British Comedy Guide
Ronnie Barker. Copyright: BBC
Ronnie Barker

Ronnie Barker

  • English
  • Actor and writer
Going Straight. Norman Stanley Fletcher (Ronnie Barker). Copyright: BBC

Ronnie Barker OBE was an English comedian, actor and writer. Training in repertory theatre, he first gained national recognition in long-running radio sitcom The Navy Lark. Successfully moving to television in the 1960s, he worked on numerous sketch and satire series alongside Ronnie Corbett, with whom he would later form acclaimed double act The Two Ronnies. Barker was also a prolific and lauded writer, often penning scripts under pseudonyms so that they would be judged on their own merit rather than his stardom. He is best known for The Two Ronnies sketch show and sitcoms including Open All Hours and Porridge.

Year Production Role
2024 This Cultural Life: Michael Palin Self (Archive Material)
2024 Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes
  1. E10 - Comic Song
Self (Archive Material)
2023 Comedy Classics: Open All Hours (as Ronnie Barker OBE) Self (Archive Material)
2021 The Two Ronnies: Ronnie Corbett's Lost Tapes Self (Archive Material)
2020 Sir David Jason At 80: A Lovely Jubbly Celebration Self (Archive Material)
2019 The Two Ronnies Unseen Self (Archive Material)
2018 Comedy Legends - Series 1
  1. E4 - Ronnie Barker
Self (Archive Material)
2018 The Two Ronnies: In Their Own Words Self (Archive Material)
2017 The Ronnie Barker Comedy Lecture In Memorial of
2015 The Interviews - Series 1 (as The Two Ronnies)
  1. E2 - The Two Ronnies
Self (Archive Material)
2015 Talking Comedy
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Self (Archive Material)
2014 Porridge: Inside Out
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Self (Archive Material)
2013 Open All Hours: A Celebration Self (Archive Material)
2013 The Two Ronnies Spectacle
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Self (Archive Material)
2013 My Hero: Hugh Dennis On Ronnie Barker Self (Archive Material)
2013 Radio 2's History Of British Comedy
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E3 - Episode Three
Self (Archive Material)
2011 Legends Of British Comedy
View episodes
Self (Archive Material)
2011 My Favourite Joke
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Self (Archive Material)
2010 The Two Ronnies: The Studio Recordings Self (Archive Material)
2007 Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Laugh
  1. E2 - Attitudes To Work
Self (Archive Material)
2005 And It's Goodnight From Him: A Tribute To Ronnie Barker Self (Archive Material)
2005 The Two Ronnies Sketchbook Host / Presenter
2004 Ronnie Barker: A BAFTA Tribute Self
2004 Comedy Heroes - Series 1
  1. E3 - Ronnie Barker's Comedy Heroes
Writer
2004 Comedy Heroes - Series 1
  1. E3 - Ronnie Barker's Comedy Heroes
Host / Presenter
2004 Britain's Best Sitcom
  1. E1 - The Launch
  2. E7 - Porridge
  3. E9 - Open All Hours
Guest
2003 Life Beyond The Box
  1. E1 - Norman Stanley Fletcher
Norman Fletcher
2003 Comedy Connections - Series 1
  1. E1 - Porridge
Self
2002 Heroes Of Comedy - Series 6
  1. E5 - The Living Legends: Ronnie Corbett
Self
2002 Double Trouble - Series 1
  1. E5 - The Two Ronnies
Self (Archive Material)
2001 The Sketch Show Story
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
Self
2000 The Unforgettable... - Series 1
  1. E2 - Richard Beckinsale
Self
2000 The Nearly Complete And Utter History Of Everything
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
Ensemble Actor
1997 Whatever Happened To... Clement & La Frenais? Self
1997 Ronnie Barker - A Life In Comedy Self
1988 Twenty-Two Years Of The Two Ronnies Self (Archive Material)
1988 Clarence (as Bob Ferris)
View episodes
Writer
1988 Clarence
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Clarence Sale
1987 The Two Ronnies - Christmas Special (as Gerald Wiley) Writer
1987 The Two Ronnies - Christmas Special Host / Presenter
1985 The Two Ronnies - Series 12 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Writer
1985 The Two Ronnies - Series 12
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Host / Presenter
1985 Open All Hours - Series 4
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Albert Arkwright
1985 The Two Ronnies - Series 11 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
Writer
1985 The Two Ronnies - Series 11
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
Host / Presenter
1984 The Two Ronnies - Christmas Special (as Gerald Wiley) Writer
1984 The Two Ronnies - Christmas Special Host / Presenter
1984 The Magnificent Evans
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Plantagenet Evans
1983 The Two Ronnies - Series 10 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E3 - Episode Three
  3. E4 - Episode Four
  4. E5 - Episode Five
  5. E6 - Episode Six
Writer
1983 The Two Ronnies - Series 10
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Host / Presenter
1982 By The Sea The General
1982 Open All Hours - Series 3
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Albert Arkwright
1981 The Two Ronnies - Series 9 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. Special - Christmas Special
  5. E4 - Episode Four
  6. E5 - Episode Five
  7. E6 - Episode Six
  8. E7 - Episode Seven
  9. Special - The Two Ronnies Christmas Show
Writer
1981 The Two Ronnies - Series 9
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. Special - Christmas Special
  5. E4 - Episode Four
  6. E5 - Episode Five
  7. E6 - Episode Six
  8. E7 - Episode Seven
  9. Special - The Two Ronnies Christmas Show
Host / Presenter
1981 Open All Hours - Series 2
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Albert Arkwright
1980 The Two Ronnies - Series 8 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. Special - Christmas Special
Writer
1980 The Two Ronnies - Series 8
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. Special - Christmas Special
Host / Presenter
1979 Porridge Norman Stanley Fletcher
1978 The Two Ronnies - Series 7 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E7 - Episode Seven
Writer
1978 The Two Ronnies - Series 7
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1978 Going Straight
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Norman Stanley Fletcher
1977 The Two Ronnies - Series 6 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E5 - Episode Five
  2. E6 - Episode Six
  3. E7 - Episode Seven
  4. E8 - Episode Eight
Writer
1977 The Two Ronnies - Series 6 (as G. Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
Writer
1977 The Two Ronnies - Series 6
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1977 The Navy Lark - The Jubilee Navy Lark Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1977 Porridge - Series 3
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Fletcher
1976 Porridge - The Desperate Hours Fletcher
1976 The Two Ronnies - Series 5 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Writer
1976 The Two Ronnies - Series 5
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1976 Open All Hours - Series 1
View episodes
Albert Arkwright
1976 The Two Ronnies In The Picnic (as Dave Huggett & Larry Keith) Writer
1976 The Two Ronnies In The Picnic The General
1975 The Navy Lark - Series 15 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1975 Porridge - Series 2
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Fletcher
1975 The Two Ronnies - Series 4 (as Gerald Wiley)
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  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Writer
1975 The Two Ronnies - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1974 Porridge - Series 1
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Fletcher
1974 Franklyn And Johnnie Johnnie Wetherby
1973 The Two Ronnies - Series 3 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. Special - The Two Ronnies Old Fashioned Christmas Mystery
  9. E8 - Episode Eight
Writer
1973 The Two Ronnies - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. Special - The Two Ronnies Old Fashioned Christmas Mystery
  9. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1973 The Navy Lark - Series 14 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1973 I'll Fly You For A Quid Evan Owen
1973 I'll Fly You For A Quid Grandpa Owen
1973 One Man's Meat (as Jack Goetz) Writer
1973 One Man's Meat Alan Joyce
1973 Another Fine Mess Harry Norvel
1973 Spanner's Eleven Albert Spanner
1973 My Old Man - Pilot
  1. My Old Man
Sam Cobbett
1973 Porridge - Prisoner And Escort Fletcher
1973 Open All Hours - Pilot Albert Arkwright
1972 The Two Ronnies - Series 2 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Writer
1972 The Two Ronnies - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1972 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead - Series 2 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E4 - Episode Four
  3. E5 - Episode Five
  4. E6 - Episode Six
  5. E7 - Episode Seven
Writer
1972 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Ensemble Actor
1972 His Lordship Entertains (as Jonathan Cobbald)
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Writer
1972 His Lordship Entertains
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Lord Rustless
1972 The Navy Lark - Series 13 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1972 Idle At Work George Idle
1971 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Guest
1971 The Two Ronnies - Series 1 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Writer
1971 The Navy Lark - Series 12 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1971 The Two Ronnies - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1971 Ronnie Corbett In Bed Guest
1971 The Ronnie Barker Yearbook (as Gerald Wiley) Writer
1971 The Ronnie Barker Yearbook Ensemble Actor
1971 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead - Series 1 (as Gerald Wiley)
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
  9. Special - Lines From My Grandfather Christmas's Forehead
Writer
1971 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
  9. Special - Lines From My Grandfather Christmas's Forehead
Ensemble Actor
1971 6 Dates With Barker (as Gerald Wiley)
  1. E6 - 2774 A.D.: All The World's A Stooge
Story
1971 6 Dates With Barker (as Gerald Wiley)
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Writer
1971 6 Dates With Barker
  1. E6 - 2774 A.D.: All The World's A Stooge
Prince Boffo
1971 6 Dates With Barker
  1. E5 - 1971: Come In And Lie Down
Dr. Swanton
1971 6 Dates With Barker
  1. E4 - 1915: Lola
Fritz Braun / 'Lola'
1971 6 Dates With Barker
  1. E3 - 1970: The Odd Job
Arthur
1971 6 Dates With Barker
  1. E2 - 1899: The Phantom Raspberry Blower Of Old London Town
Various
1971 6 Dates With Barker Various
1971 6 Dates With Barker
  1. E1 - 1937: The Removals Person
Fred
1970 'Wilton's' - The Handsomest Hall In Town Ensemble Actor
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E5 - Rustless On Medicine
First-Aider
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E5 - Rustless On Medicine
Patient
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E3 - Rustless On Communication
Billy Weymouth
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E2 - Rustless On Law
Husband
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E2 - Rustless On Law
Sergeant
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2 (as Gerald Wiley)
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Writer
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
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Lord Rustless
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E1 - Rustless On Music
Abdul the Filthy
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
  1. E1 - Rustless On Music
Bachelor
1970 Hark At Barker - Series 2
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Announcer
1970 Tommy Cooper
  1. E9 - Episode Nine
Guest
1969 The Navy Lark - Series 11 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E7 - Episode Seven
Young Lord Rustless
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E7 - Episode Seven
Igor Stechlom
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Clarence
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Drunk
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
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Announcer
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E5 - Episode Five
Fred Fearnley
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E5 - Episode Five
Man Under Desk
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E4 - Episode Four
Yokel
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Drunk Man
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Montefiore Culpepper
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Ken Culpepper
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Mr. Culpepper
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Ronnie
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E4 - Episode Four
  3. E6 - Episode Six
  4. E8 - Episode Eight
Edward
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1 (as Gerald Wiley)
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Writer
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E1 - Episode One
Mr. Titheradge
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
  1. E1 - Episode One
Doctor
1969 Hark At Barker Lord Rustless
1969 Futtocks End Writer
1969 Futtocks End General Sir Giles Futtock
1969 Hark At Barker - Series 1
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Lord Rustless
1968 The Navy Lark - Series 10 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
  1. E6 - Alexander
Alexander MacGregor
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
  1. E5 - Talk Of Angels
The Monk
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
  1. E4 - The Incredible Mister Tanner
Cyril Tanner
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
  1. E3 - The Fastest Gun In Finchley
Ronald Winterbourne
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse Various
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
  1. E1 - Tennyson
Tennyson Elias Williams
1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
  1. E2 - Ah, There You Are
Lord Rustless
1968 A Ghost Of A Chance Mr Prendergast
1967 The Navy Lark - Series 9 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1966 Foreign Affairs Grischa Petrovitch
1966 The Navy Lark - Series 8 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1966 Crowther's Crowd - Series 2 Various
1966 The Frost Report - Series 1
  1. E4 - Elections
Writer (Additional Material)
1966 The Frost Report - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Authority
  2. E2 - Holidays
  3. E3 - Sin
  4. E4 - Elections
  5. E5 - Class
  6. E6 - The News
Ensemble Actor
1965 Barney Is My Darling
  1. E2 - The £2,000 A Year Man
Actor
1965 The Navy Lark - Series 7 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1965 The Walrus And The Carpenter - Series 1
  1. E4 - Luther And The Golden Fleece
Actor
1964 A Home Of Your Own Dick The Cement Mixer
1964 Sykes And A... - Series 7
  1. E6 - A Log Cabin
Tramp
1964 How To Be An Alien Various
1964 Father Came Too! Josh Wicks
1964 The Bargee Ronnie
1963 Doctor In Distress Man at Station Ticket Counter
1963 The Navy Lark - Series 6 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1963 Crowther's Crowd - Series 1 Various
1963 The Cracksman Yossle
1963 Faces Of Jim - More Faces Of Jim Various
1963 It's A Square World - 1963 Golden Rose of Montreux Entry
  1. 1963 Golden Rose of Montreux Entry
Ensemble Actor
1963 The Navy Lark - Series 5 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1962 Faces Of Jim - Six More Faces Of Jim Various
1962 It's A Stereophonic World Ensemble Actor
1962 Citizen James - Series 3
  1. E11 - The Librarian
Actor
1962 The Rag Trade - Series 2
  1. E13 - Episode Thirteen
Mr. Goodwin
1961 Faces Of Jim - The Seven Faces Of Jim Various
1961 Citizen James - Series 2
  1. E7 - Episode Seven
Actor
1961 The Navy Lark - Series 4 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1960 The Navy Lark - Series 3 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1959 The Navy Lark - Series 2 Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson
1959 The Navy Lark - Series 1
  1. E1 - The Missing Jeep
  2. E2 - Operation Fag End
Ensemble Actor
1959 The Navy Lark - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Missing Jeep
  2. E2 - Operation Fag End
  3. E3 - Number One's Chair
  4. E4 - The Fairground Lights
Able Seaman (Fatso) Johnson

Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Ronnie Barker on IMDb

Born
Wednesday 25th September 1929
Died
Monday 3rd October 2005 (aged 76)
AKA
Gerald Wiley
Jonathan Cobbald
Dave Huggett
Larry Keith
Dave Huggett & Larry Keith
Bob Ferris
G. Wiley
Full name
Ronald William George Barker
Title
Ronnie Barker OBE
Nationality
English
Daughter
Charlotte Barker
BAFTA Television Awards 2003
Special Award (Winner)
British Comedy Awards 1999
Lifetime Achievement Award (Winner)
British Comedy Awards 1990
Lifetime Achievement Award (Winner)
BAFTA Television Awards 1986
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1984
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1980
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1979
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Winner)
BAFTA Television Awards 1978
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Winner)
BAFTA Television Awards 1977
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1976
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Winner)
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1975
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1974
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1972
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Winner)
BAFTA Television Awards 1970
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)
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