Tommy Cooper: In His Own Words

In this affectionate look back at Tommy Cooper's life and career, Sir Michael Parkinson, Jimmy Tarbuck and Chris Tarrant reflect on what made him one of the greats. Friends and colleagues talk about working with Tommy and his daughter Vicky gives her first ever television interview. All the classic routines and sketches are here, along with some rare gems from the archives.

The programme charts Cooper's rise from a weakling born in a Welsh mining town, through a military career in the Horse Guards, to being Britain's highest paid comedian with top-rating TV series throughout the 1970s. His writer Barry Cryer, choreographer Lionel Blair and "straight woman" Sheila Steafel explain what it was like to work with an unpredictable comedy genius. Actor Clive Mantle talks about playing the role of Tommy on stage, and Debbie McGee explains the truth behind Cooper's seemingly incompetent magic.