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BADDIEL AND SKINNER UNPLANNED ITV-Avalon / x30m-e / 2000-2002 (Season One: 28 May - 14 June) Producer: Robyn O'Brien / Director: Peter Orton A teaming up again of Frank Skinner and David Baddiel after their brilliant Fantasy Football League show, this time the twist was that the show was totally live and unrehearsed, totally impromptu with no script and plenty of input from the studio audience. Shown four times a week usually around 10.30pm, at the end of each show David (an accomplished pianist ) and Frank attempted to perform a song suggested by the audience but usually never actually managed to complete it.
BANG BANG IT'S REEVES AND MORTIMER BBC2 / 6x30m-e/ 1999 Writers: Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer / Director: Mark Mylod Sketch series with the manic talents of Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, this series is really a continuation of their previous show The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.
BARBARA WITH BRADEN BBC / 1x40m-e / 1953 29 July Wednesday 8.15pm Writers: Frank Muir, Denis Norden / Producer: Brian Tesler Sketch show tailored to the talents of husband and wife team Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly.
THE BARNSTORMERS BBC2 / 1x30m-e / 1969 10 September - Wednesday 10.00pm Writer: Austin Steele / Monologues: G. Marriot Edgar, Stanley Holloway / Producer/Director: Barry Lupino Special in which Stanley Holloway recited some of his more famous monologues (Albert and the Lion etc).
THE BARRON KNIGHTS SHOW Channel Four-Barron Knights / 1x60m-e / 1984 28 December - Friday 8.30pm Producer: Butch Baker / Executive Producer: Tony Avern / Director: Tony Vanden-Ende Sketch series with plenty of musical moments and featuring the dubious talents of the comedy singing group The Barron Knights (The Knights made a habit of changing the words of popular songs for comedic effect and managed quite a few hit records). See also Twice Knightly and Get Knighted.
BARRY HUMPHRIES' SCANDALS BBC2 / 5x30m-e / 1970 12 January - 9 February Mondays 9.10pm Writers: Barry Humphries, Ian Davidson / Producer: Dennis Main Wilson / Director: David O'Clee Humphries first starring TV series introducing Mrs Edna Everage (yet to be made a Dame) as well as other characters like Vicar Kevin Cock and clairvoyant Madame Barrie. The series grew out of a one off special called Strangers in the Night. Guest stars included Diana Dors, Willie Rushton and Arthur Mullard.
THE BARRY HUMPHRIES SHOW BBC2 / 2x50m-e 1x45m-e / 1976-77 Writers: Barry Humphries, Ian Davidson / Producers: Terry Hughes, Roger Race Three specials all starring Humphries is his guise as Dame Edna Everage. The Dates of the shows were:- 1. 3 March 1976 Wednesday 9.10pm (This was the 45 minute show) / 2. 26 September 1977 Monday 8.10pm / 3. 5 December 1977 Monday 8.10pm
BARRY WELSH IS COMING HTV Wales-Absolutely / 6x30m-e / 2000 Fridays 10.30pm First Episode: 21 July Producer: Peter Baikie / Director: Lissa Evans A regional only sketch series starring John Sparkes who had been one of the mian cast members of the excellent sketch show Absolutely.
BATH H & C BBC / 1x15m-e / 1938 28 October - Friday 3.45pm Producer: Reginald Smith One off comedy sketch featuring a pre Mr Pastry Richard Hearne, also appearing were George Nelson and Lili Palmer.
BATH NIGHT WITH BRADEN BBC / 6x30m-e / 1955 3 June - 8 July Fridays 11.00pm Producer: Brian Tesler Sketch series starring Canadian Bernard Braden, here appearing without his wife Barbara Kelly (she usually made a habit of appearing with Braden).
BAXTER ON... BBC1 / 6x25m-e / 1964 11 April - 20 June Saturdays 8.50pm shown fortnightly Writer: Stanley Baxter / Producer: Michael Mills Sketch series which saw Scottish comedian Stanley Baxter taking a look at a different subject each week. These were:- Travel, Television, Law, Theatre, Class and Films. Assisting Baxter was June Whitfield.
THE BBC NEW COMEDY AWARDS BBC Choice / 8x30m-e / 2000 Mondays 11.00pm First Episode: 31 July Producer: Karen Rosie / Director: Sue McMahon A knockout stand up competition hosted by the clever Peter Kay and Terry Alderton (who hosted the final). Prize was a starring show on BBC Choice. The winner was Jason John Whitehead and the two runners up were Anthony J. Brown and Angie McEvoy. The final was later shown on BBC1 on 5 September 2000, musical guests were World Party and the judges were Barry Cryer, Jim Bowen, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Kay and Doon MacKichan.
BBC-3
Producer: Ned Sherrin / Director: Ned Sherrin, Darrol Blake Satirical sketch series in the vein of That Was The Week That Was and Not So Much a Programme... The shows were a mixture of sketches discussions and songs. The show is best remembered now for the occasion on 13 November 1965 when Kenneth Tynan the theatre critic caused shock and outrage by becoming the first person to say a certain four letter word beginning in F and ending in K on British Television. The regular cast was headed by John Bird and also featured Robert Robinson, Leonard Rossiter, Bill Oddie, John Fortune, Alan Bennett, Patrick Campbell, Malcolm Muggeridge, Lynda Baron and David Battley.
BEADLE'S ABOUT London Weekend Television / x30m-e / 1986-95 Often bizarre practical joke based show with Jeremy Beadle fooling members of the public into thinking various strange calamities have befallen them, including making someone believe there car has just been blown up or that there house is about to be demolished.
BEAT UP THE TOWN BBC / 1x60m-e / 1957 22 April - Monday 8.15pm black and white Music: Paddy Roberts / Producer: Francis Essex One off stand up comedy special for Easter with Bob Monkhouse, Terry-Thomas, Cyril Fletcher and Jill Day.
BEBE DANIELS AND BEN LYON BBC / 1954 2 April Throughout the evening of Saturday 2 April 1954 married Ben and Bebe appeared in short segments showing them and their kids Richard and Barbara getting ready for their 15 minute extravaganza at 11.00pm. In 1939 (14 January - Friday 9.00pm) the pair had aappeared in another 15 minute sketch and in 1955 went on to star in their own popular domestic sitcom Life With The Lyons.
BEFORE THE FRINGE BBC2 / 14x30m-e / 1967 two seasons black and white Producer: Robin Nash A series featuring some of the talent who were in vogue before the new broom of Beyond the Fringe swept through comedy. The regular performers were Alan Melville, Hermoine Baddeley, Cicely Courtnidge, Betty Marsden, Dora Bryan, Beryl Reid, Eunice Gayson, Hugh Paddick, Ronnie Barker and Hermoine Gingold. Some of the material was written by Noel Coward, Flanders and Swann, Hermoine Gingold and Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES BBC / 11x30m-e 3x15m-e / 1952-55 Three seasons black and white Writers: Sid Colin, Talbot Rothwell, David Climie / Producers: Kenneth Carter (season 1), Bill Ward (seasons 2-3) General entertainment and comedy series starring 'Big Hearted' Arthur Askey. Also helping out was Diana Dors alike, the buxom Sabrina who became a TV sex symbol. Dickie Henderson was also a regular during the second season. See also below.
BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES Associated-Rediffusion-Jack Hylton / 14x30m-e / 1956-58 Four seasons black and white Writers: Kavanagh Productions (seasons 1-2), Sid Colin, Talbot Rothwell (season 3) / Producer/Directors: Kenneth Carter (seasons 1-3), Bill Hitchcock (season 4) A continuation of Arthur's BBC show (see above) but switched to the fledging ITV service. Sabrina was again on hand as was Arthur's daughter Anthea and June Whitfield. Season four consisted of only one episode because of Arthur falling ill. See also the Arthur Askey Show, Love and Kisses, Living it Up and Arthur's Treasured Volumes.
BEING DOM JOLY C4 / 1x50m-e / 28 December 2001 Producer:
Alex Jackson-Long BENEATH THE NEWS BBC1 / 4x30m-e / 1975 1 - 22 August Fridays 9.25pm Writer: John Hudson / Producer: John Duncan / Director: Ray Butt A show which took a sideways look at the weeks news, the resident team were John Bassett, Doug Fisher, Hilary Pritchard and Ian Davidson.
THE BEN ELTON SHOW BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1998 Thursdays 10.00pm Producer: Geoff Atkinson / Director: Geraldine Dowd Stand up comedy with fast talking Ben Elton. One intriguing element was Ronnie Corbett reviving his chair bound monologues from The Two Ronnies. Also appearing were the Australian duo Roy and H.G.
BEN ELTON - THE MAN FROM AUNTIE BBC1 / 12x30m-e / 1990 and 1994 Writer: Ben Elton / Producer: Geoffrey Perkins / Director: John Burrows A series of mostly stand up but with some sketches thrown in. The very funny Elton was never shy of tackling near the knuckle subjects often concerning sex, Elton also delivered his material at a breakneck pace hardly giving you time to catch your breath.
Producers: Kenneth Carter, Duncan Wood, John Street, David Croft The sketch series that made Hill's name. Hill's material at this time often poked fun at other TV shows and his regular guests included Patricia Hayes, Henry McGee and June Whitfield.
THE BENNY HILL SHOW ITV Network (ATV) / 5x60m-e 3x55m-e / 1957-60 Writers: Dave Freeman, Benny Hill / Producer/Directors: Brian Tesler, Albert Locke, Kenneth Carter A collection of sketch specials made for the commercial network whilst Hill was also appearing on the BBC (see above).
THE BENNY HILL SHOW ITV Network (ATV) / 1x60m-e / 1967 26 December Tuesday 7.00pm Writer: Benny Hill / Producer: Jon Scoffield / Director: Philip Casson One off sketch special filmed in colour and made expressly for the American market, guests were Nicholas Parsons, Dave Freeman, Arthur Mullard and Rita Webb.
THE BENNY HILL SHOW (ITV Network) Thames / 58x60m-e / 1969-89 Writer: Benny Hill Probably the quintessential Hill sketch series featuring all his favourite elements, scanitly clad women, risqué sketches and the like which eventually led to his being dropped by Thames in 1989 for being seen as 'non-PC'. Hill's regular co-horts were Henry McGee, Bob Todd, Jack Wright, Rita Webb, Nicholas Parsons, Jenny Lee-Wright, Sue Upton, Anna Dawson, Patricia Hayes and Louise English.
BENNY HILL - UNSEEN ITV-D.L. Taffner / 2x30m-e / 1994 12 April and 16 May Writer: BVenny Hill / Executive Producers: Philip Jones, Don Taffner A collection of new material that Hill had filmed in New York not long before his death on 18th April 1992.
BENTINE Thames / 1x45m-e / 1975 22 September - Monday 6.45pm Writers: Michael bentine, John Ennis / Producer: David Clark / Director: Leon Thau One off sketch based special from Michael Bentine. Also featuring Geoffrey Bayldon, Nat Jackley, Jack Haig, James Berwick and Jan Hunt.
THE BERNARD BRESSLAW SHOW ATV / 4x60m-e / 1958-59 Writers: Sid Green, Dick Hills / Producers: Albert Locke, Kenneth Carter Four comedy specials for a pre Carry On Bernard Bresslaw but following his success in The Army Game. The shows were broadcast:- 1. 24 August 1958 - Sunday 8.30pm / 2. 22 November 1958 - Saturday7.55pm / 3. 18April 1959 - Saturday 7.55pm / 4. 18 July 1959 - Saturday 8.00pm
BERNARD MANNING Granada / 1x60m-e / 1980 Producer: Johnny Hamp / Director: Nicholas Ferguson A rare TV outing for the controversial stand up comedian whose material was often near the knuckle with it's stereotyping and non political correctness.
BERNARD MANNING IN LAS VEGAS Granada / 1x60m-e / 1978 8 February Documentary. A camera crew follow Bernard Manning to America as he prepares to perform at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Also appearing were Joan Rivers and Pat Henry.
BERNIE Thames / 13x30m-e / 1978 and 1980 2 Seasons Script Editors: Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke / Producer: John Ammonds Sketch series with Bernie Winters (his first solo vehicle following his splitting up with Brother Mike) . Writers involved included Mortimer and Cooke, Alex Shearer, David Renwick and Barry Cryer. Bernie's massive St Bernard dog Schnorbitz also appeared each week.
BERNIE CLIFTON ATV / 1x30m-e / 1980 6 July - Sunday 9.15pm Writers: Andrew Marshall, David Renwick, Max Sherrington / Producer/Director: Royston Mayoh One off comedy sketch based show starring Bernie Clifton.
BERYL REID BBC2 'Show of the Week' / 1x40m-e / 1967 16 September - Saturday 7.10pm Writers: Beryl Reid, Arthur Macrae, Harold Pinter, Alan Melville, N.F. Simpson / Producer: Robin Nash Sketch special starring Beryl Reid. William Mervyn and Raymond Lockhart also apeeared. Reid also appeared in a short segment in that years Christmas Night With the Stars (broadcast 25 December 1967).
BERYL REID BBC / 3x50m-e / 1977&1979 Producer: Robin Nash, Brian Whitehouse 3 specials with Beryl Reid re-enacting some of her favourite skits and sketches. The writers included N.F. Simpson, Joe Orton (a clip from Entertaining Mr Sloane also featuring Malcolm McDowell). Harold Pinter and Noel Coward. Actors appearing included Derek Fowlds, Avril Anger, John Standing, Norman Rossington, David Lodge and Patricia Hayes. Broadcast dates were:- 1. 12 December 1977 - Monday 8.00pm / 2. 5 February 1979 - Monday / 3. 18 December 1979 - Tuesday 9.45pm
BERYL REID SAYS GOOD EVENING BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1968 4 March - 8 April Monday 7.30pm Producer: Robin Nash Comedy sketch series that had some heavyweight writers working on it including N.F. Simpson, Harold Pinter and John Mortimer, although Alan Melville was the main writer. Reid was assisted by Hugh Paddick and each week folk singer Jake Thackery performed a song.
BESIDE THE SEASIDE Associated Rediffusion-Jack Hylton / 6x30m-e / 1957 28 June - 6 September Fridays 9.00pm Shown fortnightly Director: Bimbi Harris Sketch series that pretended to come from a seaside resort where Richard Murdoch was Entertainments Manager also on hand Glenn Melvyn and Danny Ross.
BE SOON BBC / 6x30m-e / 1957-58 25 October 1957 - 9 January 1958 black and white Writers: Jack Bradley, Ray Davies, Eddie Maguire / Producer: Barney Coleman A mostly stand up comedy series featuring the lugubrious Hylda Baker, malapropism to the fore, held conversations with her silent friend Cynthia (played by the dragged up Guy Middleton).
THE BETTY DRIVER SHOW BBC / 6x30m-e / 1952 (1 May - 10 July / Thursdays 9.oopm & fortnightly) Creator/Producer: Kenneth Milne-Buckley Variety show. Betty Driver is now best known as barmaid Betty Turpin in Coronation Street but from the 1930's to 1950's was a popular comedy and singing star. This series was a mixture of stand up comedy, sketches and musical items. Wally Peterson, one of the Peterson brothers musical trio appeared each week and Betty later married him.
BETWEEN THE LINES BBC1 / 6x25m-e / 1964 30 April - 11 June Thursdays 6.35pm black and white Producer: Pharic MacLaren / Director: David Bell Scottish based satirical comedy show tackling a different subject each week. Fulton Mackay, Tom Conti, Gay Hamilton, Una McLean and Alex McAvoy headed the cast. Musical support was provided by Jeannie Lambe.
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS: The Best of Rory Bremner Channel 4 / 6x30m-e / 1999 4 May - Tuesday 11.00pm Executive Producer: Elaine Morris / Producer: Jon Magnusson Compilation of the best bits of the Rory Bremner...Who Else?. With John Bird and John Fortune.
BEYOND A JOKE BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 1972 21 April - 26 May Fridays 10.10pm Writers: Eleanor Bron, Michael Frayn / Producer: Robert Chetwyn / Director: Vernon Lawrence A series of mostly sketch elements starring Eleanor Bron supported by John Bird and Barrie Ingham.
BEYOND THE FRINGE BBC2 / 1x60m-e / 1964 12 December - Saturday 9.10pm Writers: Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller / Producer: Don Silverman / Director: Duncan Wood A final performance of the famous revue specially staged for television and with some new material. Bennett, Miller, Cook and Moore starred. THE BIG IMPRESSION see ALISTAIR McGOWAN'S BIG IMPRESSION
A BIG SLICE OF JO BRAND Channel 4-CX / 1x50m-e / 1996 10 October - Thursdays 10.45pm Writer: Jo Brand, Jim Miller / Executive Producer: Vivienne Close / Producer: Katie Lander A one off special for Jo Brand in much the same vein as sketch and stand up show Through the Cakehole.
BIG TRAIN BBC2 / 12x30m-e / 1998-2002 First episode: 9 November Writers: Graham Linehan, Arthur Matthews / Producer: Sioned Williams Frantic and varied comedy sketch show from the brains behind Father Ted. The cast included Amelia Bullmore, Julia Davis, Kevin Eldon, Mark Heap and Simon Pegg. Season two appeared some four years after the first.
THE BIG YIN BBC2 'Out of the Question' / 1x40m-e / 1985 16 February - Saturday 10.55pm Billy Connelly is grilled by 80 Scottish Teenagers. The programme was shown first in Scotland as part of a series called Out of the Question.
BILL HICKS - RELENTLESS Channel Four-Tiger / 1x60m-e / 1992 2 June Thursday 11.25pm Writer: Bill Hicks / Executive Producer: Charles Brand / Producer: Gillian Strachan / Director: Chris Bould A stand up performance by Bill Hicks recorded at the 1991 Montreal Just For Laughs comedy festival.
BILL HICKS - REVELATIONS Channel Four-Tiger Aspect / 1x60m-e / 1993 27 May - Thursday 10.35pm Writer: Bill Hicks / Producer: Gillian Strachan / Director: Chris Bould A further stand up show for US Comic Bill Hicks. The extremely funny Hicks died tragically young at the age of 32 from Cancer on 26 February 1994.
BILLY CONNOLLY IN CONCERT BBC1 / 1x45m-e / 1978 1 May - Monday 10.25pm Writer: Billy Connolly / Producer: Michael Hurll A stand up concert performance by the self styled "Big Yin" Billy Connolly.
BILLY CONNOLLY'S ONE NIGHT STAND BBC / 1x30m-e / 1997 Producer: Andy Bates / Executive Producer: Kim Turberville Another stand up performance by Billy Connolly, this was performed in Connolly's home town of Glasgow.
BILLY DAINTY, ESQ Thames / 1x60m-e 6x45m-e / 1975-76 1 Pilot and 1 season Pilot: 17 Sep 1975 / Season: 17 May - 21 June 1976 Writers: Eric Davidson, Dick Hills, John Hudson, Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke, Tony Bilbow, Vince Powell / Producer/Director: Dennis Kirkland Sketch series elevating club comic Billy Dainty to his own prime time show.
BILLY MALONEY BBC / 1x10m-e / 1937 26 January Tuesday 3.00pm Producer: Dallas Bower A brief slot from the infancy of television for an Australian stand up comedian Billy Maloney.
A BIT OF FRY AND LAURIE BBC / 1x35m-e 25x30m-e / 1986-95 1 special and four seasons Writers: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie / Producer: Roger Ordish, Jon Plowman, Kevin Bishop Sketch series from two former Cambridge graduates Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. The pair were also working with Ben Elton and the Blackadder team at the same time.
THE BLACK ABBOTS Yorkshire / 2x30m-e / 1980 Writer: Mike Goddard, John Barlett / Producer: Alan Tarrant, Ian Bolt /Director: Ian Bolt A pair of one off comedy specials for comedy singing act The Black Abbots, one the group was Russ Abbot, who would later go onto his own shows of course. The Black Abbots were Russ Abbot, Clive Jones, Lennie Reynolds, Bobby Turner. The shows were Broadcast 1. 3 April 1980 - Thursday 8.30pm / 2. 19 December 1980 - Friday 7.30pm
THE BLACK SAFARI BBC2 / 1x60m-e / 1972 24 November - Friday 9.55pm Writer: Douglas Botting / Director: Colin Luke A neat twist which saw four black men conduct an expedition along the Leeds - Liverpool Canal to look for the heart of Britain. TV explorer Douglas Botting acted as guide and the men involved were Blove Modisap, Medel Jordine, Yemi Ajibade and Horace Ove.
BLESS MY SOUL Channel Four-Antonine / 1x55m-e / 1984 23 April - Monday 11.25pm Writers: David MacLennan, David Anderson / Executive Producer: Paddy Higsen / Producer/Director: Sean Hardie An Easter special apparently broadcast from the Second Church of Christ Monetarist, featured were David Anderson, Terry Neason, David McNiven, Peter Capaldi, David Hicjks, Arnold Brown and the Wildcat Theatre Company.
BLOUSE AND SKIRT Channel 4-Full Force / 1x60m-e / 1992 26 February - Wednesday 11.30pm Producer: Malcolm Frederick / Director: Brian Puig Stand up with a Caribbean flavour, see also below for a series that followed (8 years later). With:- Oliver Samuels, Errol Fabien, Winston Bell, Owen Tellis, Charles Tomlin, Blacka and Bella, Devon Morgan and Lovena Brown.
BLOUSE AND SKIRT BBC2 / 8x30m-e / 2000 29 February - 23 March Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.20pm Producer: Michelle Matherson-Frederick / Executive Producer: Angela Ferreira Sketch series featuring mostly black talent, shown twice weekly and see also above for the one off special of the same name.
BOBBY DAVRO; ROCK WITH LAUGHTER BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1993 6 July - 10 August Tuesday 7.00pm Script Associate: Terry Morrison / Producer/Director: Tudor Davies Impressionist Bobby Davro's lone BBC starring vehicle (his previous shows all having been for ITV channel TVS). Guests included Shane Ritchie, Bradley Walsh, The Grumbleweeds and Joe Pasquale. Writers included Bob Mills, Maddi Cryer, Joe Pasquale and Terry Morrison.
THE BOB DOWNE SHOW Yorkshire-Watchmaker / 1x60m-e / 1996 31 December Tuesday 10.15pm Writer: Bob Downe / Executive Producer: Elaine Bedell / Producer: Martin Cumming / Director: Brian Klein Bob Downe was a highly exaggerated camp, safari suited wig wearing Aussie briefly popular at the tail end of the 1990's. Featured on this show were Anthony Newley and Ant and Dec.
BOB HOPE AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM ATV / 1x45m-e / 1979 28 May MOnday 8.00pm Executive Producer: Syd Vinnedge A tribute hosted by Bob Hope to the London Palladium itself. Special guests were Richard Burton and Racquel Welch
THE BOB HOPE CLASSIC CABARET London Weekend Television / 1x80m-e / 1982 25 September A special performance by Bob Hope in front of Princess Margaret and filmed at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
BOB HOPE'S ROYAL BIRTHDAY PARTY London Weekend Television / 1x80m-e / 1985 6 June A special performance by Bob Hope that was filmed at London's Lyric Theatre.
BOB HOPE ROYAL GALA EVENING BBC1 / 1983 12 October A concert in aid of The Stars Organisation For Spastics starring Bob Hope and also featuring the great Eric Sykes, Jonathan Winters and Dickie Valentine.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE SHOW ITP-ATV-ABC / 1x45m-e / 1956 8 December Saturday 9.00pm Producer: Bill Lyon-Shaw An early one off special for the quick witted Monkhouse, special guest was Irene Handl.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE SHOW ITP-ABC / 1x55m-e / 1958 20 September Saturday 8.00pm Producer: Albert Locke This Bob Monkhouse special co-starred Kenneth Connor, the Carry On stalwart.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE SHOW BBC2 / 10x55m-e 10x50m-e 10x40m-e 1x45m-e / 1983-86 4 Seasons plus one special Script Associates: Dennis Berson, Spike Mullins / Producer: John Fisher This stand up series starring Bob Monkhouse also featured many high calibre guests including an up and coming Michael Barrymore, the brilliant Peter Cook, Ronnie Barker, Michael Bentine, Tommy Cooper, Bernard Manning, Spike Milligan, Norman Wisdom, Warren Mitchell, Pamela Stephenson, Bob Hope, Charlie Drake, Kenny Everett, Rich Little and Frankie Howerd to name but a few.
BOB MONKHOUSE ON THE SPOT BBC1 / 12x30m-e / 1995-96 Writer: Bob Monkhouse / Producers: Alan Nixon (1995), Phil Clarke (1996) Improv style stand up featuring Bob Monkhouse in off the cuff mode.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE COMEDY HOUR Thames / 1x60m-e / 1972 19 April - Wednesday 8.00pm Writers: Bob Monkhouse, Eric Davidson, Wally Malston / Producer: Stuart Allen The first of four one off comedy specials Monkhouse made for Thames during 1972 and 73.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE DISTURBANCE Thames / 1x60m-e / 1972 22 November Wednesday 8.00pm Writers: Bob Monkhouse, Tony Hawes / Producer: Terry Henebery The second of four Monkhouse specials.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE OFFENSIVE Thames / 1x30m-e / 1973 18 April - Wednesday 11.00pm Writers: Bob Monkhouse, Tony Hawes / Producer: Terry Henebery This special took censorship as its theme.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE BREAKDOWN Thames / 1x60m-e / 1973 12 July - Thursday 9.00pm Writers: Bob Monkhouse, Tony Hawes / Producer: David Clark The fourth and final special Monkhouse made for Thames over a two year period.
THE BOB MONKHOUSE HOUR ATV / 6x60m-e / 195*-63 black and white Creator: Denis Goodwin Six individual comedy specials starring the then rising star Bob Monkhouse. The dates of the shows were:- 1. 18 October 1958 / 2. 15 November 1958 / 3. 14 March 1959 / 4. 4 April 1959 / 5. 27 June 1959 / 6. 7 July 1963. All went out on Saturdays at 7.55pm except the last which went out on a Sunday at 8.25pm.
BOMBARDIER SECOMBE BACK AMONG THE BOYS BBC1 / 1x30m-e / 1973 22 December - Tuesday 10.00pm Producer: Kenneth Carter Harry Secombe travels to Northern Ireland to entertain the troops for Combined Services Entertainments.
BONKERS ATV-ITC / 24x30m-e / 1979 Writers: Jack Burns, David Pollock, Elias Davis, Bob Monkhouse Madcap, fast paced sketch series starring Bob Monkhouse and The Hudson Brothers. The show was hit by an ITV strike and only four shows (14 July - 4 August) were shown in the UK but the complete run was seen elsewhere (USA etc).
BOOK 'EM AN' RISK IT Channel Four-Bright Thoughts / 1x60m-e / 1983 11 August - Thursday 10.30pm Producers: Neil Anthony, Bryan Izzard / Director: Bryan Izzard Stand up comedy featuring up and coming talent - broadcast from the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall and featuring Arnold Brown, Jim Barclay, Steve Dixon, The Joeys and also Mark Arden and Stephen Frost as their characters The Oblivion Boys.
BOOM BOOM...OUT GO THE LIGHTS BBC2 / 2x30m-e / 1980-81 1. 14 October 1980 Tuesday 10.20pm 2. 5 May 1981 Tuesday 9.45pm Producer: Paul Jackson Two one off stand up specials designed to introduce some of the new wave of comedians then coming to the fore, including Rik Mayall (Show 2), NIgel Planer (2), Adrian Edmondson (2), Keith Allen (Show 1), Alexei Sayle (2), Andy De La Tour (2), Peter Richardson (2) and Pauline Melville (2)
BRACE YOURSELF SYDNEY Channel 4-Wonderdog / 1x45m-e / 193 28 December Tuesday 11.30pm Writer: Julian Clary / Producer: Elaine Morris / Director: John Henderson Documentary in which Julian Clary travelled down under to sample the delights of Australian life.
BRASS EYE Channel 4-Talkback / 6x30m-e / 1997 29 January - 5 March Wednesday 9.30pm Writers: Chris Morris, Peter Baynham, Graham Linehan, Arthur Matthews / Executive Producer: Peter Finch / Producers: Chris Morris, Caroline Leddy Controversial sketch series with Chris Morris perfecting the style he first showed on The Day Today with this show very much in that style with fake news items well to the fore including getting a Tory MP (along with Noel Edmonds) to condemn fictional new drug Cake. Morri's next sketch series Jam seemed to dispense with normal conventions of humour altogether. in 2001 there was a special episode which lampooned the media's treatment of paedophilia issues - certain celebrities took part believing they were taking part in a serious documentary and it stirred a lot of controversy.
BREMNER, BIRD AND FORTUNE Channel 4-Vera / 12x60m-e 1x30m-e / 1999-2001 Season: 17 October - 28 November 1999 Sundays 9.00pm Special: 3 January 2000 Monday 10.35pm Producers: Mark Robson (season), Geoff Atkinson (special) / Directors: Steve Connolly, Geraldine Dowd / Titles: Blazko A mixture of satire, sketches and impressionism fronted by Rory Bremner, John Bird and John Fortune. A regular part of each show was Rory as a high profile political character being put through a PR treadmill by the two Johns. There was also a docusoap pastiche looking at the lives of politicians called College Green. The special was titled Bremner, Bird, Fortune, Delia and Des...There. Guests on this show were cook Delia Smith and soccer coverage anchorman Des Lynam.
BRIAN CONLEY Popular comedian and entertainer who started as a child actor (appearing in an episode of 1970's show Survivors) before graduating to warm up on shows like Blockbusters and Catchphrase, then guest spots and then finally shows of his own. As well as his comedy shows Conley also appears on stage in musicals like Me and My Girl and Jolson as well as occasional acting roles (Time after Time and a superb performance in The Grimleys). Conely also hosted the National Lottery - We've Got You're Number show for a while during 1999. Mostly sketch based his comedy shows have been:- 1. BRIAN CONLEY - THIS WAY UP 1989-90 LWT 13x30m-e / 2. THE BRIAN CONLEY SHOW 1992-95 LWT 27 episodes / 3. BRIAN CONLEY - ALIVE AND DANGEROUS 1996 LWT-Talent 1x60m-e / 4. BRIAN CONLEY'S CRAZY CHRISTMAS 1997 Carlton-Talent 1x60m-e. Conley has also turned chat show host with The Brian Conley Show.
BRITAIN'S SEXIEST SECURITY VIDEOS Live TV / x30m-e / 1999 Writer/Producer: Marion John (who also used the pseudonym Liz Johnson for some of the shows run) / Theme Music: Meteor Music A send up of CCTV footage purporting to be true and presented in the style of shows like Police Camera Action etc. Most of the footage consisted of women with an alarming tendency for taking their clothes off and/or getting involved in sexual situations. Presented by Al Steward as played by Stephen Copp! The show appeared on often dodgy cable channel Live TV.
THE BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS ITV Network / x120m-e / 1989-continuing ITV's annual worship at the altar of comedy, usually presented by Jonathan Ross, broadcast live the show is mainly notable for its occasional headline making antics of the guests (such as Julian Clary making obscene remarks about Norman Lamont, Michael Barrymore making a fool of himself and Spike Milligan having a go at Prince Charles.
BROAD AND NARROW ATV / 6x30m-e / 1965 21 August - 25 September Saturdays 11.05pm Writers: Terence Brady, Michael Bogandov / Producer: Anthony Firth / Director: Albert Locke An attempt by ITV to come up with a satire based show to equal the BBC's That Was The Week That Was. Featuring Ralph Bates, Bill Wallis, Joanna Van Gyseghem, Terence Brady, Chris Serle and Roger Ordish.
BROADEN YOUR MIND BBC2 / 13x30m-e / 1968-69 Creators: Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor / Producer: Sydney Lotterby Sketch series tackling many different subjects and billing itself as an Encyclopedia of the Air. The big name writers on the show included all of the Python's bar Terry Gilliam, The Goodies, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Bob Block and Simon Brett. The cast included Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie (season 2), Nick McArdle, Jo Kendall and Roland MacLeod (season 2)
BRUISER BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 2000 First episode 28 February Mondays 11.20pm Producer: David Tomlinson / Director: Nick Jones Fast paced sketch show starring Olivia Coleman, Charlote Hudson, Martin Freeman, Matt Holness, Robert Webb and David Mitchell.
BUT SERIOUSLY - IT'S SHEILA HANCOCK BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 1973-73 3 December 1972 - 14 January 1973 Sundays 9.10pm Producer: Barry Took / Director: Vernon Lawrence Comedy sketch, music and chat show built around Sheila Hancock. She attracted strong writers to the series including poet John Betjeman, N.F. Simpson, Harold Pinter, Germaine Greer,Ogden Nash, Michael Frayn, Roger McGough, Peter Jones and John Bird. Her guests included Anthony Hopkins, Germaine Greer, Dudley Moore, John Mortimer, Alfie Bass, John BIrd and Peter Jones.
BY, WITH AND FROM BENTINE BBC2 / 1x30m-e / 1971 24 September - Friday 10.35pm Writer: Michael Bentine / Producer: Leon Thau One off stand up half hour from Michael Bentine looking at funny moments in his personal life.
BYNG - HO BBC / 1x20m-e 1x35m-e / 1938-39 Producer: Reginald Byng Two one off very early specials for Douglas Byng who was a female impersonator said to have been a big influence of Danny La Rue. Guests appearing with Byng included Doris Hare, Richard Murdoch, Cyril Fletcher and Edward Cooper.
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BBC1
/ 24x60m-e / 1965 2 October 1965 - 16 April 1966 Saturdays 10.30pm
