After the end of the war, Bygraves worked on building sites, while entertaining in pubs in the evenings. He toured in a variety show with Frankie Howerd, who in turn introduced him to Eric Sykes, and they began writing routines together. He made his first appearance at the London Palladium supporting Abbott and Costello, and in 1951 Judy Garland invited him to perform in New York. With Sykes, he also developed the radio show "Educating Archie", starring ventriloquist Peter Brough and his dummy Archie Andrews, and also featuring Bygraves in the role of Archie's teacher. The idea for the programme came from record producer Wally Ridley, who also produced Bygraves' records during the 1950s.