Secombe appeared in many stage musicals, including Pickwick (1963) and The Four Musketeers (1967), and had several chart successes, the song most associated with him being "If I Ruled the World" (from Pickwick). He also appeared as Mr. Bumble in Lionel Bart's film Oliver! (1968).
Later in life, Secombe (whose brother was a vicar) attracted new audiences as a presenter of religious programmes, such as the BBC's Songs of Praise and ITV's Highway.
He was knighted in 1981. After suffering a stroke, he was forced to abandon his television career, but made a documentary about his condition in the hope of giving encouragement to other sufferers.
UK chart singles:
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