Norman Wisdom

Wonderland: Norman Wisdom Aged 92 3/4

BBC 2 Wed 16 Jan, 9:50 pm (Tonight)

For the last 30 years Norman Wisdom has lived independently of his family in a house he designed for himself on the Isle of Man. But now, everything is about to change for the 92 year old comedy legend. His live-in carer has decided she can't cope with looking after him all year round any more. And Norman's children, both of whom live 300 miles away in Sussex, are faced with a dilemma about what to do with their father.

A poignant, funny, thoughtful film about a subject that preoccupies thousands of families across Britain - what to do with an elderly parent.

"Famous in Albania" jokes aside, I am a fan of Norman. I used to watch his films a lot when I was younger. I like 'The Early Bird' and 'On the Beat'.

Quote: Eat_My_Shirts @ January 16, 2008, 5:56 PM

Wonderland: Norman Wisdom Aged 92 3/4

BBC 2 Wed 16 Jan, 9:50 pm (Tonight)

For the last 30 years Norman Wisdom has lived independently of his family in a house he designed for himself on the Isle of Man. But now, everything is about to change for the 92 year old comedy legend. His live-in carer has decided she can't cope with looking after him all year round any more. And Norman's children, both of whom live 300 miles away in Sussex, are faced with a dilemma about what to do with their father.

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Drown the old bastard.
Thats what I will do with my father.

Awww Normans okay. Great 'silly' actor.

Bless him.
I loved him when I was little!
Saw him in a pantomime. F**k knows what it was.

I just read that he doesn't recognise himself on tv anymore. That's sad to hear I hope they don't tarnish his image on this programme - a legend, Mr Grimsdale.

Quote: zooo @ January 16, 2008, 6:14 PM

Bless him.
I loved him when I was little!
Saw him in a pantomime. F**k knows what it was.

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Lucky bitch!

The man is a true leg-end.

Yeah he was well loved in his prime and a lot of his best stuff has stood the test of time IMO.

He was always there (not physically) as I grew up but I never really thought he was that funny.

I used to like watching his stuff when i was little; him and George Formby; for some reason their films always used to be on. You still sometimes see a Wisdom film on, but I cant remeber the last time I saw a Formby one.

Quote: David Chapman @ January 16, 2008, 8:34 PM

He was always there (not physically) as I grew up but I never really thought he was that funny.

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Was he there Spiritualy Dave?

Ps. You look a bit like him. Around the same age eh?

Quote: Matthew Stott @ January 16, 2008, 10:42 PM

I used to like watching his stuff when i was little; him and George Formby; for some reason their films always used to be on. You still sometimes see a Wisdom film on, but I cant remeber the last time I saw a Formby one.

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I think we could be a similar age Matthew because I remember doing this as a kid to. Formby was on bbc2 about three months ago, brilliant.

I thought that it was a great documentary programme - if not a bit sad. Ever the entertainer. I can't imagine many (if any) of our current comedians having that kind of same everlasting appeal and spark. The closest is John Cleese. But he f**ked off to America (and still does the odd film cameo), so doesn't really count.

I missed the program sadly but he was one of the greats, I think people forget how popular he was in his pomp.

Nice programme, nice man. Didn't think much of his children though.

I’ve always liked how in his films, his character would do something foolish and then HE would be the one that cracked up laughing, while the people around him stood stern faced and pissed off. Similar but different to Laurel & Hardy, where Stan would do something stupid and then we’d see Ollie just shaking his head.

I don't think his daughter came across well. I mean at one stage she said that her ageing dog (14) was more important than her own Dad (92).

Quote: ContainsNuts @ January 17, 2008, 10:16 AM

I don't think his daughter came across well. I mean at one stage she said that her ageing dog (14) was more important than her own Dad (92).

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Yes and the resentment she had for being known as his daughter was sad. This is especially true because in the 1960s he was on the point of becoming a big star in America but returned to Britain to look after his children when his wife left him. This obviously meant that his career took a back seat but he has always said that he never regretted it and you can believe him.