Syd Little (born Cyril John Mead; 19 December 1942) is an English comedian who was the straight man in the double act Little and Large, with Eddie Large.
Life and career
Born in Blackpool, Little was raised in Manchester. After leaving Yew Tree Secondary Modern School, Wythenshawe, and working as an interior decorator, Little began his performing career as a singer and guitarist in Manchester pubs before teaming up with Large. Originally titled Cyril Mead and Friend, then Mead and McGinnis, after changing their name to Little and Large their double act won Opportunity Knocks in 1971
In 2018, he appeared in the fly-on-the-wall documentary The Real Marigold Hotel.
In April 2020 Eddie Large died. Shortly afterwards, Syd's agent Alan Hamilton of Hamilton Management issued a statement in which Syd stated ‘I am devastated to have lost not just my comedy partner of 60 years, but my friend of 60 years’.
In 2022, Little appeared on Sky UK's Celebrity Auction House (S2, E5) and raised over £1,000 for his "new pet project". He auctioned several personal items, including his electric guitar, which he signed.
Little lives with his wife and son in Fleetwood, where they run the Steamer Pub and Little Restaurant.
Bibliography
- Little, S. and Gidney, C. 2004. Little by Little. Canterbury Press, Norwich. pp. 256
- Little, S. 1999. Little Goes a Long Way: My Own Story. Harper Collins. pp. 176