A six-part series exploring the tradition of the northern comedian. 
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Frank Randle | 19990406 | 19990825, * 20040425, * 20040426, * 20050320, * 20050321, * 20060423, * 20060424, * 20070324, * 20070325, * 20080713, * 20080714 | In this programme, Mark Radcliffe looks at Frank Randle, the rebel from Wigan.He was 'a gargoyle, a grotesque - and the funniest man alive'. Mark Radcliffe tells the story of 'the bad lad of showbiz'. He was 'a gargoyle, a grotesque - and the funniest man alive'. |
| 01 | 02 | Jimmy Clitheroe | 19990413 | 19990901, * 20030722, * 20040502, * 20040503, * 20050327, * 20050328, * 20060430, * 20060501, * 20080720, * 20080721 | Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of Jimmy Clitheroe, the comedian who was most at home on stage. Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of Jimmy Clitheroe who only felt the same as others when he was doing his radio show. Jimmy Clitheroe, Britain's shortest comedian, who made his name as the star of the longest-running situation comedy on radio. Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of the little man with the big talent. But was 'Jim' a boy who was never allowed to grow up? |
| 01 | 03 | Les Dawson | 19990420 | 19990908, * 20030729, * 20040509, * 20040510, * 20050403, * 20050404, * 20060507, * 20060508, * 20070331, * 20070401, * 20080727, * 20080728 | Mark Radcliffe looks at Les Dawson, the Mancunian wordsmith who began his career by playing piano in a Paris brothel. Les Dawson: Mark Radcliffe looks at the life and work of Les Dawson: Mancunian wordsmith, PARISian brothel pianist, and door-to-door salesman. Les Dawson, the Mancunian wordsmith who began his career by playing piano in a PARIS brothel. He went on to become one of this country's most popular comedians. |
| 01 | 04 | Sandy Powell | 19990427 | 19990915, * 20030805, * 20040516, * 20040517, * 20050410, * 20050411, * 20060514, * 20060515, * 20070407, * 20070408, * 20080803, * 20080804 | Mark Radcliffe looks at Sandy Powell, the Rotherham entertainer who delighted audiences with his dreadful ventriloquist acts. Sandy Powell's mother was a great influence on him and often performed with him on stage. Sandy Powell, the entertainer from Rotherham who delighted audiences with his dreadful ventriloquist acts. 'Can You Hear Me Mother?' Famed for his catchphrase and comic ventriloquism, Mark Radcliffe remembers the Rotherham comedian. |
| 01 | 05 | Ken Dodd | 19990504 | 19990922, * 20030812, * 20040523, * 20040524, * 20050417, * 20050418, * 20060521, * 20060522, * 20070414, * 20070415, * 20080810, * 20080811 |  Mark Radcliffe looks at the surreal world of Ken Dodd and finds out how the Squire of Knotty Ash and his tickling stick, flying hair and protruding teeth became one of the great comic acts of our time.Mark Radcliffe finds out how the Squire of Knotty Ash and his tickling stick became one of the great comic acts of our time. |
| 01 | 06 LAST | Jimmy James | 19990511 | 19990929, * 20030819, * 20040530, * 20040531, * 20050424, * 20050425, * 20060528, * 20060529, * 20070421, * 20070422 | Jimmy James, the comedians' comedian. Flanked by his stooges, he convincingly played the part of the drunk, even though he was a staunch teetotaller. |
| 02 | 01 | Eric Morecambe | 20000725 | * 20030930, * 20040606, * 20040607, * 20050522, * 20050523, * 20070428, * 20070429 | We kick off series two with an affectionate look at the life and career of the man who was born John Eric Bartholomew on 14th May 1926, in the front room of his parents' neighbours' house at 42 Buxton Street, Morecambe in Lancashire. Mark Radcliffe takes us through Eric's long career, which started before his tenth birthday up until his premature death in May 1984. With contributions from people who knew Eric, including Michael Grade, this is a fine tribute to a much loved comic. |
| 02 | 02 | Ted Ray | 20000801 | * 20031007, * 20040613, * 20040614, * 20050529, * 20050530, * 20070505, * 20070506 | Mark Radcliffe traces the career of the fiddler who became an icon of British comedy. Ted Ray talks about learning to play the violin which would become his trademark, and how his real passion when young was football. |
| 02 | 03 | Beryl Reid | 20000808 | * 20031014, * 20040620, * 20040621, * 20050626, * 20050627, * 20070512, * 20070513 | Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of a true all-round performer who was equally at home in straight or comedy roles. This week, a profile of the multi-talented Beryl Reid, whose career spanned music hall, variety, stand-up comedy and straight roles such as the lead in `The Killing of Sister George'. |
| 02 | 04 | Al Read | 20000815 | * 20031021, * 20040627, * 20040628, * 20050612, * 20050613, * 20070519, * 20070520 | Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of the comedian Al Read, whose grandfather was the first person to put sausages in a tin. Did you know that Al Read's grandfather was the first person to put sausages in a tin? |
| 02 | 05 | Robb Wilton | 20000822 | * 20031028, * 20040704, * 20040705, * 20050619, * 20050620, * 20070526, * 20070527 | Mark Radcliffe on the man who gave us Mr Muddlecombe JP and The Day War Broke Out. With comments from Ken Dodd. Mark Radcliffe looks at Robb Wilton, best known for playing the bumbling magistrate Mr Muddlecombe JP during the war. Best known for playing Mr Muddlecombe JP, he was a man who was as warm and friendly off stage as he was on. |
| 02 | 06 LAST | Will Hay | 20000829 | * 20031104, * 20040711, * 20040712, * 20050605, * 20050606, * 20070602, * 20070603 | Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of the great observationalist comedian Will Hay, who died in 1949. Mark Radcliffe presents a profile of the great observational comedian, Will Hay, who died in 1949. The stage, film and radio actor best remembered for his `Diary of a Schoolmaster', and for his contribution to astronomy. |
| 03 | 01 | Arthur Askey | 20011120 | 20030309, * 20040718, * 20040719, * 20050703, * 20050704, * 20070609, * 20070610 | If you never thought of Arthur Askey as a comedic radical, think again. Mark Radcliffe examines Arthur's life. The man known as "Big Hearted Arthur. |
| 03 | 02 | Gracie Fields | 20011127 | 20030316, * 20040725, * 20040726, * 20050710, * 20050711, * 20070616, * 20070617 | Gracie became a highly paid film star in her day, but she never forgot her Rochdale roots. Gracie became the highest paid film star in the world, but she never forgot her roots. He looks at the life and work of Gracie Fields, the woman once described as 'The BRITISH Nation's favourite big sister'. |
| 03 | 03 | Norman Evans | 20011204 | 20030323, * 20040801, * 20040802, * 20050717, * 20050718, * 20070623, * 20070624 | Famous for his 'over the garden wall' sketches, Norman Evans had a wicked sense of humour on stage and off. |
| 03 | 04 LAST | Harry Worth | 20011211 | 20030330, * 20040808, * 20040809, * 20050724, * 20050725, * 20070630, * 20070701 | The life of the comedian as told through interviews and clips. Mark Radcliffe presents the life of the comic actor as told through interviews and clips. The life of Harry Worth as told through interviews and clips. A ventriloquist after the war, he was advised to `ditch the dummy' by Stan Laurel and never looked back. |
| Jimmy James | * 20080817 | [unmatched BBC7 broadcast] Mark Radcliffe looks at the comedians' comedian, who was revered for his drunk act even though he was a teetotaller. Episode 6 of 6. | |||
| Jimmy James | * 20080817 | [unmatched BBC7 broadcast] Mark Radcliffe looks at the comedians' comedian, who was revered for his drunk act even though he was a teetotaller. Episode 6 of 6. | |||
| Jimmy James | * 20080818 | [unmatched BBC7 broadcast] Mark Radcliffe looks at the comedians' comedian, who was revered for his drunk act even though he was a teetotaller. Episode 6 of 6. |