The notorious Kray twins were remembered for their ruthless control over London's underworld but were also well-known figures on the capital's club scene. At their nightclub The Double R Club, they mingled with some of the biggest stars of their time, including Carry On legend Barbara Windsor and future James Bond Roger Moore. But one celebrity who narrowly avoided a run-in with the infamous gangsters was the petite comedy actor Ronnie Corbett.
A resurfaced interview with writer Barry Cryer for the My Time Capsule podcast recounts how the 5'1" star was performing at a Soho club called Winston's in the mid-1960s. The club was a typical late-night Soho haunt, frequented by actors and gangsters alike. Corbett was on stage as part of a revue called Travelling Light when someone in the audience threw a bread roll at him.
In an attempt to throw it back, Corbett accidentally hit Ronnie Kray square in the face. Fortunately, as Cryer explained, the Krays were big fans of Corbett, who was already a well-known figure thanks to his work on BBC1's The Frost Report and various films. As a result, Ronnie Kray chose not to take offence.
Barry recalled: "Ron was on a little glass stage at Winston's one night and somebody threw a bread roll and hit him in the face. "He threw it back and hit Ronnie Kray in the face..
. thank God they laughed. " He further revealed that despite their criminal activities, the Krays were sticklers for good manners.
This was evident when someone swore in front of Ba.
