Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Mar 22, 2021 7:23:04 GMT
I'd forgotten about Paul Squires - he was a big name during the late 70s / early 80s.
As you say Arthur, he had his own prime time show. A 'forgotten' comedian that comes to mind is Max Boyce. As I was working in Neath in 78/79 it was about the time of his rise to fame so I'd seen him at local events. A couple of years later he was on national TV but then seemed to disappear. A quick Google shows he's still working though. Another comedian was Tony Slattery. He seemed to be everywhere during the 80s and 90s on shows like "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" but then he disappeared out of the limelight. There was a program about him last year, about his fall from grace, alcoholism, financial problems and mental health issues. Max Boyce I remember used to turn up on Tiswas quite often. And some of the time he seemed quite nervous - not sure if this was due to the restrictions put on him (as it was supposed to be a Kids show). Though I felt he never really fitted in. None the less a good comedian in the right surroundings I suppose. Also from the Tiswas stable was Clive Webb - I think a Brummie comedian.
Tony Slattery did a bit in the West-End - in particular in a musical called "Radio Times" in the 90s.
It made me think of others:
John Sessions (sadly no longer with us), John Bird and John Fortune (also no longer with us). I used to love watching them on "Bremner, Bird & Fortune". on C4.
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Post by Cartman on Mar 22, 2021 7:42:14 GMT
Angus Deyton is another one from the same era who was everywhere at one time and seemed to disappear too
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Mar 22, 2021 9:49:14 GMT
Angus Deyton is another one from the same era who was everywhere at one time and seemed to disappear too Angus Deyton was also in One Foot in the Grave while presenting Have I got News for you
His downfall came following hitting the headlines for (it was alleged) sniffing a certain South American Powdered substance in a hotel room with a couple of ladies of the night.
The BBC tried to ride the storm - so to speak, but more allegations followed and he stood down from HIGNFY and then seemed to vanish.
I heard he was writing - but not sure if that's accurate.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Mar 22, 2021 17:14:25 GMT
Another comedian just sprung to mind was Mike Harding. He used to be on the box a fair bit at one stage but then seemed to disappear. A Google search indicates that he gave up public performances in the mid-nineties but he started out as a dustman, bus conductor, road digger and carpet fitter. A sad start to life was that his father was killed while returning from a bombing raid in WW2 just four weeks before he was born. www.mikeharding.co.uk/Sam.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Mar 22, 2021 17:20:34 GMT
Yes, I liked Mike Harding, I've got his album One Man Show and there's some good material on it
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 22, 2021 18:34:04 GMT
John Shuttleworth was on tv a lot for a period in the late 80's/90's, I thought he was very good.
Camp Australian character Bob Downe.
Not forgotten exactly just not on tv any more.
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Post by Steve Austin on Mar 22, 2021 20:00:08 GMT
John Shuttleworth was on tv a lot for a period in the late 80's/90's, I thought he was very good. Camp Australian character Bob Downe. Not forgotten exactly just not on tv any more. John Shuttleworth (aka Jilted John) is great, this is one of his best:
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Post by Cartman on Mar 22, 2021 20:04:22 GMT
John Shuttleworth was very funny, he did a programme called 500 Bus Stops which I liked.
Another one I have just remembered was Bob Williamson, a similar act really to Mike Harding and at about the same time, although I didn't think he was as good. Bernard Wrigley was another, he later went into character acting and turned up in Peter Kay's Phoenix nights, he brought the bouncy castle which featured "Sammy Snake"!
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 22, 2021 23:54:32 GMT
A lot of club comedians were part time straight actors, other than Bernard Wrigley I can think of Duggie Brown ,Bobby Knutt, Jim Bowen, Mike Reid, Dave King. Funny how a lot of comedians/comic actors were once school teachers. You don't seem to see it happening the other way round though, from comedian to school teacher or actor to comedian, this tells you something about the acting profession I think.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Mar 23, 2021 7:30:56 GMT
John Shuttleworth was very funny, he did a programme called 500 Bus Stops which I liked. Another one I have just remembered was Bob Williamson, a similar act really to Mike Harding and at about the same time, although I didn't think he was as good. Bernard Wrigley was another, he later went into character acting and turned up in Peter Kay's Phoenix nights, he brought the bouncy castle which featured "Sammy Snake"! Love John Shuttleworth! Saw him play at a Pub in Sheffield a few years back - in fact we walked in on chance.
He ended his set with "Austin Ambassador Y Reg".....
Mike Harding used to do quite a lot, he had a couple of TV series too - as well as be responsible for the theme to Dangermouse.
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