George Formby (I)

A superstar in the 30s and 40s, George Formby has since become a figure of mockery; a byword for fusty music hall comedy. Frank Skinner, a huge Formby fan, sets out to rehabilitate public perception of the entertainer in this documentary, originally shown earlier this year. Skinner traces Formby's career, from his time as a jockey to the boom years as a comic, where his earnings would vastly outflank those of his contemporaries. There's a sad coda to this piece; Formby died of a heart attack in his 50s, leaving an ugly legal battle over his will.

This documentary about George Formby was rather good, but personally, I would have preferred to have seen more of Formby and less of Skinner. Frank Skinner on George Formby appeared to be more to do with Skinner's love of the innuendo-filled singer rather than the actual man himself.

For those not fully aware of Formby's background there was a lot more to him than meets the eye. For starters his own father, George Formby Senior, was a successful music hall act, and as a result Formby Junior had a much more comfortable living than people think. Also, his father sent him to work at a stable because he didn't want Junior working in the music hall himself.

The show also covered his relationship with his wife and manager Beryl, a woman who was hugely jealous of any other woman approaching Formby. Then there are the stories of his performances in South Africa when he was told to play in front of segregated audiences, but he refused and decided to play in front of black audiences. As a result, the Formbys were kicked out of the country and man who organised the black performances was shot.

I'd have liked to have seen more - but since much of the programme was about how Skinner has learnt how to play the ukulele (and about Formby's fan club), there was a distinct lack of depth. I do know of more detailed programmes about Formby's life, though. I'd personally recommend the Radio 2 documentary George Formby - Britain's Original Pop Star presented by Stuart Maconie, which was broadcast earlier this year.

In terms of Skinner's contribution, it did give him the chance to play "With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock" in a Blackpool rock factory, which itself is a fascinating process, starting with a massive roll of rock and working its way down to smaller sections, something which I didn't know about...

This isn't the first time Frank Skinner has paid tribute to music hall star George Formby. At The Secret Policeman's Ball in 2008, Skinner performed a highly amusing (and YouTube-able) ditty about Osama bin Laden on a ukelele in the manner of Formby, complete with OTT Lancashire vowels. In this biopic, Skinner plays some of his real-life songs, charts his rise to fame and looks at the exploitation that surrounded his sudden death.

Frank Skinner puts a positive spin on his biography of stage and screen star George Formby, whose ukulele strumming and saucy songs kept British audiences smiling through the Second World War. It's a life full of fascination but Skinner scoots through the detail. In a film of more diversions than the M6, Skinner attends massed ukulele thrashes, learns how to make Blackpool rock and talks about his hero to schoolchildren, who greet him with: "Good morning, Frank Skinner". Sweet, like the programme.

Frank Skinner reveals his love for George Formby

The comedian explores the enduring appeal of the entertainer and ukulele master.

Will the nation gurn again for George Formby?

A resurgence in the popularity of the ukulele could rekindle our bizarre affection for the oddball singer-comedian.

As one of the closest election results in living memory draws near, Channel 4 have decided to adopt a satirical stance in the face of impending doom (a Tory victory) by inviting Charlie Brooker, David Mitchell and Jimmy Carr to lessen the blow. For anyone not voting Conservative it'll be reminiscent of having George Formby strumming away on his ukulele for the troops or Vera Lynn reassuring the public to "Keep smiling through, just the way you used to do/Till the blue skies chase the dark clouds far away".

Described by David Mitchell as being like "Big Brother but with posher people" you'll still be able to keep up with the results as they come in live whilst enjoying popular shows with an election twist.

Fonejacker will be making several impromptu appearances whilst Lauren Laverne, David Mitchell and Jimmy Carr share the role of compère. Most of the polls suggest its neck and neck as the three main parties race towards the finish line and some light comic relief might be exactly what this election needs before the sad reality settles in for whoever wins: it's going to be a tough couple of years and a fair while until the "skies chase the dark clouds far away".

Comedy probably divides opinion like nothing else - what one generation finds rib-tickling, another can find unfunny, even distasteful. Having started his stand-up career in Edinburgh back in 1987, some might consider Frank Skinner a somewhat fossilised funster now compared to the new, young names on today's circuit. But, during Radio 4's Chain Reaction, it's clear that fellow, albeit very different, comedian and guest interviewer, Dave Gorman, has a healthy respect for the banjo-playing Brummie as he reflects on his love of live performance, football and even outdoor toilets. Dubbed a comedian of the lad culture age, Skinner admits success could have easily made him complacent now he's hit middle age and got money in the bank, but seems determined to try new avenues of comedy.

Growing up, he reveals, he wanted to be a cowboy, footballer or a pop star. Having recently rediscovered his musical bent, all he needs now is to adapt an old George Formby song and he could be storming the charts again, like when Three Lions hit number one and made him a truly household name. The next Chain Reaction sees Skinner swap chairs and interview Eddie Izzard - comedic chalk and cheese if ever there was, not least in wardrobe and make-up departments.