US President Donald Trump has named Salisbury-born actor and singer Michael Crawford among the latest recipients of the prestigious Kennedy Centre Honor.
Crawford, who shot to national fame after starring as Frank Spencer in the classic BBC sitcom, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, which ran from 1973 to 1978.
In the 1980s, he starred in Phantom of the Opera for three and a half years – completing more than 1,300 performances across three productions, picking up an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical), a Tony Award (Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Musical), a New York Drama Desk Award, and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Theatre (Lead Performance).
In 1989, he performed The Music of the Night at the Inaugural Gala for President George HW Bush in Washington DC.
This week, he was announced as a nominee for a Kennedy Centre gong alongside rock band, Kiss, actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, and country and western star, George Strait.
Established in 1978, the awards have been handed to the likes of legends Barbra Streisand, Warren Beatty and Charlton Heston, as well as Cher, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sally Field.
Really thrilled to hear about Michael Crawford. He must be one of the nicest guys on earth. A totally well deserved honour.