Tommy Cooper

Tim Vine interview: the king of the crackers

The act Tim Vine is most often compared to is Tommy Cooper: both big men with sharp wits, killer one-liners and a love of silly props. He works hard at his gags, fine-tuning them for weeks. Occasionally, they come to him naturally.

Farewell Teddington, birthplace of comedy

When Granville locks up and Still Open All Hours finishes shooting at Teddington Studios later this month, Thames Television's former home will close for ever. The front of the building is covered with blue plaques commemorating the comedy legends who worked there, including comedians Morecambe and Wise, Benny Hill, Tommy Cooper and Only Fools And Horses writer John Sullivan.

Review: Just Like That! - The Museum of Comedy

I arrived a little late for Just Like That! but I soon worked out what was going on. I had originally assumed that this was a revival of the play by John Fisher about Tommy Cooper's life that ran in the West End a few years back. In fact it is a more straightforward trick-by-trick tribute to the comedian famous for his fumbling manner and his fez.

Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show review

This avalanche of jokes and magical flubs can be exhausting, and John Hewer wisely employs musical interludes to add variety.

Interview: John Hewer

Tommy Cooper was a true comic genius. His impeccable timing, memorable routines, love of slapstick and groan-worthy gags made him an international name. Commemorating 30 years since his passing, this special tribute celebrates rarely seen material from his early cabaret days and the very best of his gags and tricks from his later extensive repertoire.

Terry Gilliam interview

The self-confessed 'least recognisable Python' weighs up whether or not the reunion is 'depressing' and hopes he won't pay homage to Tommy Cooper.

The Tommy Cooper thing, Not Like That, Like This, winningly scripted by Simon Nye, told the tale of guess who? A grand piece of ever-rewatchable television, for whom most plaudits will so rightly go to David Threlfall, who simply channelled Cooper: he made you practically smell Chiswick in the 60s, and the BBC lino, and twitch along with every bursting blood-vessel in first his nose and later heart. But very honourable mentions go to Amanda Redman and the ever-splendid Gregor Fisher, playing so against type as to surely require near-physical contortions. And to Paul Ritter, who played Eric Sykes, and got the wisest line of the night, after Cooper drunkenly explained the difference between his two loves, comedy and magic. Sykes saw a different version of two loves, Cooper being at that stage torn between wife Dove and mistress Mary. "So Dove is your comedy, and Mary is your magic." A difficult, heartbreaking man, and ditto piece of television.

Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This review

David Threlfall should walk off with this year's best actor Bafta after a pitch-perfect portrayal of the much-loved comedian, supported by a phalanx of perfectly turned supporting roles.

Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, ITV - TV review

Tommy Cooper lives, but where did his early years disappear to?

Review - Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, ITV

Entertaining if unilluminating biopic about the comedian.