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In 1971, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie
Corbett teamed up for their first BBC
series, a comedy show that would run for
16 years and become part of British
television history. The two comedians.
although never previously a double-act,
complemented each other perfectly in
appearance and style and their material,
written by some of the top comic writers
of the era, rarely failed to raise a
smile and reduced many to hysterics.
The structure of each show, framed by
the pair reading spoof news items, soon
became familiar to the millions of
viewers. Every episode might include
party, doctor or other situation
sketches, mock-adventure serials,
regular musical guests, Ronnie Barker's
magnificent word-play speeches, a
rambling monologue from Ronnie Corbett,
guest cabaret acts and a musical
extravaganza finale. Each part savoured
by audiences that would average around
17 million at the show's peak.
The first series was broadcast in 1971.
Among the many highlights of the eight
episodes were the 'Bald Man at a Party'
sketch, a sequel to the famous 'Class'
sketch with John Cleese, the period
drama mini-series 'Hampton Wick', Ronnie
Barker's 'Appeal on Behalf of the Very
Clumsy' and musical appearances from Big
Jim Jehosophat and Fat-Belly Jones.