British Comedy Guide
Desmond's. Copyright: Humphrey Barclay Productions
Desmond's

Desmond's

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 1989 - 1994
  • 71 episodes (6 series)

Desmond's is, on the surface, just a Peckham barber shop - in reality, it's a meeting place, community centre, and old men's recreation room. Stars Norman Beaton, Carmen Munroe, Ram John Holder, Gyearbuor Asante, Geff Francis and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 5,942

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Press clippings

The Office named top landmark comedy of the last 50 years

The Office was the highest-placed comedy in a Broadcasting Press Guild list of the top 50 landmark programmes of the last 50 years.

British Comedy Guide, 13th March 2024

Desmond's actor Mona Hammond dies aged 91

One of her best-known roles was as Auntie Susu in the Channel 4 sitcom Desmond's from 1990 to 1994. She repeated the role in the shorter-lived spin-off Porkpie from 1995 to 1996.

Amelia Hill, The Guardian, 5th July 2022

How we made Desmond's

"Ice Cube was a big fan. Whitney Houston loved it. And when I met Nelson Mandela, he did a double take."

Alexi Duggins, The Guardian, 31st January 2022

ITV to document 'Black Comedy Legends'

ITV has commissioned a one-off documentary about the heritage and future of black comedians in Britain.

British Comedy Guide, 27th August 2020

Channel 4 make classic comedies available on All4

Channel 4 is making some of its classic comedy shows available on its catch-up service All 4 to mark World Alzheimer's Day. Viewers will be able to re-watch nostalgia-inducing titles including The Comic Strip Presents, Crapston Villas, Porterhouse Blue, Terry & Julian, The Jack Dee Show, Paul Merton - The Series, Vic Reeves Big Night Out, Sean's Show and Desmond's.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st September 2019

Desmond's at 30: 'I wrote it for white people'

The tale of Peckham's most inept barber is Britain's most successful black sitcom. On its 30th anniversary, its creator and star talk guns, dominoes - and why more writers of colour need to be heard.

Ross Davies, The Guardian, 4th January 2019

When part of Peckham was almost obliterated

When thinking of Eurostar and London, the iconic terminus at St Pancras - or perhaps its former home at Waterloo - spring to mind. Few, if any, would think of Peckham.

However, this area of south London almost became the site of a major junction for the high speed continental link. It would have changed the nature of the area forever.

Sam Cullen, Londonist, 24th April 2017

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