COMEDY
THE RONNIE BARKER COMEDY LECTURE WITH BEN ELTON
BBC1, 10.35pm This lecture is not actually about much-loved comedian Ronnie Barker, it’s just named in his honour – although Ben Elton does tell the funny story of how he and Ronnie first met. It was at the BBC Christmas party, and let’s just say Ronnie took an instant dislike to him.
In an engaging talk, comedian, novelist, playwright and TV/film maker Ben delivers a one-man homage to the legacy and importance of the studio sitcom. After all, he penned classics such as The Young Ones, Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line and Upstart Crow.
He deftly guides us through his craft, with the help of some hilarious clips and the added glamour of a starstudded audience – in which you can spot Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson among the celebs.
Aside from hero-gramming Mrs Brown’s Boys (no, I still don’t get it), this is a charming tour of the sitcom from old classics to modern-day ratings hits.