Frankie Howerd, the sad-faced clown with the most famous stutter in showbiz, endeared himself to millions across four generations of audiences. A master of innuendo, he was a seaside postcard come to life. But behind the laughter was a shy, clumsy man who rehearsed every line to perfection and who was continuously haunted by the demon of self-doubt. William Hall is the author of Raising Caine.