Sidney Burchall

English singer (baritone), actor. [Born in Manchester] Burchell came to Australia in 1920 with Oscar Asche‘s company and remained for some 16 years. He later toured with Huxham’s Serenaders and Hugh J. Ward‘s Company of London Comedians and by 1927 was a prominent recording artist. He also began his radio career in 1927. From 1929 until his return to Britain in 1936 Burchell was a feature performer with J.C. Williamson’s, appearing in such shows as The Desert Song, Miss Hook of Holland and The White Horse Inn. Regarded as one of Australia’s most popular radio singers he was contracted by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ca. 1935) to appear in community singing events and radio musicals (often opposite Gladys Moncrieff). After returning to Britain in 1936 (under contract to the BBC), Burchell quickly established himself as a star of radio and the stage (playing vaudeville, revue and musical comedy). He also appeared in two British films during the 1940s.