Don Estelle Pickfords man in one episode (1969) and an ARP Warden called Gerald in three more (1970). He eventually landed the role of Gunner "Lofty" Sugden in the British sitcom, "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" which was first broadcast in 1974 and ran until 1981. Windsor Davies often took the micky out of Lofty in the episodes. The character was given the ironic nickname of "Lofty" because of Estelle's short stature. Estelle had a powerful tenor voice, and had a Number 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1975 with a semi-comic version of "Whispering Grass", followed by a cover
Don Estelle of "Paper Doll" which reached number 41, and a top ten LP, "Sing Lofty" (1976), all three were recorded with "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" co-star Windsor Davies. Estelle also acted in the films "Not Now, Comrade" (1976) and "A Private Function" (1984) as well as "" (1984) alongside Melvyn Hayes, who also appeared in 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum". In the first series of "The League of Gentlemen", he made brief appearances in two episodes as Little Don, the keeper of the Roundabout Zoo (a zoo on the island of a roundabout). In 2001, he appeared in an episode