Tuesday 28 April 2015

Sid James: Not Just a Dirty Laugh


Here is another wonderful BBC radio programme taking a look at the life of comedy legend and Carry On star Sid James.

Originally broadcast to mark Sid's centenary in 2013, Lee Mack hosts this half hour tribute to one of my all time comedy heroes. It is terrific stuff, featuring contributions from one of Sid's children, Reina, as well as well-known actors Bernard Cribbins, Liz Fraser and the late Lance Percival. Christopher Fairbank also provides a great impression of Sid and pops up to read passages throughout.

The programme covers Sid's life away from the Carry Ons and Hancock's Half Hour. We hear precious home recordings of Sid singing and rehearsing. We learn more about his life off screen, but thankfully it is never salacious. It is warm, affectionate and a fitting tribute to a man who was so much more than his Carry On persona. 

The programme ends with the recording of Sid and Liz Fraser performing that brilliant comedy song from their film of the same title, Double Bunk.

The programme is available here on the BBC website and is well worth a listen.


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2 comments:

  1. In my early teens living in Iver during the 1960`s Sid could often be seen driving through the high street (he lived just down the road). Us kids used to taunt him by putting a hand up and shout TAXI at him (a tv programme he was starring in at the time). his responce was always a cheerful two fingered salute.

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    1. Ha! Thanks for sharing your memories! I love that image of his response! Classic :)

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