Comedy Greats Feature in Sky Arts Christmas Line Up

I quite often tune in to Sky Arts for a bit of documentary action and I really like what the channel does, so I was pleased to see some classic comedy heroes featuring in their festive line up this year. 

There is a three part strand looking at three of Britain's best loved comedy actors. Titled "The Undiscovered…" the series, presented by Victor Lewis-Smith, will devote three hours to Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock and Kenneth Williams. Little is known about what will feature, however Lewis-Smith has apparently said viewers will see lots of previously unseen diary entries, letters and photographs as well as a superb range of classic clips from their lives and careers.

The idea for the series came from a previous documentary Lewis-Smith made on Peter Cook for BBC4 back in 2016. After seeing material for the Sellers programme, Sky Arts signed the film maker up to make the series of three. Sounds like the perfect way to relax over the festive period to me! 

Also, look out for a special programme - Comedy Legends - going out on the same channel. It focusses on the wonderful Frankie Howerd and is hosted by none other than Barry Cryer.

The Undiscovered Peter Sellers airs on Sky Arts on Tuesday 18 December at 10pm, with the programme on Kenneth Williams following on Wednesday 19 December at 10pm while Tony Hancock is the subject of the show going out on Thursday 20 December, also at 10.

Meanwhile, Comedy Legends - Frankie Howerd, airs on Wednesday 19 December at 11pm, also on Sky Arts.


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Blogging Interview: Robert Ross on Oh, What A Carry On!

On Friday I had the great pleasure of ringing up Carry On historian extraordinaire Robert Ross for a good old natter about all things Carry On. I've interviewed Robert for the blog before and he's even written something for me on a trip he took with some very familiar Carry On faces but this is the first time I've had a proper chat with him and it really was a joy. Both big self-confessed Carry On anoraks, the conversation flowed and I could've stayed on the phone all day.

Robert has been an influence on me since the mid 1990s when, as a teenager in Scotland, I bought my first ever Carry On book, his Carry On Companion. This wonderful, definitive guide to our favourite comedy films has been pride of place on my book shelf ever since and I still have the handwritten note inside from Robert when I wrote to tell him how much I loved his book. It was therefore a real highlight to talk to Robert about his upcoming projects in this, the 60th anniversary year of the Carry On films.

I wanted to start off by asking a bit about your work as a comedy historian over the past twenty years or so and what have been the highlights so far?

I think one of the best days ever was the day I signed the contract for my first book, the Carry On Companion. It had taken years to get the project off the ground and to find a publisher willing to come on board. As a fan that project brought me into contact with so many of my heroes. I remember writing to Jim Dale in New York and was thrilled when he sent over an old C90 cassette tape he'd used to record his answers to the questions I'd asked. I've still got the tape and it's one of my most treasured possessions. I wrote to him as a fan and I'm proud to say Jim is now one of my best mates. I also got to know Frankie Howerd before he died and years before I even met Kenneth Williams.

Another favourite moment was being able to visit the set of Carry On Columbus in 1992. This was even before I'd had my first book published and I can't believe now I got to go. Peter Rogers' lovely assistant Audrey Skinner rang up and asked if I wanted to have tea with Gerald Thomas on the set one day. It was brilliant to be there, meet Gerald and watch some of the filming. I also went to the premiere of the film at the Odeon Leicester Square on 4 October 1992.  I sat upstairs with Peter, Gerald and Jim Dale and I'll never forget it. The film got a very mixed response but there was still affection from the audience every time one of the old faces appeared. And I still have affection for Columbus and I think it looks beautiful. 

You have several projects on the go at the moment and one I've already written about is your "Oh, What A Carry On" stage tour to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Carry On. Can you tell me a bit more about that?

Well I'm describing myself as a stand up comedy historian with this little tour. There are three dates coming up in Bedford, Sudbury and Deal (more info below) and it will be a celebration of the Carry Ons. It won't be scripted and will change from venue to venue. The show in Deal will of course reference Charles Hawtrey quite a bit as that's where he lived for much of his life. There are people in the town who still remember him as I found out when I visited back in 2014 to mark his centenary. 

You don't need to be a massive Carry On fan to enjoy the show, it won't be too nerdy. It will look at the progression of the comedy in the films and I'll share some rare clips and interviews with some of the stars. One of the joys for me of doing this is the total freedom it will give me. Writing books doesn't give you the chance to talk to fellow fans and to a degree you are at the mercy of your editor. So there will be something for everyone!

You are also doing a show on 16 July at the Museum of Comedy with the legendary Liz Fraser…

Yes indeed. I did a show with Liz a couple of years ago and it went down very well so she wanted to do another one. The title of the show "Confessions of a Carry On Girl" was the original title of her memoir which I was involved with a few years back. I know Liz very well and I've interviewed her many times over the years so it will be a lot of fun. Again the joy of it will be that it won't be structured and we'll have the freedom to talk about whatever we want. I will be focussing on three of the big legends Liz worked a lot with over the years - Sid James, Tony Hancock and Peter Sellers. Liz is one of the few actors still around to have worked with and gotten to know all of them. One of the joys of the Museum of Comedy is that the theatre only seats about 80 people so it's always a pretty intimate gig. Everyone who buys a ticket will also have access to the museum on the day and they have some wonderful items from the best of British comedy there.

One of the things I really love about Liz is how loyal she always is to the memories of some of her co-stars, particularly Sid and Joan Sims, both of whom were very close friends…

Yes she is. Liz and Joan were very close. Sid in particular adored Liz, or Lizzle as he called her. He had a lot of time for her. 

Speaking of Joan, I know you got to spend a lot of time with her towards the end of her life. She's my absolute heroine so I'd love to hear your memories from that time. 

Joan was a sweetheart, a really lovely lady who was quite shy and timid really. I first met her during the recording of the What's A Carry On? documentary to celebrate 40 years of Carry On back in 1998. I remember Peter Rogers had a banner made saying "Welcome Home Joan" when she arrived back at Pinewood to film her interview. We had a drink afterwards in the bar and she mentioned she was thinking of writing her autobiography. I offered to help her record her memories for the book and then I spent many happy times at her flat in Kensington talking about her life and career while we ate cherry cake, drank cola and ordered in Chinese takeaways! 

Joan was very loyal to her friends and a genuinely lovely woman. We kept in touch over the phone and I remember how angry she was when the play "Cleo, Camping, Emmannuelle and Dick" came out. She didn't like the way Sid was being portrayed as it wasn't the man she knew and she wouldn't go and see it or give interviews about it. When the documentary was completed I took a copy round with a DVD player so she could see it and she loved it. She got very emotional towards the end when Eric Rogers' wonderful music played over the role call of all the team members who had left us by that point. She loved them all.

I was in Yorkshire doing Last of the Summer Wine when I heard she had died and I was really sad about it and she's still really missed by so many people.

Before we finish I wanted to quickly ask you about another event you are involved with to celebrate the life of Tony Hancock.

Yes, this is an event being organised by the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society to celebrate Tony's life 50 years on from his death. It will take place on 25 June at his old College in Reading. I'll be on the panel with Liz Fraser and the day will include discussions, screenings and lectures. The impressionist James Hurn will also be there to perform and in my opinion James gives the best, more accurate impression of Sid James I've ever seen. 

It was an absolute joy to speak to Robert and I'm pleased to say I'll be going along to the Museum of Comedy to see his show with Liz Fraser in July. 

Robert will be presenting his special 60th anniversary show on the following dates:

Thursday 14 June, 7.30pm - Quarry Theatre, Bedford
Friday 6 July, 7.30pm - Quay Theatre, Sudbury
Saturday 7 July, 7.30pm - The Astor Theatre, Deal

You can book tickets for the shows here 

Liz Fraser: Confessions of Carry On Girl will take place on Monday 16th July at the Museum of Comedy in London. It kicks off at 7pm and runs for 75 minutes. You can buy tickets here

You can find a lot more information on Robert and his various tour dates over on his website: http://www.robertross.co.uk and of course, Robert is on Twitter

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Hancock and Co: One Man, Many Voices

 

Following James Hurn’s sell-out visit to The Museum of comedy in March 2017, he is back by popular demand with his stunning one-man, many voices, show, celebrating over 60 years of Hancock’s Half Hour.

On this, his second visit, James – a talented actor and impressionist – will be performing a brand-new programme including one classic episode of Hancock’s Half Hour, and two episodes he has written himself in the same style as Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, with James voicing the entire cast. James is a master at recreating the accents and personas of such iconic 20th century British favourites as Tony Hancock, Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams.

The new show is performed in the style of a radio performance in front of a live audience, bringing to life the classic days of radio comedy. Don’t miss it!

*****"One has to take your hat off to James Hurn, not only has he written in the style of the great Galton and Simpson, but with the laughs too." Tom Dommett - The Tony Hancock appreciation society.

“Utterly masterful and quite, quite superb” Jon Culshaw – impressionist

“You have Tony Hancock’s pitch and tone so much better than I” Kevin McNally – actor

**** "A pleasant and worthwhile piece of theatre." London Theatre 

 

James Hurn will be at the Museum of Comedy on Sunday 10 September. The show is at 4pm and tickets are £14.  

I'm very much looking forward to this show. I'll be attending on 10 September and I'll be blogging a review of the show soon afterwards. Hope to see you there!  

You can find out more and buy tickets here

 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan on Facebook and on Instagram

 

Carry On Blogging Interview: Peter Reed

I was recently lucky enough to catch up with Peter Reed, Senior Producer at the wonderful BBC Radio 4 Extra. I'm a huge fan of this station which broadcasts a terrific mix of both new and archive comedy and drama and features the likes of Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Sid James and Fenella Fielding on a regular basis! I asked Peter more about the background of 4 Extra as well as finding out about some of his favourite radio comedy.

Many of the people who read my blog are big fans of 4 Extra. Can you tell me a bit more about how and why the station was created?

That’s great to hear, thank you! Back in the distant days of 2002 digital radio was still quite a new thing in the UK – so BBC 7 ( as we were originally named ) along with BBC 6 Music and BBC Asian Network were created as digital only stations to encourage listening on DAB radio, digital TV platforms as well as online.  Our brief is to broadcast the best of the BBC’s deep archive of comedy, drama, readings and light features.  We were rebranded in 2011 as BBC Radio 4 Extra - the sister station to BBC Radio 4.

It would be great to hear more about your role at 4 Extra and what your job involves.

As Senior Producer, I head up a small team of producers who research, log and listen to all the old archive once it’s been digitised from tapes, and in some cases vinyl.  We check that it still sounds OK and make the odd technical tweak as required, as well as writing the online programme billings. We have to listen with ‘modern’ ears (using current BBC Producer guidelines) to a whole range of programmes from different times and attitudes, and need to keep a constant eye on topical news events to make sure our content’s appropriate. We also make some of the three hour Saturday showcase programmes. I worked with Barry Cryer on Comedy Greats, where we looked back at the best of the BBC’s comedies through the decades – he was great to work with.    

 

I really loved the day of special programmes the station broadcast back in February to celebrate Kenneth Williams' 90th birthday. Do you have any more special events planned that you can tell me about?

Yes, we try our very best to mark significant anniversaries and events.  It was very exciting to work with the Agatha Christie estate last Christmas to broadcast never broadcast excerpts of the author dictating her autobiography, 125 years after she was born. I got to interview her grandson Mathew.  Like Kenneth, Leonard Rossiter would have been 90 this year, so we’re hoping to mark that on-air too in the Autumn.    

As you know, I originally set up my blog as a tribute to Joan Sims. Joan worked regularly on radio from the 1950s right up until her death. Do you have plans to broadcast any more of her radio performances in the near future?

Yes Joan’s been popping up quite a bit lately in 4 Extra’s repeats of Floggits - and she’s currently in the first series of Something to Shout About which hasn’t been heard since 1960! I’m sure it won’t be too long before we repeat Stop Messing About which starred Joan, Kenneth and Hugh Paddick as the follow-up to Round The Horne.  

 

Many top actors and comedians still appear regularly in radio comedy shows and drama productions. Why do you think radio still holds such appeal to performers?

With audiences still enthusiastically queuing up to see BBC shows being recorded, radio is still such a great platform for performers to entertain and capture the listener’s imagination. Nothing like a studio red light to get the adrenalin flowing!     

I think my favourite radio comedy of all time has to be Round The Horne. Do you have a favourite character from that series?

Fiona and Charles always make me laugh, but you can’t beat Julian and Sandy for a good bit of cheeky innuendo!

 

How do you think modern radio comedy compares to the classic series from the 50s and 60s?

I think whatever the age of a programme, good writing and performers will always shine out.  That’s why - thanks to the wonderful BBC Radio iPlayer - we get the likes of Round the Horne, The Navy Lark and Count Arthur Strong topping 4 Extra’s playout charts, along with programmes starring Ed Reardon and Milton Jones.

Of all the comedy and drama 4 Extra broadcasts, what's your favourite show and why?

So much to choose from, but it would have to be Round The Horne for me.  I produced a 4 Extra special a few years back charting the inside story from Beyond Our Ken to Round The Horne. It was fascinating to look at how both series evolved and the bumpy story of writers Eric Merriman and Barry Took. We brought Eric’s son and Barry’s widow together in the studio.  All the anecdotes were fascinating.   

Who is your ultimate comedy hero or heroine?

Difficult to choose -  it would have to be a composite of Kenneth Williams, Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, with a dash of Linda Smith and Milton Jones!  

 

I have to ask a couple of Carry On-related questions. If you had to choose a favourite: Sid James or Kenneth Williams?

Kenneth Williams.  Embarrassingly, I once had to leave a recording at the BBC’s old Paris studio of Just a Minute right in the middle of a recording (way before I worked at the BBC) and not surprisingly Kenneth made a big thing of it during the recording.  He was so funny!

Finally, what's your favourite Carry On film?

I love their hospital capers, but it would have to be Carry on Camping for me!


Thanks again to Peter for taking the time out to answer my questions and thanks to Ruby at the BBC for helping to arrange the interview. 

You can follow Peter on Twitter here and you can follow BBC Radio 4 Extra here 

The 4 Extra website is also worth a visit and you can find that here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

 

Carry On Blogging Interview: Stuart Ball

Earlier this week I caught up with Stuart Ball, the man behind the fantastic Sid James tribute blog Sid's Place. I asked Stuart why he is such a big fan of our Sidney and about some of his favourite Sid moments. So without further ado...

First of all, what made you set up your blog Sid's Place?

When the Sid's Place blog first started, it was about the Carry On films in general as I have always been a huge fan. However, after a while, I noticed that there weren't any websites around that were solely dedicated to Sid James. As Sid has long been a comedy hero of mine, it seemed like a good idea to focus the blog on him, so that I could pay a personal tribute to the great man. Sid's Place also has a dedicated Facebook page and I've just started a Twitter page too. I must admit that I haven't been able to update the blog as much as I would ideally like recently, as I have been busy writing a Carry On quiz book. However, the book is now complete so I should hopefully be free to write more posts for Sid's Place again now. 

You are obviously a massive fan of Sid James - what is it about him that makes him your favourite?

As a child, I think I was drawn to Sid because of his crinkly features! Even now, there's just something warm and comforting about that weathered face. Sid was such a talented actor of course, whether he was in a comic or a straight role. I can't think of another actor who looked as natural and relaxed on-screen as Sid. I have always admired his complete professionalism too. He regarded his acting work as simply a means to an end. To him, he was just going out to work to earn a living just like the normal man in the street and I think there is something honourable about that.  Above all else, he just seemed like a nice, genuine, down-to-earth bloke.

 

Which of Sid's 19 Carry On appearances was your favourite and why?

I think his performance as Henry VIII in Carry On Henry was, if you'll pardon the pun, the crowning achievement of his Carry On career. Never was there a role more suited to the King of Carry On than this one. He  managed to portray the natural power and dominant personality of the real-life Henry to perfection, whilst still being the cheeky Sid that we all know and love. His delivery and timing were also spot on as usual.

You recently interviewed Sid's son Steve -  what was that like?

That was such an enjoyable experience. As April this year marked the 40th anniversary of Sid's passing, I wanted to do something special for the Sid's Place blog. Steve first contacted me through Facebook about a year ago to thank me for the various tributes to his dad, which I thought was a lovely thing to do. That really meant a lot to me. A year later and I was absolutely thrilled when he agreed to do an interview for the Sid's Place blog. Originally, I planned to send him some questions via email but he suggested we had a video chat over Skype instead. He lives in Australia and has been a successful record producer for many years. When I interviewed him, he was actually in the recording studio. My initial nerves soon vanished as Steve is such an easy person to talk to, very friendly and open. We must have chatted for almost an hour. It was quite surreal at times as Steve bears an uncanny resemblance to his father, so it almost seemed as if I was talking to Sid himself!

 

Sid had many leading ladies in the Carry Ons - which one was your favourite and why?

I would have to say Joan Sims. Just as Sid was the King of Carry On, Joan was the Queen. They had such a natural chemistry on-screen, which probably came from their strong real-life friendship. There are so many memorable moments they shared together - Up the Khyber, Cowboy, Henry, At Your Convenience. I think my all-time favourite Carry On scene is the one from Abroad when Sid crashes through the glass of the hotel balcony door shouting "They put the bloody glass in!" and Joan just collapses in hysterics. It's just two real-life friends having a wonderful time together. 

Sid starred in several very popular sitcoms during his career. Which is your favourite?

That's a tough one! I enjoyed all of his sitcoms. Hancock's Half Hour is, of course, one of the all-time classic television sitcoms and Sid and Tony played off each other superbly. Citizen James, George and the Dragon and Bless This House were all wonderful too. If I were to pick just one though, I would probably go for Hancock's Half Hour, due to the quality of the writing, but it's a very close run thing between all of them!

 

Do you own any Sid memorabilia and if so what have you got?

I've got a couple of full size reproduction posters for Carry On Up the Khyber and Carry On Don't Lose Your Head and some autographs of Sid's co-stars but I haven't got any memorabilia relating specifically to Sid. I'm sure I'll change that in the future though! 

Have you met any of Sid's Carry On co-stars?

Over the years, I've been lucky enough to meet Leslie Phillips, Jack Douglas, Valerie Leon and Jacki Piper. It was wonderful meeting every one of them, but I was particularly thrilled to get to chat with such an icon of British film as Leslie Phillips. He is a lovely man, a real old-school gentleman who asked my permission before holding my wife's hand for a photo. A couple of years ago I also got to meet Robin Stewart who played Sid's son Mike in Bless This House. He talked very fondly about Sid. Robin was such a gregarious man and it was extremely sad when he passed away last year. 

Why do you think that out of all the Carry On actors, Sid remains the most identifiable to the public?

I think it's because he came across as just being a down-to-earth bloke with no pretensions or illusions of grandeur. Everyone could identify with Sid. While many women found him sexy, men saw Sid as someone they could enjoy a pint with down the pub. Another reason for the longevity of his popularity is the fact that most of the roles he played were simply exaggerated versions of himself, making it easier for the public to form a bond with him.

What do you think Sid would make of the continued success of the Carry Ons and his ongoing popularity today?

I think he would be proud that something he was such a big part of remained so popular. At the same time, he may possibly be a little bemused that he himself is still so beloved. After all, to Sid, he was simply an actor going out to work to provide for his family. 

Finally, of all the Carry On films, which do you think is the best?

That's the hardest question of all for a Carry On fan to answer! Obviously for me, it would have to be one with Sid in it! For the sheer quality of the script and the strength of performances, I would say Up the Khyber. For pure entertainment and the number of top stars in the cast, it would be Carry On Abroad. As far as my personal favourites go, along with the two I have just mentioned, I have a fondness for Henry, Cabby, Cleo and At Your Convenience. I never tire of watching those.

 

Thanks once again to Stuart for answering my questions. You can visit Stuart's blog here: Sid's Place 

And you can follow him on Twitter: @sidjamesplace

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also on Facebook