British Comedy Guide

Tony Robinson (III)

  • Military personnel

Press clippings Page 2

Eager to know why Manuel from Fawlty Towers had a moustache? The worst thing about being in Blackadder? Or maybe which actors had to bring their own clothes to film a hit pilot? The answers to these hot-button issues in Jo Brand's poorly disguised old-timey clip-show are perfectly pitched, provoking - if anything - the kind of weary, non-committal, slightly surly shrug that's engendered by watching the actual programme itself.

Brand presides over a genial half-hour of sitcom quizzery that sees team leaders Rebecca Front and Barry 'Mine's a Large One!' Cryer joined by Hugh Dennis and Tony Robinson for a trawl through some well-thumbed snippets from the BBC archives. Andrew Sachs and Ian Lavender deliver creaky old war stories and Cryer delves into his endless fund of Willie Rushton anecdotes, before a round where the guests all try on a variety of wigs puts the show out of its misery.

Brand and guests are very easy people to like, but this is the worst kind of filler; to damn it with even fainter praise, it's the sort of programme that Alan Partridge would consider 'classic broadcasting'.

Adam Lee Davies, Time Out, 16th June 2013

Radio Times review

This is billed as a panel game but it's more of a parlour game - perhaps after a stodgy supper, given the pervading air of lethargy - in which four comedy stars flop out on sofas separated by a bank of TV screens from host Jo Brand.

Team captains Rebecca Front and Barry Cryer are joined by guests Tony Robinson and Hugh Dennis, who divulge a few of their own comedy secrets and answer questions that pop up on screen from the likes of Andrew Sachs, Lesley Joseph and Shaun Williamson. It's mildly amusing, but Jo Brand is always better unscripted.

Patrick Mulkern, Radio Times, 16th June 2013

How accurately does Blackadder reflect history?

As fans of Blackadder celebrate the 30th anniversary of the comedy's first broadcast, its stars Tony Robinson and Rowan Atkinson are recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Its fast-and-loose attitude to real events and characters is part of the appeal, but how close is any of it to real history?

Finlo Rohrer, BBC Magazine, 15th June 2013

Blackadder stars honoured for Queen's Birthday

Blackadder stars Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson are amongst those to have been honoured in the Queen's Birthday list.

British Comedy Guide, 15th June 2013

Tony Robinson: Blackadder to Walking Through History

"It's entirely up to writers Richard [Curtis] and Rowan [Atkinson]. If they decided that they wanted to do another series [of Blackadder], I would definitely say yes"

Jade Bremner, Radio Times, 28th March 2013

Joe Pasquale: I can be serious too!

Joe Pasquale has revealed he'd like his career to follow that of Tony Robinson.

Press Association, 17th October 2011

Tony Robinson: I've found the love of my life

Time Team star Tony ­Robinson says his new wife - who is less than half his age - is "the love of my life".

Adrian Butler, The Mirror, 3rd July 2011

Tony Robinson marries partner

Time Team's Tony Robinson has married partner Louise Hobbs.

Paul Millar, Digital Spy, 25th June 2011

Horrible Histories review

In the first episode this Sunday night they manage to break down the entirety of the English Civil War into a three minute shell in front of a weather map. No intense detail of battles of scenes, no complicated narrative highlighting the political consequences, no Tony Robinson touching soil - just enough to get the grasp of what happened for any pub quiz or any trivial historical accusation against you.

Scotty Bryan, On The Box, 20th June 2011

There's a terrible disaster with Big Top tonight. "The BBC is screening another episode?" you may ask. Well, yes it is. But the disaster in question is Lizzie's skydiver breaking his right leg.

He's in hospital in plaster but Lizzie (Amanda Holden) isn't worried yet - his left one still works... Oh dear, now it doesn't. Now she's worried. Just what is a girl in a red coat and giant black knickers supposed to do?

The audience expect a death-defying act but all Lizzie has are a Hi-de-Hi! escapee and her dog, two terrible clowns, a snide Baldrick lookalike and a man in green spandex and silver foil. Unless Erasmus (Tony Robinson) finally lets his hatred of Plonky the Clown (John Thomson) reach psycho killer proportions, the only thing that risks death is the show's script.

Lizzie offers a £100 bonus to anybody who comes up with an act to save the day. But with a team of idiots surrounding her, the suggestions aren't good.

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 9th December 2009

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