Why is there no statue of Dorothy Paul in Dennistoun? Why is it that the comedy star - arguably the greatest Scots female talent of her generation - was never offered a starring role in panto in any of Scotland’s No 1 theatres? (Theatres were graded then). And why did television producers never commission a sitcom based around the woman who was undoubtably Britain’s answer to Lucille Ball?

The questions are flying around in the head at the moment because yesterday the comedy actor celebrated her 88th birthday, with a special get together in Glasgow’s Oran Mor. (The performer hasn’t been on the professional stage since 2015; “I've loved entertaining the audiences in my one-woman show these past 23 years darlin',” she said at the time, “but there have been times when I've looked out there, and the memory has gone. Blank.”)

Paul’s memory is even more hazy these days. Yet, the mini party serves to remind what a talent she is. And at a same time underlining the fact she never received the recognition she truly deserved.

Young Dorothy Pollock’s showbiz career however began successfully enough. She was an incredible singer, a gifted soprano and once she left her job in the Kraft Cheese factory, showbiz work came her way. It wasn’t too long before she was signed up by STV in the late Fifties to appear in an afternoon revue show, The One O’Clock Gang.

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But was her career hampered by her looks? “I was a dolly bird,” she said, later, not at all unhappy with the description, yet unaware that TV........

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