British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
Graham McCann
Graham McCann

Graham McCann

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Graham McCann features - page 3

Image shows left to right: Jewel & Warriss, Jimmy Jewel, Ben Warriss Features

Comedy Chronicles: The duo you don't know - Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss

Sunday 21st May 2023

Britain's favourite comedy double act before Morecambe & Wise found fame in the 1960s, cousins Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss are now largely forgotten - despite having a huge impact on radio and television comedy.

Ton-Up Boy, pictured in Dick Emery's Cookbook. Dick Emery Features

Comedy Chronicles: It seemed a good idea at the time #3 - Dick Emery's Cookbook

Sunday 7th May 2023

In another edition of the occasional 'It seemed a good idea at the time' series, Comedy Chronicles addresses comics' forays into culinary endeavours, and the remarkably quirky Dick Emery's Cookbook.

Sykes - With The Lid Off. Eric Sykes. Credit: Thames Television Features

Comedy Chronicles: The nation's cheerer-upper - In celebration of Eric Sykes

Sunday 23rd April 2023

Ahead of his centenary on 4th May 2023, Comedy Chronicles looks at Eric Sykes, the brilliant writer and performer who dedicated his life to making people laugh.

Water Rats Features

Comedy Chronicles: Fraternally Yours - The Brotherhood of British comedy

Sunday 9th April 2023

Graham McCann looks at the formation and membership of show business clubs The Grand Order of Water Rats and Masonic Chelsea Lodge No 3098.

The Worker. Charlie (Charlie Drake). Credit: ITV Features

Comedy Chronicles: It seemed a good idea at the time #2 - When Peter Gabriel met Charlie Drake

Sunday 26th March 2023

Comedian Charlie Drake was the subject of the inaugural Comedy Chronicles, and we return to Charlie Drake Land in this fascinating tale of his one-time encounter with the world of prog rock.

Hippodrome. Woody Allen Features

Comedy Chronicles: Woody Allen versus a boxing kangaroo

Sunday 12th March 2023

In 1966, inside an office at British TV company Rediffusion, a programme meeting reached its climax when some bright spark volunteered the idea: '...Kangaroo Boxing?'.

Tony Buffery Features

Comedy Chronicles: Utterly Buffery - The short but special comic career of Tony Buffery

Sunday 26th February 2023

A remarkable, acclaimed talent whose flirtations with comedy touched and influenced the likes of The Pythons, The Goodies and Clive James, this is the fascinating tale of neuropsychologist Tony Buffery.

Open All Hours. Albert Arkwright (Ronnie Barker). Copyright: BBC Features

Comedy Chronicles: A nation of comedy shopkeepers

Sunday 12th February 2023

Imagine a high street, in some parallel but very-near dimension, where some of the greatest names of British comedy are in fact the proprietors and landlords of each establishment...

Raymond Allen Features

Comedy Chronicles: One sitcom did 'ave 'em - The strangely short career of Raymond Allen

Sunday 29th January 2023

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em is one of Britain's favourite sitcoms, but for writer Raymond Allen it was almost his only success a comedy writer. Normally sitcoms flop and writers flourish - so why the near-opposite here?

Only Fools And Horses. Image shows from L to R: Del (David Jason), Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst). Copyright: BBC Features

Comedy Chronicles: Tempus fugit - When time means something for a sitcom

Sunday 1st January 2023

As 2022 draws to a close and 2023 embraces us like a warming hug, it's natural to consider the passage of time: something that traditional situation comedies have a curious relationship with.

Only Fools And Horses. Image shows left to right: Del (David Jason), Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield). Credit: BBC Features

Comedy Chronicles: And so this is Christmas... TV's strange reluctance to indulge in seasonal fun

Sunday 25th December 2022

Comedy was once the staple of British television - and particularly so at Christmas. Now it feels a third consideration at best. But how did the present set of events come to pass?

Image shows from L to R: Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise. Copyright: ITN Features

Comedy Chronicles: Random acts of kindness - Comedians being good to each other

Sunday 18th December 2022

Negative stories always make the biggest press headlines; so much so that positive tales, such as acts of unfaltering kindness, are often left completely untold.

Spike Mullins Features

Comedy Chronicles: The sinuous comic art of Spike Mullins - Before I begin I'd just like to say...

Sunday 4th December 2022

The annals of British comedy are peppered with those who did not seek the limelight, but were happy to simply write and make millions laugh. Spike Mullins is one such genius - a prolific scribe whose name you may not know, but whose material you definitely do.

It's A Square World. Michael Bentine. Copyright: BBC Features

Comedy Chronicles: Michael Bentine - A Goon who should not be forgotten

Sunday 20th November 2022

In his centenary year, Comedy Chronicles addresses the remarkable and often-overlooked legacy and career of the multi-talented, fascinating Michael Bentine, co-creator of The Goon Show.

Image shows left to right: Bernie Winters, Mike Winters Features

Comedy Chronicles: There's two of 'em! - The Winters and their discontent

Sunday 6th November 2022

Once huge stars, sibling double-act Mike & Bernie Winters are now often remembered far more as the butt of jokes than for their contributions to comedy. Here we look at their career and body of work to find out why, and set straight a few misconceptions.

Mother Riley Meets The Vampire. Image shows left to right: Old Mother Riley (Arthur Lucan), Vampire (Bela Lugosi) Features

Comedy Chronicles: BOO! When Bela Lugosi met Old Mother Riley

Sunday 23rd October 2022

With Halloween approaching, Graham McCann tells of the now obscure early-50s British comedy film that co-starred Hollywood horror legend Bela Lugosi, Mother Riley Meets The Vampire.

The Goon Show. Image shows from L to R: Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe. Copyright: BBC Features

Comedy Chronicles: In search of lost time - Remembering The Last Goon Show Of All

Sunday 9th October 2022

Itself produced as part of the BBC's own 50th birthday celebrations, The Last Goon Show Of All marks 50 years since its broadcast this month - so, what of comedy reunions?

Oh Brother!. Brother Dominic (Derek Nimmo). Copyright: BBC Features

Comedy Chronicles: Arrested developments - comedy out of context

Sunday 25th September 2022

Comedy does not always land quite as intended, and some attempts at humour have been known to bring comics to face the law itself.

Are You Being Served?. Image shows from L to R: Mr. Ernest Grainger (Arthur Brough), Miss Shirley Brahms (Wendy Richard), Captain Stephen Peacock (Frank Thornton), Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries (John Inman), Mr. Harman (Arthur English), Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold (Nicholas Smith), Mrs. Betty Slocombe (Mollie Sugden), Mr. Dick Lucas (Trevor Bannister). Copyright: Anglo-EMI Features

Comedy Chronicles: Closed for the holidays - Why sitcoms seldom screen their summer breaks

Sunday 10th July 2022

Certain sitcoms - Benidorm, Duty Free - make the great British holiday their central focus, but for other domestic-set comedies, the temptation to take characters away from their usual confines for a 'relaxing' break is often a poor idea.

Sid James Features

Comedy Chronicles: The ITV Job - The day when the BBC almost lost British comedy

Sunday 26th June 2022

Graham McCann's column charts a fascinating 'what if' moment in British television comedy history: a fork in the road that had consequences of epic proportions in either direction.

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