Melvyn Hayes

Melvyn Hayes (born Melvin Hyams, 11 January 1935) is an English actor probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner (later Bombardier) "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum. Hayes attended Sir Walter St John's Grammar School, Battersea. He was also in a well known theatrical troupe called Terry's Juveniles and his acting career stretches back to 1950 when he was "disappearing twice daily for £4 per week" performing the Indian Rope Trick in Maskelyne's Mysteries at the Comedy Theatre in London. He also appeared in Repertory Theatres in Surrey, Derbyshire and the Midlands. One of his earliest roles was in the BBC television adaptation of Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School. His film roles include the young Victor Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein 1957, Jimmy in The Young Ones with Cliff Richard (1961), Cyril in Summer Holiday, again with Cliff Richard (1963), and 'Brother' Willy in Crooks in Cloisters (1964). He also performed voices on children's cartoons such as SuperTed, The Dreamstone, Little Dracula, Alfred J. Quack, Pongwiffy and Budgie the Little Helicopter.

Actor