British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
Comedy Chronicles

Comedy Chronicles

Graham McCann looks back at some of British comedy's most interesting but overlooked stories.

Hetty King pictured in costume as a sailor, circa 1910s. Hetty King

Hetty King

Sunday 9th February 2025

A profile of Hetty King, a masterful cross-dresser who was once known and celebrated internationally as 'England's greatest star'.

Round The Horne. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Paddick, Kenneth Williams. Copyright: BBC

Hugh Paddick

Sunday 26th January 2025

Graham McCann argues that the quiet and classy delicacy of Hugh Paddick's comedy performances should have won him far greater praise than he received, both in his lifetime and after it.

Jack Hobbs

When it all backfired for Jack Hobbs

Sunday 12th January 2025

Poor Jack Hobbs. The hilarious but embarrassing tale of what happened to the publisher of comedians' books on a train to Walton-on-Thames has been immortalised thanks to many retellings by his friend Spike Milligan.

Ernie Wise

Who you gonna call? When Ernie Wise launched the mobile phone

Sunday 29th December 2024

An article looking at comedians helping to launch new technology, particularly sitcom star Reg Varney making the initial withdrawal from the world's first voucher-based cash-dispensing machine and Ernie Wise making the first mobile phone call.

Arthur Askey

Random acts of kindness #2 - More comedians being nice to each other

Sunday 22nd December 2024

A series of anecdotes about comedians being genuinely kind and nice to each other. Those featured include Ray Alan, Roy Hudd and Arthur Askey.

Kenneth Horne

Kenneth Horne

Sunday 1st December 2024

A profile of one of comedy's great facilitators. For many years, Kenneth Horne was at the centre - the heart - of some of the funniest and best-loved shows of his era.

Neil Innes

Neil Innes

Sunday 17th November 2024

A profile of Neil Innes, the comedy writer and musician who so many times managed to dip our hearts, as well as our brains, in joy.

Duggie Small

Up and away: The big fall of Duggie Small

Sunday 3rd November 2024

The sobering, warning story of comedian Duggie Small. He won TV talent show New Faces in 1986 but things did not go smoothly for him.

Image shows left to right: Derek Nimmo, Bill Maynard

Stage fight: When comics fall out in plain sight

Sunday 20th October 2024

A look at squabbles between stars that took place in the full glare of the spotlight. When Bill Maynard was paired with Derek Nimmo it turned out to be a particularly notable recipe for resentment, rage and revenge.

Jokers Wild. Ray Martine. Credit: ITV

A Hackney diamond: The much-misunderstood Ray Martine

Sunday 6th October 2024

A record-straightening reappraisal of comedian Ray Martine, usually either forgotten or lazily maligned, his career heights and boundary-pushing bite are long overlooked.

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