English, with phrases like "sanoffy caul day" (“it’s an awfully cold day”) and "zarraburdorahairywullie" (“is that a lady or a gentleman?”).

3. Kenneth Williams was one of his best friends. They met during National Service.

4. He was a legendary dame on the Scottish panto circuit, often playing opposite the late Ronnie Corbett, before hanging up his hooped skirt in 1992.

5. When Stanley appeared as a child on the Scottish edition of BBC Children’s Hour he had to stand on a box to reach the microphone.

6. He puts his longevity down to being a confirmed hypochondriac, because he identified a heart problem swiftly. "Every headache a brain tumour, every cough is cancer," he says.

7. He demonstrated, alongside the late Victoria Wood, to keep Highgate’s local post office open. They failed.

8. He thinks the Kardashians are a pop group.

Baxter celebrating his 75th in 2001

9. He outraged Mary Whitehouse by playing The Duchess of Brendagh, an aristocratic woman in pastel suits with large handbags, who looked remarkably like the Queen. Her Grace delivered her "Broadcast for Guy Fawkes Day".

10. He’s decided that when he’s 95 he’s going to ask for a pay rise.

Thanks very much Stanley, for many decades of entertainment. We will continue to Parliamo Glasgow in your honour. All together now.... "IsthatamarreronyerbarrerClarra?"