Does anyone know of any other UK sitcoms where the lead characters use their actual Christian names in the parts they play?
Such as:
Terry & June - Terry and June! (Terry Scott and June Whitfield)
Hugh And I - Hugh and Terry (Hugh Lloyd and Terry Scott)
Hancock - Tony and Sid (Tony Hancock and Sid James)
Citizen James - Sidney (Sid James)
Harry H Corbett played Harold
Fulton McKay kept his surname in Porridge
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ September 28 2013, 5:05 PM BSTDoes anyone know of any other UK sitcoms where the lead characters use their actual Christian names in the parts they play?
Such as:-
"Terry and June" - Terry and June! (Terry Scott and June Whitfield)
"Hugh and I" - Hugh and Terry (Hugh Lloyd and Terry Scott)
"Hancock" - Tony and Sid (Tony Hancock and Sid James)
"Citizen James" - Sydney (Sid James)
What a fantastic question. I suggest Sykes.
Miranda - Miranda Hart
Sean's Show - Sean Hughes
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ September 28 2013, 5:05 PM BST"Hancock" - Tony and Sid (Tony Hancock and Sid James)
Don't forget Bill Kerr!
Can't think of UK examples but immediately realized there are many US examples starting with Bob Newhart who played psychologist Bob Hartley and Mary Tyle Moore who played news producer Mary Richards.
It would be interesting to know if it's more common in one place than the other and also if it is more common among stand up comedians like Newhart or not and whether its most common when the name of the character is also the name of the show...
Silly speculations for a lazy Saturday!
Lucille Ball
Oh, and Woody Harelson(spl) in Cheers
Quote: Rose2010 @ September 28 2013, 7:01 PM BSTCan't think of UK examples but immediately realized there are many US examples starting with Bob Newhart who played psychologist Bob Hartley and Mary Tyle Moore who played news producer Mary Richards.
Seinfeld
Everybody Loves Raymond
Roseanne
Home Improvement
Two & A Half Men
Bless This House - Sid James/Sid Abbott... checked IMDB to be sure I was right about this and it turns out half the characters he played are named Sid or Sidney
Lee and Tim in Not Going Out
Curb Your Enthusiasm - Larry
Night Court - Harry Anderson/Harry Stone
Grandma's House - Simon
Barney Miller - Ron Glass/Det. Ron Harris
Plus Ben Lyon/Barbara Lyon/Richard Lyon/Bebe Daniels
"We were locked up safe and warm from the snow / With 'Life with the Lyons' on the radio . . ."
(Al Stewart - Post World War Two Blues)
"Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions"
(John and Yoko - Album title that was a parody on the title of the show)
Quote: Horseradish @ September 28 2013, 9:34 PM BSTPlus Ben Lyon/Barbara Lyon/Richard Lyon/Bebe Daniels
I think there's a difference there in that, say, Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond (Carry On... Up The Khyber) is very definitely a character, whereas they Lyon/Daniels clan were very much themselves, based on their whole family structure and (I believe?) many real-life experiences, simply with comic exaggeration.
In answer to the OP, it was very common in the 'old days'. Almost more often than not at times, particularly in the Carry On films and similar.
Often because the stars were real stars in and of themselves, often playing more or less the same character in every production. The likes of George Formby, Norman Wisdom and Arthur Askey spring to mind. But those are mostly film roles (although all had TV series).
So, sitcoms. Terry & June's been mentioned, but not Happy Ever After.
Quote: lofthouse @ September 28 2013, 6:53 PM BSTDon't forget Bill Kerr!
Didn't Moira Lister, Andrée Melly and Hattie Jacques also keep their own names? Although I think they were only in the radio series - presumably Hercules was thinking more of television sitcoms.
Hattie's character was called Griselda Pugh I think.
Ah! Yes, well remembered lofthouse. She did indeed.