Lucille Ball

A few years ago a pub "fact" did the rounds that went something like: "at every minute someone somewhere in the world is watching an episode of I Love Lucy". Whether it's true or not, it goes some way to demonstrating the enduring popularity of a show produced in the 1950s and its star Lucille Ball. Following the success of her series on British funny ladies, Barbara Windsor starts her profiles of female American comics with Lucy's story.

We hear that behind the zany screen persona was a tough cookie: she became the first woman to head a Hollywood studio (Trekkies should be grateful - she gave the nod for Star Trek) and her TV show pioneered the multi-camera technique that has become the norm for shooting television comedy in front of a studio audience.

Tony Peters, Radio Times, 4th October 2011

Barbara Windsor radio series to celebrate female comics

Barbara Windsor is to pay homage to some of the best-loved British and American comediennes - including Hattie Jacques and Lucille Ball - in a six-part series for the BBC.

Matthew Hemley, The Stage, 16th June 2011