HOW many Oscar speeches have their been when famous stars thank their inspirational teachers?

Now the so-called Queen of Black Comedy has done the same in her new book and named her Bridport teacher - Arthur Woodgate.

Not everyone can claim to have had Stevie Wonder sing “Happy Birthday” to them – in person. Or to have been granted a ten minute interview with Whoopi Goldberg – that lasted for two hours - but Mr Woodgate's erstwhile pupil Angie Le Mar can.

She was the first black British performer to appear at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theatre, gaining further international acclaim after performing at New York’s Apollo Theatre, and the Comedy Act Theatre in Los Angeles.

With the first ever sell-out show by a female Black comedy act in London’s West End with her one woman show Off The Hook at the Apollo Theatre, her popularity earned her the title "The Queen of Black Comedy”

TV appearances have included the BBC’s The Real McCoy, Channel 4’s Get Up, Stand Up, and Grumpy Old Women.

She presented The Saturday Morning Show on Choice FM, and the Angie Le Mar Show on BBC Radio London.

As a playwright and actress Angie has had success with a number of productions on the London stage and, with Funny Black Women On The Edge, sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Angie reminisces over the highs and lows of her life in her first book “Full Circle,” recently launched at Europe’s biggest bookshop i Waterstones in Piccadilly. With her by special invitation was her teacher of more than 40 years ago, Bridport’s Arthur Woodgate.

Angie says in her book: “There’s always one teacher in a child’s life and that special teacher for me was Mr Woodgate.

“He was one of those teachers who made you think. He would talk to you and make you feel that you were somebody and that was encouraging. He taught drama and always encouraged me. He put me in little plays and all the school productions. He gave me the bug for acting. ”

Admitting to being very touched and not a little embarrassed by Angie’s words, “Sir”, as Angie still calls him, said “Angie has done brilliantly, and it’s wonderful to think that I may have contributed something towards this. Success has not spoiled her – she still lives in the same house in Lewisham as she did as a little girl, and it was very clear at the book launch that those who know her simply love her.”

Mr Woodgate hinted that Angie Le Mar could be appearing locally at some point, quite possibly by bringing her own individual brand of humour to Bridport’s first “Mental Wellbeing Festival” in October.