Ivor Novello, born David Ivor Davies (1893-1951), was a versatile Welsh artist and one of the most celebrated British stars of the first half of the 20th century. His career took off during the First World War as the composer of the celebrated patriotic song "Keep the Home Fires Burning". Subsequently, he became an acclaimed silent film actor, known for his leading roles in Alfred Hitchcock's early films, including *The Lodger* and *Downhill*. However, Novello achieved his greatest fame in the West End theatre, where he wrote, composed, and starred in a series of lavish and romantic operettas and musicals that were phenomenally successful, such as *Glamorous Night*, *The Dancing Years*, and *King's Rhapsody*. His legacy is celebrated through the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, established in his honour in 1955 to recognise excellence in composition and songwriting in the United Kingdom.