I was always told by my parents that Lionel was a dancer,but as far as I can remember (the 70's) he only ever appears as guest star on shows and quiz programmes. We live in a world of people like Kerry Katona, Joe Swash etc, but Lionel seems to have been the first.

Yes he was a dancer but he was in his 40s by the 1970s so that part of his career was largely over but he continued to appear regularly on TV and radio in various guises; acting, cameos, team captain in Give Us a Clue etc. There is really not much in common with the people you named.

I think he is most famous for being rhyming slang for flared trousers it does seem to me that his fame far outstrips any talent he ever had

I don't think their is anything about being derogatory about someone's career when you clearly know very little about it.

actually I was derogatory about his talent not his career, maybe I'll try and catch him in his next panto and he will change my mind though

Am sure he used to be on " The London Palladium" and other shows, Disliked him on "Give us a Clue" to be fair he annoyed me as much as Monkhouse, and Bruce on my TV

He was brilliant in the farm though

Edit, he was the 4th evicted in the farm, I wonder if that has any bearing on CBB?

He's your typical luvvie; talks about himself continuously, resents others trying to join his conversations, name drops, bitchy behind people's backs, smiles if he sees a camera (on The Farm).

Another reason to despise him then. For helping to invent the idea of celebrity as its own vehicle for fame, I mean. Even if he had the background of an actual talent, if that stopped being the motivating force for his career, it's practically the same thing.

Ergo, we can blame him in part for the likes of Paris Hilton being famous. The Kardashians. All of the morons who only appear on game and panel shows and nowhere else. All that garbage. Thanks Lionel! You git.