Boomers was axed too soon.. like Last of the Summer Wine
Russ Abbott’s rant at BBC bosses
VETERAN comic Russ Abbot has blasted the BBC for killing off some of Britain’s best-loved comedies far too soon.
The funnyman reckons bosses blundered by axeing hits like Last Of The Summer Wine and his most recent sitcom Boomers long before their sell-by date.
Boomers followed the ups and downs of three ageing couples, with a veteran cast including Stephanie Beacham, June Whitfield, Alison Steadman and Paula Wilcox.
But an expected third series of the gentle comedy never materialised and it ended in 2016. “The BBC just said ‘That’s it’,” fumes Russ, 70. “We had over five million viewers. In this day and age that’s great. We only did two series and we were all expecting more as all the ends were not tied up. It was never resolved. How often do you get a cast together like Boomers? It was the same with Last Of The Summer Wine. That should still be running. It came out in 1973 and cost nothing to make.” It was axed in 2010. “A lady from the BBC just dropped it. I think she made a big mistake. There are still viewers today who would like to see it.” The star, who describes himself as semiretired, became huge in the 80s with sketch shows like Russ Abbott’s Madhouse and the Russ Abbot Show.
FOOLS
And while he loves family entertainment programmes like Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, he pours scorn on TV talent contests which poke fun at participants. Russ says: “Sometimes I wonder at shows like Britain’s Got Talent where they ridicule people.
“There is no need for that. Get to the cream and show the cream and give them a chance to win and get on with life. There’s no need to make fools out of people.”
Russ – who played a former milkman who fancied himself a spy in the 30th Summer Wine series – admits being slightly envious of Ant and Dec, who are worth £62million each.
“I had a fabulous career but I was probably on the wrong side of the business,” he says. “I should have been a host but there you go.”
He says he feels sorry for Ant McPartlin whose marriage fell apart amid a drink and pain killer addiction.
“I do worry about what he’s going through,” says Russ. “I hope he gets better and back on the road as soon a possible.
“They are good lads. They are not Morecambe and Wise but they are Ant and Dec.”