British Comedy Guide

Ever appeared on television?

For me, have done a few times, but mostly local TV in the late 70s when I featured in the local tea-time news progs. (About Anglia and BBC Look East) with my main collecting hobby (I'm a terrible hoarder!) of antique newspapers and magazines.

From that I then did a spot on Anglia TV's "Bygones" (some might remember it!) with the delightful Dick Joice - also appearing on that show was a guy who collected antique guns and the de Jong sisters who amongst other things played piano in the silent film era. Fascinating to talk to them!

And one time the Beeb sent a film crew to my thatched cottage in the middle of nowhere to film me. There was a cameraman, sound recordist and the reporter was Christopher Lewis** who eventually became the executive producer of the Antiques Roadshow, which neatly segues...............

To my last appearance on TV Laughing out loud (fame is a fickle mistress) was when I was on The Antiques Roadshow in the early 90s with my huge Victorian roll-top desk - the expert was Christopher Payne, but the surprise for me was when Christopher Lewis** remembered me and coming to film my collection of newspapers.

Last friday week.

Quote: Marc P @ 25th August 2014, 10:20 AM BST

Last friday week.

And?

On the Tv gameshow; 15 to 1.

Not the version that is on now, it was over 20 years ago when William G Stewart was the presenter.

A few times, usually to do with cartooning. I was filmed at Private Eye and in a London club for The Grumpy Guide to Art and The Grumpy Guide to Politics, some programme about food and drink filmed in a converted chapel for Sky that I never saw, a few game shows when I filled in for contestants who hadn't shown up as a favour to a cameraman friend, local news programmes to do with cartoon festivals. Once you've got over how peculiar you look and sound, it's quite good fun.

Yes - but mainly in the United States. In Britain, the only time I've ever watched television with about
30 work colleagues, I turned up unexpectedly on News at Ten - a very weird occasion to put it mildly.

Quote: Stephen Goodlad @ 25th August 2014, 10:48 AM BST

On the Tv gameshow; 15 to 1.

Not the version that is on now, it was over 20 years ago when William G Stewart was the presenter.

I always got the impression that he was quite grumpy, but I expect he wasn't?

Quote: A Horseradish @ 25th August 2014, 11:33 AM BST

Yes - but mainly in the United States. In Britain, the only time I've ever watched television with about
30 work colleagues, I turned up unexpectedly on News at Ten - a very weird occasion to put it mildly.

So you fled The States, but the FBI and Interpol were on your case, and then were you finally caught after your mug appeared on N@T? Whistling nnocently

Did your mates grass you up? :O

Quote: beaky @ 25th August 2014, 11:09 AM BST

Once you've got over how peculiar you look and sound, it's quite good fun.

Yes, it is. :D

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 25th August 2014, 11:47 AM BST

So you fled The States, but the FBI and Interpol were on your case, and then were you finally caught after your mug appeared on N@T? Whistling nnocently

Did your mates grass you up? :O

That suggests I've spent time in the United States which I haven't.

But, yes, I was in Heathrow on both sides of the screen on the night in question.

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 25th August 2014, 10:31 AM BST

And?

Just the once. No make up so I don't like to talk about it.

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 25th August 2014, 11:47 AM BST

I always got the impression that he was quite grumpy, but I expect he wasn't?

He was very nice to me. I was contestant No 1 and therefore I got the first question. He could see I was proper cacking myself and came over to my lectern to try calm me a little. He told me the topic of my first question to allow my brain to focus.
That was before all hell broke loose - lights dimming, spotlights on, crew shouting quiet please, cue music etc.......

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 25th August 2014, 9:46 AM BST

For me, have done a few times, but mostly local TV in the late 70s when I featured in the local tea-time news progs. (About Anglia and BBC Look East)

Live from Norwich?

Quote: A Horseradish @ 25th August 2014, 12:01 PM BST

That suggests I've spent time in the United States which I haven't.

But, yes, I was in Heathrow on both sides of the screen on the night in question.

That must have felt odd. :)

Quote: Stephen Goodlad @ 25th August 2014, 1:01 PM BST

He was very nice to me. I was contestant No 1 and therefore I got the first question. He could see I was proper cacking myself and came over to my lectern to try calm me a little. He told me the topic of my first question to allow my brain to focus.
That was before all hell broke loose - lights dimming, spotlights on, crew shouting quiet please, cue music etc.......

I can imagine. :(

Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 25th August 2014, 1:13 PM BST

Live from Norwich?

Always recorded (one with Pam Rhodes when she was on Anglia), but they didn't inform you when it would be used and I missed them all. >_<

Fortunately the Beeb did so I have them and the Bygones one.

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 25th August 2014, 2:51 PM BST

Always recorded (one with Pam Rhodes when she was on Anglia), but they didn't inform you when it would be used and I missed them all. >_<

Fortunately the Beeb did so I have them and the Bygones one.

That sounds good.

"It's the quiz of the week". What was it that turned? A soldier on horseback? Heraldry of some sort, I think.

I like those expert spots. My parents have a film of my mother interviewing an Austrian guy in a Worthing beach hut. He used to be the naturalist and historian on BBC Radio Sussex.

On spotting him with his pet, she had said "oh that's an unusual dog" to which he replied "actually it is a fox". He then spoke at length in a very moving way about his collection of animals and his memories of the holocaust. They kept in touch by letter until he died.

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 25th August 2014, 2:51 PM BST

That must have felt odd. :)

What it didn't show was the woman who stopped the television people recording, allegedly for political reasons - but by then, as it transpired, it was too late.

A knight on horseback, which used to sit in the foyer of studios in Norwich - no longer used as an ident. and is in their museum........I think.

This seems to be the best version on YT:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u02ZP0TiNU

My friend was on the Weakest Link, he was the only one to get the first question wrong and he was stood on the end so literally everybody voted for one by one, Nick, Nick, Nick ... then he just went, Carol.

Share this page