Unseen pictures reveal Lennon’s comedy talents
PICTURES of a youthful John Lennon and Dudley Moore have been revealed for the first time.
The archive photographs have been published in the latest copy of Radio Times.
The images, taken in November 1964 by Radio Times staff photographer Don Smith, had not been seen until they were recently discovered in the TV magazine’s archive.
They show comedian Dudley launching the pilot episode of ground-breaking comedy series Not Only... But Also, which aired on BBC Two in January 1965.
British actor Norman Rossington is also shown larking around with the Beatles legend. The show
By was to have been called Not Only Dudley Moore, But Also His Guests, one of whom, in the pilot episode,, was his future on-screen partner Peter Cook.
The pair’s Dagenham Dialogues as Pete and Dud were so popular that Cook became permanent. The show ran until 1970.
Mr Smith remembers snapping guest star Lennon.
He said: “It was a flying visit to the studio and John Lennon clearly knew that because he was larking around. It captures a small moment in history.”
Lennon died in 1980, Cook in 1995 and Moore in 2002. AN IRAQ war hero who braved rocket-propelled grenades to rescue nine stranded comrades has auctioned his gallantry medals for a record £173,000.
Warrant Officer Terrence Thomson, 45, sold his gongs to secure his family’s future.
They achieved a British record price paid for a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross group. The previous record was £156,000.
W/O Thomson, now retired, commanded a Warrior armoured vehicle which was sent to save the soldiers holed up in a compound in Basra in August 2004. They were surrounded by hundreds of armed militia.
Rescued
As W/O Thomson’s vehicle approached the position it was hit by grenades, knocking out the communications system.
He had to expose his upper body from the turret so he could use hand signals to communicate with another Warrior.
W/O Thomson shot one attacker 10 yards away before another popped up firing through a narrow building slit.
He said: “I pulled out a grenade, pulled the pin and threw it straight through the gap. It was about 15 metres away, only a few inches wide and there were rounds pinging off all around me.
“But nothing happened so I