The story of Fred Barnes At the height of his success in the music-halls, Barnes earned £ 500 a week, drove a Rolls-Royce with his name emblazoned across the back, carried a monkey on his shoulder and had the garden of his luxury home painted in his favourite colour. But his turbulent private life caused him to fall from public favour and he ended his days singing for coppers in a Southend pub with a pet chicken on his shoulder.
Brian Haines narrates the story of one of the most flamboyant characters of the music-halls.
Written by PETER COTES Producer BRIAN COOK