Barry Cryer

The third series Brian Pern from Fast Show alumni, Rhys Thomas and Simon Day's, fly on the wall comedy about that stalwart of British cultural life, the ageing rocker.

This particular triptych focuses on Pern's (Day) 45 year anniversary as a musician but really it just continues where the last 2 series left off, Thomas as the brazenly manipulative doc' maker following the childlike but self-centred rock star as he meanders through his life and career, making bad decision after bad decision.

Brian Pern is a member of that species of comedies, where much like Steve Coogan's Saxondale, there is not much laughter at the characters japes and misadventures, there is however a shit tonne of smiling. It's nice, easy to watch and well made, but not brilliant.

The best moments come from the supporting cast, particularly Lucy Montgomery as Pern's eccentric South American girlfriend, Pepita. The absolute stand out is Michael Kitchen who bristles with boredom as the Prog stars long-time manager, John Farrow and is a genuinely brilliant comic creation.

Indeed, I think if you took Kitchen away from the show, it would fall very, very flat, which is really the fault of the scripts. They plod along nicely but a lot of it seems like filler between gags on a sketch show and much of the comedy comes from the star qualities of its guest appearances (big shout out to Peter motherfucking Bowles!) and the choices they make more than the actual comic writing.

Rhys Thomas, who wrote and directed the series has been in the comedy game for 20 years now, and is in the unique position of being part of The Fast Show gang while also being a relatively young writer with much time to develop. The fact that he is survived for so long in the cut throat world of comedy, demonstrates to this reviewer that he probably will and I expect him to be around for a very long time, like some sort of Barry Cryer 2.0, a remnant of the good old days, who comes to prominence once his more talented peers have passed away. Sorry Rhys, that's harsh.

Radio Times review

"He was not scared to wander along the edge," says Billy Connolly of the creative cyclone that was Kenny Everett. Anyone who grew up with Cuddly Ken on the radio will remember wanting the records to finish just to hear his ingenious links and in-fills, beautifully sung jingles and out-takes. And archive of the DJ at work in his sound lab, his hands a blur over his beloved tape recorders, is wonderful.

Pop stars from the Beatles to Kate Bush wanted to work with the man comedy writer Barry Cryer calls an "imp from another planet", but he was prone to biting the hand that fed him.

This excellent tribute takes us from Ev's early days in radio (he was the first DJ in the world to play Strawberry Fields and a driving force in getting Bohemian Rhapsody launched), through his various sackings and anarchic TV series, to his 1995 death from an Aids-related illness.

Some of Ev's rougher edges, including his unfortunate flirtation with politics, are passed over. But his wife Lee - talking of her little gay friend - and sister Cate provide most insight into a conflicted talent, and a huge personality that masked shyness and insecurity.

Radio Times review

Suzy Klein and Frank Skinner conclude their hands-on history of popular British entertainment. If you don't mind the chummy flippancy (that Phil and Kirstie thing of cheerily bickering on the voiceover - stop it!) and the indulgence of Klein and Skinner having a go at everything, it's a stirring nostalgia trip that gets under performers' skins rather than merely eulogising them.

While Skinner builds up to a performance as Max Miller and Klein learns to be all three Andrews Sisters, the pair also have a crack at skiffle, and Wilson, Keppel and Betty's sand dance. And Barry Cryer tells an A1 anecdote about a man being thrown out of the Windmill Club for bringing binoculars.

"He was a sort of imp from another planet!"

This documentary about Kenny Everett, who died in 1995, is packed with contributions from his showbiz friends, including Barry Cryer, Chris Tarrant, Billy Connolly and Paul Gambaccini but we also hear from Kenny himself in generous archive footage.

We start with his childhood. He was born in Liverpool on Christmas Day during the war and Everett makes affectionate fun of his mother, a polite and traditional lady who would have hated to be considered 'common' so would carefully arrange a fruit bowl on top of the TV (a terrible place to put your fruit, Everett declares) and would never permit her young son to take a piece as it would upset her nicely arranged display.

His father wasn't quite so genteel, being a tugboat captain on the Mersey and possessing a wicked sense of humour.

From this childhood, a combination of strict manners and cheeky jokes, we trace his journey as he became one of the most beloved and daring comedians of the 1980s.

Barry Cryer: "the BBC is under siege"

The comedian and writer has said he's concerned about the future of the Corporation and urged Britain "to preserve it because it's ours".

Happy birthday Barry Cryer

Writer and performer Barry Cryer is back in town for two Fringe shows, appearing in a double act with musician Ronnie Golden and as the subject of a comedy roast, in which comic friends will do their utmost to trash his very being.

Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden interview

Despite being in his 81st year, Barry Cryer is definitely not ready to retire and is currently working on a two-hander with his long-time friend Ronnie Golden.

Review: Barry Cryer

Barry Cryer is not only a long established comedian, but has been a writer to a who's who of British Comedy and a few notable American ones.

Interview: I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden chat about ISIHAC, sexism and the Edinburgh Fringe.

Making a Christmas special 'special'

"Eric Morecambe and Eddie Braben [Eric and Ernie's principal writer] used to tell me that they started thinking about the Christmas shows in January," recalls Barry Cryer.