Bottle, Glass; Glass, Bottle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Caerphilly

He was born Thomas Frederick Cooper on 19th March 1921 in Caerphilly, Wales. His father, Tom, was a Welsh born army sergeant and his mother, Gertrude, was from Crediton in Devon. When Tommy was three years old the family moved to Exeter where he picked up his West Country accent.

Answer: Shipwright

As a young lad in Exeter, Tommy helped his parents in their ice cream van, but didn't stay after he left school. He moved to Hythe in Hampshire to become a shipwright.

Answer: Royal Horse Guards

Part of the Household Cavalry, and initially formed by Cromwell in 1650, the Regiment has had several names, one of which was nicknamed The Blues. This, in 1969, led to the formation of The Blues and Royals when they amalgamated with the Royal Dragoons.

When Tommy served with them, they were part of Montgomery's Desert Rats. Tommy was wounded in the arm and then joined the NAAFI entertainment service.

Answer: Pith helmet

Tommy developed his interest in magic after being given a gift set as a young lad. One day in Egypt, as part of a NAAFI entertainment, he came to a part of his act which should have included his wearing a pith helmet. Having forgotten to take it along he borrowed a fez from a passing waiter.

The reaction he got from the crowd prompted him to develop his particular mix of magic and slapstick and the fez became his trademark.

Answer: True

Despite making a career from tricks going wrong Tommy was a skilled magician. He was a member of The Magic Circle from, possibly, the late 1940s.

Answer: The Plank

"The Plank" was a short film of just under an hour made in 1967. It was virtually silent, the dialogue consisting of a series of grunts to convey the appropriate emotion. It portrayed the efforts of two inept workmen, Cooper and Sykes, trying to deliver planks of wood to a building site.

Answer: FA Cup Final

The conversation is recorded as this:

"Do you think I was funny?" Tommy asked
"Yes Tommy." was the reply
"You really thought I was funny?" he asked again
"Yes of course I thought you were funny."
"Did your mother think I was funny?"
"Yes Tommy, we both thought you were funny."
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"
"No, but I might not be able to give you a full answer."
"Do you like football?"
"Well, not really."
"Can I have your Cup Final tickets?"

Answer: Michael Parkinson

It was during an interview that Cooper cajoled Parkinson to take part in a routine that involved a guillotine. Tommy forgot to apply a safety catch to the device. It was only the last minute intervention by a vigilant floor manager that averted a disaster.

Answer: The Windmill

Tommy began his showbiz career on Christmas Eve 1947 and began touring variety clubs. The Windmill was a renowned London venue where many post war comedy acts began their careers. It's not known exactly where Tommy developed his routine of failed tricks, but three possibilities are: during shows to his fellow dockyard workers, his time in the army, or at a post war audition where his act went disastrously wrong but was still enjoyed by the panel.

Answer: On stage

On the 15th April 1984 Tommy was appearing on the TV show "Live from Her Majesty's" when he suffered a heart attack in front of the camera. The audience thought it was all part of the act, until it became apparent that he really was seriously ill. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. He was later cremated at Mortlake. He was survived by his wife, son and daughter.