Trivia

Wrote eleven detective novels from 1961 onwards; the first, "The Nose On My Face", was filmed in 1963 as The Model Murder Case (1963).

He lost the sight in one eye (after disobeying doctor's orders by not resting properly) as a result of an accident during the recording of a swordfight with Basil Henson on the set of the Sexton Blake (1967) tale "Sexton Blake v. The Organisation" in 1968. Ironically, Payne was actually an expert fight director.

Was a self-taught pianist.

Son of a carpenter.Attended Belmont School and Tottenham Grammar. Lost his father aged three, and, along with his two siblings, had a strict upbringing by his methodist mother. Left school at sixteen to do clerical work. Trained for acting at the Old Vic in 1939.

Was an enthusiastic oil painter.

Was theatre-trained at the Old Vic School in 1939. As a conscientious objector when WWII broke out, he was exempted from military service under the proviso that he toured with the Old Vic.