Norman Wisdom

It is almost impossible to exaggerate how awful was the thing entitled Pompidou. I might be a little biased, because this pompous-bloke-fallen-on-hard-times sitcom featured three of my very least favourite things - slapstick, deference and the inexplicably beloved Beeb pet Matt Lucas. Even on an objective reading, however, this misguided and ill-disguised attempt to flog to the BBC Worldwide and children's market a sub-Bean, definitely sub-Hulot, half-hour lash-up of silly voices, snobbery and painfully telegraphed misunderstandings made me yearn for the comparatively Shavian sophistications of that exaggerated, whistling, carefree saunter Norman Wisdom would adopt six seconds before falling into a manhole. Insulting to children, insulting even to French people, who seem to like this kind of stuff, and you could find more intellectual creativity in 10 minutes of Bananas in Pyjamas.

Bid to release Norman Wisdom classic

A film historian who has dedicated much of his working life to the study of film star Norman Wisdom is campaigning for audiences to finally get the chance to see one of the great man's least known movies.

Preview: A Tribute to Sir Norman Wisdom OBE

The exhibition is a real labour of love. "Sometimes, when I've shown people round," says Nick Wisdom, "I get to certain pieces, and tell a story and I'd feel my throat tightening."

Comedy festival marks Norman Wisdom's 100th birthday

Fancy a laugh? Then look no further because today is the start of this year's Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival. Making this year even more special is that today would have been Sir Norman Wisdom's 100th birthday.

Leicester Comedy Festival remembers Norman Wisdom

A comedy festival has opened in Leicester on what would have been the 100th birthday of its original patron, Norman Wisdom.

Norman Wisdom's scripts to be displayed in Leicester

Items belonging to Norman Wisdom will be displayed in Leicester.

Norman Wisdom impersonator plans charity walk

An impersonator of Sir Norman Wisdom has set his sights high by planning to walk from London to Cardiff to raise money for charity.

Leicester Comedy Festival pay tribute to Norman Wisdom

The 2015 Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival will pay tribute to the late comic legend Norman Wisdom by opening on what would have been his 100th birthday.

What, then of the fictional hero of Derek (Channel 4), who has unspecified learning difficulties? If Ricky Gervais's role in The Office was a masterpiece of the comedy of embarrassment, his title role in Derek is an exercise in sentimental manipulation.

In the third episode last night, Derek, conceived as a perpetually gentle and innocent man, stumbled around the care home where he works, while the rapacious daughter of an old lady who lives there counted the days till her death so she can get hold of her diamond ring. What happened to the ring was the plot line, but Derek kept coming round again for us viewers to feel sorry for him, while a piano soundtrack played sad music.
Gervais stuck to the single note of pathos, wandering about with a moribund fledgling chick in his hand or wailing, "I love working here but I'm always sad," as another old woman died.
Other characters trotted by as one-trick ponies. The care assistant Hannah (Kerry Godliman) is another Dawn from The Office; Kev (David Earl) is addicted to self-deluding sexual boasting. Dougie the handyman (Karl Pilkington with funny hair) is there to give people their comeuppance.

As an exponent of look-at-me humour, Ricky Gervais has come to rival Doris Day or Lucille Ball. His master in sentimentality, though, must be Norman Wisdom, who at least varied his appeal by a bit of energetic slapstick. In Fifties terms Norman was "a bit simple"; Derek, in today's social-work-speak, is "vulnerable" - which actually makes him invulnerable to audience criticism. It would be like kicking the Andrex puppy.

I hate to disappoint Ricky Gervais, but I can't see why anyone would be offended by his C4 comedy, Derek, about a guy with learning difficulties.

The only remotely 'iffy' thing I spotted was 'Chavs in pub' in the closing credits. Unless you can still call them that these days?

I guess you could mark Gervais down for not exactly breaking new ground. He came up with the idea for Derek over ten years ago and he is basically a Fifties Norman Wisdom character transported to a modern-day old folks' home.

Plus, the tone and subject matter was very close to the That Peter Kay Thing classic from 2000 about Britain's oldest paperboy, Leonard de Tomkinson.

Still, this pilot was bursting with enough promising characters, clever lines and gut-wrenching scenes to suggest a series won't be far off.

One thing though, Ricky. Maybe make Derek's voice a little less Fred West-like next time. It was a bit creepy.