Complex sentence: In the early 1950s, as a scoutmaster in London he attempted to recruit acts for a stage show, and approached first Michael Bentine and then, at Bentine's recommendation, Peter Sellers.
Split into simpler sentences: In the early 1950s, as a scoutmaster in London, he attempted to recruit acts for a stage show. He approached Michael Bentine, and then, at Bentine's recommendation, Peter Sellers.