Melvyn Hayes: Biography, Children, Net Worth & Career

You might know him as the cheeky gunner Gloria Beaumont from It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, but Melvyn Hayes’s life story stretches far beyond that iconic costume. With more than 75 years in show business, the London-born actor has survived child stardom, horror classics, and a deeply personal family journey that few fans ever hear about. This article brings together verified facts about his career, his children, and the financial legacy he built along the way.

Full name: Melvyn Hayes (né Hyams) ·
Born: 11 January 1935, London, England ·
Career length: over 75 years ·
Known for: Gloria Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum ·
Children: 5 ·
Net worth (estimated): £1 million – £3 million

The eight entries below pull together the core biographical data from multiple verified sources—a mix of official records, industry databases, and Hayes’s own website.

How many children does Melvyn Hayes have?

Actor Melvyn Hayes has five birth children, according to a profile in the Express (UK news). The same article notes that he and his current wife, Jayne Male, have also fostered more than 50 children over the years, including brothers Josh and Jordan. His official website adds that he has six birth children and two adopted sons—a discrepancy that likely reflects a blended family counted differently across sources.

List of children and their names

• From his marriage to Rosalind Allan: details not publicly listed.
• From his marriage to Wendy Padbury: details not publicly listed.
• From his marriage to Jayne Male: one child together, per IMDb Biography.
• Two adopted sons are mentioned on melvynhayes.com.

Family life and marriage

Hayes married actress Wendy Padbury in 1969; they later divorced. He is currently married to Jayne Male. A 2014 Telegraph interview reveals that the couple have fostered more than 50 children, many with disabilities or special needs.

What was Melvyn Hayes famous for?

His defining role is Gunner ‘Gloria’ Beaumont in the BBC sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, which aired from 1974 to 1981 (Wikipedia). The show, set in the British Army in India during World War II, made Hayes a household name. But the actor had already logged two decades of work before that.

Role in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum

• Character: Gunner ‘Gloria’ Beaumont, a flamboyant entertainer in a concert party.
• Duration: 1974–1981 (series run).
• Impact: Became his most recognised part, earning him a place in British sitcom history (IMDb).

Film appearances including The Curse of Frankenstein

Hayes appeared in the Hammer horror classic The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) as a young assistant (IMDb). He also starred in the Cliff Richard musicals The Young Ones (1961), Summer Holiday (1963), and Wonderful Life (1964)—all confirmed on his official website.

Voice-over work

He voiced characters in the animated series SuperTed (1983–1986) and The Further Adventures of SuperTed (1989), according to Wikipedia.

“I’ve been very lucky — I’ve worked with the best, from Hammer to Cliff Richard to the BBC.”

— Melvyn Hayes, as reported in a 2014 Telegraph interview

How much is Melvyn Hayes worth?

Reportedly, Melvyn Hayes’s net worth is estimated between £1 million and £3 million. The figure comes from a 2014 Telegraph article that explored his finances, including the fact that he receives no repeat fees for It Ain’t Half Hot Mum because of what he called the BBC’s “too PC” policy.

Estimated net worth sources

• Long-running TV series: main income came from the seven-year run of It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
• Film royalties: minimal, typical for supporting roles.
• Voice-over work: steady income from SuperTed and commercial work.
• Memoir advance: It Ain’t Half Late, Mum (2026) may generate additional income (Waterstones (book retailer)).

Earnings from acting and voice-over

Hayes has never revealed his exact net worth. The £1 million–£3 million range is a journalist’s estimate based on property and career earnings. The Telegraph noted that his home in Kent was worth about £500,000 at the time.

What happened to Melvyn Hayes’ wife?

Melvyn Hayes was married to actress Wendy Padbury from 1969 until their divorce. According to Wikipedia, they had children together. Padbury is alive as of 2025 but has not publicly discussed the divorce. Hayes later married Jayne Male.

Wendy Padbury marriage

• Married: 1969 (IMDb).
• Children: at least two, per IMDb biography.
• Divorce: date not publicly disclosed.

Current marital status

Hayes is currently married to Jayne Male, an author and foster carer. The couple have one child together and have fostered over 50 children, as reported by the Express.

Who are the parents of Melvyn Hayes?

Melvyn Hayes was born Melvyn Hyams to Jewish immigrant parents in London. His father’s name is not widely recorded, but Wikipedia notes that his family background was Jewish.

Father and mother names

• Father: not named in public sources.
• Mother: not named in public sources.
• Family origin: Jewish immigrants.

Family background

According to a 2026 book listing on Waterstones, Hayes was evacuated during World War II—a formative experience that he writes about in his memoir.

Timeline: Melvyn Hayes career milestones

The six key dates below trace his journey from a child actor in wartime London to a published author in his tenth decade.

• 1935 – Born Melvyn Hyams in London (IMDb).
• 1940s – Began acting as a child; exact first role unconfirmed.
• 1957 – Appeared in The Curse of Frankenstein (IMDb).
• 1961–1964 – Starred in three Cliff Richard films (melvynhayes.com).
• 1974–1981 – Played Gloria Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum (Wikipedia).
• 2026 – Published memoir It Ain’t Half Late, Mum (Waterstones).

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Date and place of birth from IMDb and Wikipedia.
• Role as Gloria Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
• Marriage to Wendy Padbury and later to Jayne Male.
• Fostered more than 50 children (as reported by the Express and Telegraph).
• Evacuated during World War II (Waterstones).

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth: estimates vary across sources.
• Divorce date from Wendy Padbury not publicly recorded.
• Current relationship status beyond marriage to Jayne Male not independently verified.
• Discrepancy between “five children” (Express) and “six birth children + two adopted” (melvynhayes.com).

Quotes and perspectives

“At the age of 91 and after 75 years in showbiz, actor Melvyn Hayes has finally written his memoir.”

— Graham Rogers Radio, as posted on Facebook, 2026

“Sitcom star Melvyn Hayes turned superdad to more than 50 foster children.”

— Express, 2014

“I’ve been very lucky — I’ve worked with the best, from Hammer to Cliff Richard to the BBC.”

— Melvyn Hayes, as reported in a 2014 Telegraph interview

Editor’s note: The first quote is a third-party Facebook post reporting the news; the second is a headline from a national newspaper; the third is an indirect quote from a verified Telegraph article. All three are consistent with the known facts of Hayes’s life and career.

Summary

The story of Melvyn Hayes is not just one of a sitcom catchphrase but of a performer who re-invented himself as a family man in his later years. His memoir It Ain’t Half Late, Mum (Waterstones, 2026) offers a chance to reconcile the on-screen clown with the man who fostered more than 50 children. For fans of British comedy and anyone curious about longevity in show business, the lesson is clear: talent can open doors, but character determines what happens once you step through them.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• John Challis: Biography, Cause of Death, and Boycie Legacy – another British sitcom icon from the same era.
• Roger Lloyd-Pack: Trigger Actor’s Life and Career – a contemporary of Hayes in the world of classic British comedy.