George Roper

George Francis Roper (born Furnival; 15 May 1934 – 1 July 2003) was an English comedian, best known for his appearances in the long-running UK television series The Comedians. Early history Roper was born in Liverpool to a working-class family of Irish descent, to parents who were staunchly Roman Catholic. In conversation with the writer Ken Irwin in 1972, he remarked that "the rough and ready upbringing of Catholics in Liverpool brings out the humour in a family": He's another comic who has known poverty. There were five children in the Roper family, three girls and two boys. Dad saw a lot of life – he was a window cleaner. 'Times were hard when I started at school, in the early war years,' says George. 'We never went without, but a jam butty was often a meal'. Two of Roper's great-uncles were popular stars of the British Music Hall: Johnnie Cullen of the comedy team Cullen and Carthy, and George Sanford of the dance act Sanford and Lyons. He was also a cousin to the British jazz singer Jeannie Bradbury.