This festive edition of Comedy Chronicles looks back at a strange tale of some strange tapes. It is about the television festivities from the latter part of the last century that were never meant to be televised, and were only meant to be seen by those behind the scenes.
Insalubrious boarding houses and idiosyncratic landladies were particularly popular topics for comic tale-telling throughout most of the twentieth century. Comedy Chronicles looks back at some of the well-known theatrical lodgings, including what became of poor Arthur the parrot.
One of the first British comedians to appear regularly on radio, Stainless Stephen was one of the busiest, best-loved and cleverest comedians in the country.
Pat Coombs was, for more than half a century, one of British comedy's most effective and admired supporting performers. This article traces her career.
Josephine Tewson is perhaps best remembered as Hyacinth Bucket's flustered next-door neighbour Elizabeth, but her comic talent - and breadth of contributions - go far wider and far deeper.
If a definition of a straight man is ever required, the entry should simply read: 'See Jerry Desmonde'. Comedy Chronicles recounts the career of the man once dubbed 'the prince of feeds', who worked with comics such as Sid Field and Norman Wisdom.
"There were three basic stages in Yarwood's career. The first was as a turn; the second was as a star; the third was as a problem." Graham McCann looks back at the work of impressionist Mike Yarwood.
Despite remaining in the memory as one of British comedy's greatest comedy actors, as a woman June Whitfield was overlooked for the kind of superstar/starring chances of her male peers. Here we pay tribute to her brilliant talents.
Derek Nimmo was, for a long time, one of Britain's favourite character actors on television and radio - but then he just seemed to start to disappear. This is the story of what he was really up to during those wilderness years.
