n They say slapstick is the simplest yet most effective form of comedy, but you'd be a brave jester to try falling off your seat in the middle of a first date in the Cafe Gandolfi, Glasgow. One man, however, who has never been too embarrassed to make a clown of himself is Norman Wisdom. This is a man who could have grown up bearing a grudge rather than a grin, but he learned to love laughter in the face of his many misfortunes.

n Born in London in 1918, he was out on his own by the age of nine, and found himself sleeping in doorways around Victoria. At 14 he tied his hankie to the mast and became a cabin boy, destined for Argentina. In the land of moustachioed-machismo, despite his wee frame, he donned an outsize pair of boxing gloves and became a professional punchbag. Necessity was a great teacher, however, and when he signed up to the army he battled his way to flyweight champion in India.

n A stint in a concert party hauled him out of the ring and on to the boards. A plum role in a Wolverhampton Show On Ice brought him to the attention of Ed Sullivan, who signed him up to appear on US TV. Soon after, a stunning Royal Command Performance secured a contract with the Rank Organisation. His debut movie, Trouble In Store (1953), earned him a British Academy Award, and throughout the 1950s he was Rank's top box-office earner. In 1968 he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in his only American film, The Night They Raided Minsky's.

n He has his own philosophy for amusing a universal audience: ''I endeavour to make my comedy entertain people from the age of four to six up to 96, because if anybody hasn't got a slightly childish sense of humour they can't be very happy.'' Despite the despair of his movie mentor, Mr Grimsdale, his talent for creating happiness has long been recognised by the ''establishment''. His most recent accolade came when British Comedy Society director Morris Bright unveiled a plaque in the 83-year-old's honour in the gardens of Pinewood Studios. ''It is absolutely marvellous. I'm really delighted,'' said Norman, before falling backwards off his bench.

Norman Wisdom stars in One Good Turn on BBC2 at 1.10pm.