The long-running comic strip Andy Capp and his creator Reg Smythe are from Hartlepool.

Andy Capp was a working class guy who never worked and spent most of his time drinking at a pub or in conflict with his wife Flo. As Homer Simpson put it “Oh, Andy Capp. You wife-beating drunk. Heh heh heh.”

For a long time he also had a trademark cigarette dangling from his mouth. Andy Capp quit in 1983 when his creator did.

There is a statue erected on the Headland to celebrate Andy Capp. Will post my pictures soon.

According to the British Cartoon Archive there was a female spin-off in the Daily Mirror in 1997 called Mandy Capp (not done by Smythe) that never took off. Would love to see images of this.

British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent (1453 image results for Reg Smythe)

British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent - Smythe Bio

Toonhound

Toonopedia

BBC video of Andy Capp Statue in the Headland being unveiled

Monkey Hanger: Andy Capp