Laughter In The Air
First broadcast from 19790102 to 19960321. (* = BBC7).
Another look back through the history of Radio Comedy - with all the usual suspects and stories. Presented by Dickie Henderson [1-6], Bernard Cribbins , Barry Took [8-10] Series 2 is all Barry Took.
18 episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | The Cats Whiskers | 19790102 | * 20040104, * 20041121, * 20041122, * 20050821, * 20050822, * 20060716, * 20060717, * 20070218, * 20070219, * 20081214, * 20081215 | . Dickie Henderson, Bernard Cribbins and Barry Took trace the history of radio comedy. First broadcast January 1979. Dickie Henderson, Bernard Cribbins and Barry Took trace the history and origins of radio comedy. First broadcast January 1979. Dickie Henderson, Bernard Cribbins and Barry Took trace the history and origins of radio comedy. First aired January 1979. Dickie Henderson starts the story of radio comedy. Dickie Henderson starts the story of radio comedy, with the stars dating back to its crystal set origins. |
| 01 | 02 | Ladies And Gentlemen - Music Hall | 19790109 | * 20040111, * 20041128, * 20041129, * 20050828, * 20050829, * 20060723, * 20060724, * 20070225, * 20070226, * 20081228, * 20081229 | Dickie Henderson looks at the history of Music Hall with stars such as Cyril Fletcher, Arthur Askey, Billy Cotton and Will Hay. Dickie Henderson on the history of Music Hall with stars such as Arthur Askey and Will Hay |
| 01 | 03 | Hello Playmates, It's That Man Again | 19790116 | * 20040118, * 20041205, * 20041206, * 20050904, * 20050905, * 20060730, * 20060731, * 20070304, * 20070305, * 20090104, * 20090105 | Dickie Henderson examines the impact of Band Waggon and ITMA - two radical radio shows. Dickie Henderson takes a look at Arthur Askey's Bandwagon. Dickie Henderson takes a look at Arthur Askey's Bandwagon. And ITMA with Tommy Handley as the resident comedian. Dickie Henderson recalls the impact of 'Band Waggon' and 'ITMA'. From January 1979. Dickie Henderson recalls the impact of two influential and much-loved shows - 'Band Waggon' and 'ITMA'. From January 1979. |
| 01 | 04 | Shows, Comical, Servicemen For The Use Of! | 19790123 | * 20040125, * 20041212, * 20041213, * 20060806, * 20060807, * 20070311, * 20070312, * 20090111, * 20090112 | Dickie Henderson presents the story of radio comedy in the war and beyond. Dickie Henderson introduces the wartime shows that kept Britain going in the blackout and beyond. Dickie Henderson presents the story of radio comedy during the Second World War and beyond Dickie Henderson presents the story of radio comedy during the Second World War - and beyond. From January 1979. |
| 01 | 05 | Pardon Me, Your Sit-com's Showing | 19790130 | * 20041219, * 20041220, * 20050918, * 20050919, * 20060813, * 20060814, * 20070318, * 20070319, * 20090118, * 20090119 | Dickie Henderson investigates 'shows that tell a story', including Life With The Lyons. Dickie Henderson looks at classic BBC radio sitcoms with excerpts from The Navy Lark, Life With The Lyons, and The Clitheroe Kid. Dickie Henderson looks at classic BBC radio sitcoms, with excerpts from The Navy Lark and The Clitheroe Kid. In this edition, Dickie Henderson looks at classic BBC radio sitcoms, with excerpts from The Navy Lark and The Clitheroe Kid. Dickie Henderson looks at 'shows that tell a story', including 'Life With The Lyons'. Dickie Henderson looks at 'shows that tell a story', including 'Life With The Lyons' and 'The Navy Lark'. From January 1979. |
| 01 | 06 | Is There An Audience In The House? | 19790206 | * 20040208, * 20040209, * 20050102, * 20050103, * 20050925, * 20050926, * 20060820, * 20060821, * 20070325, * 20070326, * 20090125, * 20090126 | Dickie Henderson wonders if radio comedy really needs an audience. Including Just Fancy and How. Dickie Henderson's history of radio comedy takes a look at the audience. First broadcast in January 1979. Dickie Henderson's history of radio comedy takes a looks at the audience, and how the comedians feel about them. From 1979. Dickie Henderson wonders if radio comedy really needs an audience. From January 1979. With Joyce Grenfell and Douglas Adams. |
| 01 | 07 | Goon But Not Forgotten | 19790213 | * 20050109, * 20050110, * 20051002, * 20051003, * 20060827, * 20060828, * 20070401, * 20070402, * 20090201, * 20090202 | Bernard Cribbins presents a look at the Goons and attempts to find out what made them tick. Bernard Cribbins celebrates the work of the Goons. From February 1979. Bernard Cribbins celebrates the work of Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine. From February 1979. |
| 01 | 08 | Scriptwriters - Comedians' Labourers? | 19790220 | * 20040215, * 20040216, * 20050116, * 20050117, * 20051009, * 20051010, * 20060903, * 20060904, * 20070408, * 20070409, * 20090208, * 20090209 | Writing partnerships come under analysis, including Galton and Simpson and Muir and Norden. Narrated by Bernard Cribbins. Bernard Cribbins celebrates the likes of Muir and Norden, who wrote for performers. Bernard Cribbins celebrates the likes of Muir and Norden, who put the words in the mouths of performers. From February 1979. Bernard Cribbins celebrates the likes of Muir and Norden, who put the words in the mouths of performers. From February 1979. |
| 01 | 09 | The Cambridge Connection | 19790227 | * 20040222, * 20040223, * 20050123, * 20050124, * 20051016, * 20051017, * 20060910, * 20060911, * 20070415, * 20070416, * 20090215, * 20090216 | The Footlights has spawned a wealth of comedic talent. Barry Took examines its impact on the comedy circuit. The Cambridge Footlights has spawned a wealth of comedic talent. Barry Took examines its impact on the comedy circuit. Barry Took examines the impact of the Footlights on radio comedy. From February 1979. Barry Took examines the impact of the Footlights on radio comedy. Including 'I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again. From February 1979. |
| 01 | 10 | Comedy Off The Cuff | 19790306 | * 20040229, * 20040301, * 20050130, * 20050131, * 20051023, * 20051024, * 20060917, * 20060918, * 20070422, * 20070423, * 20090222, * 20090223 | The art of un-scripted and off-the-cuff comedy is the topic of this programme presented by Barry Took. Barry Took reveals how not all radio laughs were carefully scripted, thanks to panel games Barry Took reveals how not all radio laughs were carefully scripted, thanks to panel games and quizzes. From March 1979. |
| 01 | 11 LAST | Smile, Darn Ya, Smile | 19790313 | * 20040307, * 20040308, * 20050206, * 20050207, * 20051030, * 20051031, * 20060924, * 20060925, * 20070429, * 20070430, * 20090301, * 20090302 | A look at comedians including Ken Dodd, Morecambe and Wise, Roy Hudd, and Frankie Howerd. Barry Took profiles radio's comedians including Ken Dodd, Morecambe and Wise, and Roy Hudd Barry Took profiles radio's comedians, including Ken Dodd, Morecambe and Wise, Roy Hudd and Frankie Howerd. From March 1979. |
| 02 | 01 | Soloists And Duos | 19960229 | ||
| 02 | 02 | Sketches And Sitcoms | 19960307 | ||
| 02 | 03 | Quizes And Game Shows | 19960314 | ||
| 02 | 04 LAST | Current Comedy | 19960321 | ||
| 01 | 19960229 | Producer: A. EVANS Next in series: PART 2 Previous in series: 13 February 1979 Description Barry Took presents 1/4 part history of BBC Radio Comedy. This week he looks Subject Categories comedy programmes (genre) Broadcast history 29 Feb 1996 19:03-19:33 (RADIO 2) Contributors Barry Took Roy Hudd (ent) Nicholas Parsons (ent) Les Dawson (ent) Ken Dodd (ent) Clement Freud (ent) Miriam Margolyes (ent) Peter Sellers (ent) Caroline Quentin (ent) Harry Enfield (ent) Arthur Marshall (ent) Richard Murdoch (ent) Frankie Howerd (ent) Arthur Askey (ent) Denise Coffey (ent) Josie Lawrence (ent) Marjorie Westbury (ent) Jack Warner (ent) Tommy Trinder (ent) Ted Ray (ent) Harry Hill (ent) Sandy Powell (ent) Tommy Handley (ent) Al Read (ent) Robb Wilton (ent) Ronald Frankau (ent) Jeanne de Casalis (ent) Emile Littler (ent) Suzette Tarri (ent) A Alan (ent) Doris Walters (ent) Elsie Walters (ent) Aled Evans (Producer) Recorded on 1996-01-29. | |||
| Arthur Askey's Bandwagon | 19790116 | * 20040118 | |||
| * 20050911, * 20050912 | Dickie Henderson Presents The Story Of Radio Comedy During The War And Beyond. |