Neil Forsyth

Because Christmas wouldn't be Christmas and all that, a double dose of E&E. First, a trawl of their archive of home movies from the 1950s and 60s, seen for the first time by Eric's surviving relatives. Then, on BBC Four, an engaging Neil Forsyth-scripted drama starring Stephen Tompkinson as Eddie Braben, the Liverpudlian co-responsible for the massive success of the duo in the 70s but who was worked to exhaustion under pressure.

Neil Forsyth on writing Eric, Ernie and Me

Neil Forsyth is the writer of the Bob Servant books which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4 and television. He has also written two episodes of the Urban Myths series. His new drama Eric, Ernie and Me, the story of Eddie Braben, the writer behind the immense success of comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, is on BBC Four on 29th December.

The genius writer who brought all of us sunshine

Morecambe and Wise are our two most treasured comedians, their television career as a comedy double act will never be eclipsed.

Radio Times review

Frank and Dorothy are planning their wedding but pig-headed Bob is determined to be the centre of attention - that is if he doesn't stop their big day in the first place. Bob cannot envisage life without Frank, his best pal (and dogsbody) of 52 years standing, and when he hears the couple will move to Fife, he takes drastic action unbecoming of a best man.

Bob Servant is a gift role for Brian Cox, who manages to make Bob sympathetic no matter how deluded and bonkers he becomes. But the second run of Neil Forsyth's breezy Dundonian comedy comes to a halt after just three episodes. Let's hope for more soon.

Bob Servant, despite Brian Cox, and my having loved his first outing, isn't (yet) funny. Cox and Miller are deeply talented comedy actors, let down here by pilot scripts. I know that the writer of the second, Neil Forsyth, is capable of far greater nuanced stuff, and a fine pawky Dundonian sense of humour, than which there are few finer this side of Brooklyn, and can only hope that he and Cox haven't already alienated audiences. BBC Four prides itself on "experimental", but these should have been sure things. Wh'appen?

Radio Times review

In 2013, Brian Cox told me that filming series one had been such a joy and he'd be back like a shot from his Brooklyn home, were there a second run. "I come from that part of the world [Dundee]. It's humour that's not seen anywhere else. It's not Glaswegian. It's not dreichy. It's about light, air and eternal optimism." Writer Neil Forsyth was "a genuine original comic voice".

Bonkers Bob is back. Broughty Ferry's loudmouth has ditched local politics and is peddling huge, noxious burgers from a van. He's thrown off kilter by council official Megan (Daniela Nardini), who tries to shut him down, and by his buddy Frank, who suddenly has a racy sex life.

Successful year for Bob Servant creator Neil Forsyth

Bob Servant creator Neil Forsyth has capped off a successful year by selling two new comedy pilot scripts to American television networks.

Bob Servant's guide to the idependence referendum

Dundee's man of the people answers the vital questions about Scotland's vote for independence.

Four episodes in and this comedy about a deluded wannabe politician in the Scottish town of Broughty Ferry is still failing to live up to expectations. The books (and subsequent radio show) by Neil Forsyth have gained quite a following but this series is just not funny, despite the best efforts of Brian Cox in the title role. Tonight Servant, ahead of the by-election, messes up a television interview when answering a question about his political ambitions by saying he wants to be seen as Annie Lennox. His mother (Sheila Reid) doesn't help his cause by telling a journalist that her son has "a head full of mince".