Marti Caine

Marti Caine, born Lynne Denise Shepherd (26 January 1944 - 4 November 1995) was an English actress, dancer, presenter, singer, writer, and comedienne who gained fame from the television talent show New Faces and became a major variety star.

Early life

Her mother had a history of alcoholism and drug abuse after Lynne's father died from cancer and, during her childhood, Lynne suffered sexual abuse from her paternal grandfather. Aged 17, she married the local butcher's boy and became "just another starry-eyed wannabe... married with two babies, an ex-beauty queen, stuck on a council estate, with little hope of fulfilling any dreams for a better life." Aged 19 and unable to pay the £19 cost of her mother's funeral expenses, she auditioned as Lynne Stringer (her married name) at the Chapeltown Working Men's Club outside Sheffield. Her husband Malcolm Stringer chose her eventual stage name from a gardening book, though Marta Cane (tomato cane) was misspelled at an early gig and 'Marti Caine' remained with her.

Professional success

After working many years on the club circuit in Yorkshire as a stand-up...
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