British Comedy Guide

Mark Lawson

  • English
  • Journalist and author

Press clippings Page 2

Peter Bowles: a commanding talent who was so much more than a sitcom star

The classy actor could play both establishment and villainous characters with aplomb. He was naturally charming and hugely admired by great men of theatre like Harold Pinter.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 17th March 2022

Barry Cryer was cheeky, kind and a canny engineer of comedy

A generous-hearted jokesmith, Cryer created laughs for generations of comics, was a consummate performer and had a lifelong commitment to wit.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 27th January 2022

The Play What I Wrote review

Tom Hiddleston has a laugh in farce masterclass.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 7th December 2021

Mark Lawson on John Challis

Star of Only Fools And Horses became part of sitcom aristocracy and was also a classy raconteur.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 19th September 2021

Babs Windsor: the giggling pearly queen of the screen

Between the bubbly blonde of the Carry Ons and EastEnders' matriarch, the actor built up a significant body of work in film, theatre and TV.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 11th December 2020

Des O'Connor: TV's singing self-deprecating Mr Nice Guy

Popular entertainer was for years a punchline of jokes but remained humbly grateful for his success.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 15th November 2020

Bobby Ball: a staple of Saturday night entertainment

Emerging from the north-west comedy circuit, Ball was, with partner Tommy Cannon, a fixture of 80s TV who kept huge audiences amused.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Brooke-Taylor leaves a legacy, even without repeats

Brooke-Taylor's achievements on radio may be what he is best remembered for, but his TV work deserves more appreciation.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 12th April 2020

Eddie Large was the big man of 80s British TV comedy

Eddie Large took the bigger role - in more ways than one - of the double act the BBC saw as successors to Morecambe and Wise, and whose sketch show had 15 million viewers a week.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 2nd April 2020

Has TV got a problem with Christianity?

Christians on TV were once limited to ethical debates and Songs of Praise. But from Fleabag to US sitcom The Righteous Gemstones, portrayals are now less pious and more provocative.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 7th February 2020

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