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The Story of Light Entertainment: Series 1

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Story of Light Entertainment: Episode 6: Impressionists

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Story of Light Entertainment

Episode 6

Episode 6: Impressionists

Impressionists

BBC Two - Story of Light Entertainment, Impressionists

How impressionists rose from being the poor relations of comedy to the stars of the 1970s.

A look at how impressionists rose from being the poor relations of the comedy scene 60 years ago to become huge successes in the 1960s and 70s.

60 years ago impressionists were the poor relations of comedy and relatively small players in radio and variety, but since the birth of the genre as we know it, impressionism has continually pushed boundaries in an attempt to make us laugh with its audacity. 

Those with the ability to imitate others' vocal patterns and physical mannerisms have long delighted audiences. Peter Cavanagh, billed as 'the voice of them all' was a huge 1940s star of stage and radio, but it was in the 1950s and 60s when their victims (showbiz celebrities, politicians and other public personalities) became well known enough through television that the impressionists enjoyed their greatest success.
  
Whether it was the shockingly satirical impersonation of Harold Macmillan by the likes of Peter Cook and John Bird, the more benign interpretations of Mike Yarwood, the character-type impersonations of Dick Emery or the sharp satirical wit of Spitting Image, impressionists became increasingly popular. Even today, with the glory days of Yarwood long gone, impressionists like Jon Culshaw, Rory Bremner, Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona prove how powerful mimicry can be when used cleverly. In the ultra-competitive world of comedy, impressionists have fought against the inherent snobbery to become some of the coolest, cleverest and most shocking acts in the entertainment schedules.

Featuring interviews with Jon Culshaw, Rory Bremner, Ronni Ancona, David Frost, Les Dennis, Bobby Davro, Janet Brown, Steve Nallon, Phil Cool, Phil Cornwell, Alison Jackson, Stanley Baxter and Avid Merrion.

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Series on the history of light entertainment, narrated by Stephen Fry.

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