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Episode 3

Episode 3: The 1960s and 70s

The 1960s and 70s

BBC Radio 2 - Radio 2's History of British Comedy, The 1960s and 70s

David Mitchell on the age of the Carry On films, classic sitcoms and the satire boom.

David Mitchell explores the age of the Carry On films, classic sitcoms and the satire boom.

In the third programme, David Mitchell traces the history of British humour in the 1960s and 70s.

In this episode, David looks at 'Round The Horne' - Innuendo has been there in every programme so far, but never in the field of British comedy has anyone pushed as hard as Julian and Sandy did!

He examines the big screen too. Everyone knows what is meant by the phrase "Carry On humour", but as the films moved through the 60s, they became freer and laced with sexual innuendo. But by their demise in the late seventies, the double entendre was more forced and attempts to shock were creeping in.

The programme marks the satire boom of the 60s. Britain was the centre of popular culture, and comedy was on that band wagon with Peter Cook and That Was The Week That Was.

David also learns how Beyond The Fringe changed reviews forever, whilst the programme marks the contributions of the Monty Python team, The Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise. .

Many call the 70s the Golden Age of British Comedy - well that's depends on where you're looking at it from, but there's no denying that this was the heyday of peak-time light entertainment that was targeted at all ages! Behind the big names however, there was a change of emphasis. We were facing an economic situation and - in times of hardship - comedy is often there to take our minds off our worries - not to remind us of our problems!

As TV and Radio dominated, many say that live variety started to die in the 70s, but variety shows packed out every theatre in every seaside town while Working Men's Clubs took on the acts who once toured the Empire or Stoll Moss circuits a couple of decades before.

Amongst those we hear from in part three are: Denis Norden, Producer Johnnie Hamp, Writers David Nobbs, and Barry Cryer, Show Biz agent Laurie Mansfield, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, Kenneth Williams, Media lecturer CP Lee, Dave Spikey, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

David Mitchell traces the history of British humour from music hall to the modern day.

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