Without a song - their act would never end!

TASTES in comedy change almost as often as they do in fashion. You only have to look at those cheap ‘talking heads’ TV shows with titles like “Most Shocking TV Moments That Aren’t Really Shocking At All” that feature celebrities you’ve never heard of watching clips of 1970s TV comedies while shaking their heads, pursing their lips and saying in a disapproving manner “How DID they get away with this?”

I shout at the screen “How did YOU get away with trousering a nice little fee for pretending to be ‘shocked’ by a clip you’ve seen several dozen times before?”

You try it. You’ll feel better. Maybe in 50 years, viewers will see clips from one of those “Most Shocking” shows in a series called “How Did These Deadbeats Get Away With Making Cheap Jibes At Performers 10 Times More Talented Than Them?”

From the music hall days right up to the 1960s, it was quite common for a comedian to end their act with a sentimental song. Usually, one with which they’d become associated. Their theme tune if you like.

Bob Hope used to sing “Thanks For The Memory”. Max Miller sang “I Fell

In Love With Mary From The Dairy”. The great Jimmy Wheeler and the equally funny Ted Ray both used to finish their acts by playing a sweet little tune on the violin!

Even Bud Flanagan, doyen of the outrageous, near-the-knuckle Crazy Gang that took up permanent residence at the Victoria Palace for so many years, used to bring lumps to audience throats with songs like “Underneath The Arches” and “Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner” with his pal Chesney Allen.

Can you imagine any of today’s comedians finishing their act by saying “Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. You’ve been wonderful. Now I’d like to finish with a bad salad . . . err . . . a sad ballad entitled ‘Get down off the gas stove, Granny! You’re too old to ride the range!” before the orchestra strikes up and the comic starts to sing a beautiful love song?

Imagine Frankie Boyle singing “If You Were The Only Girl In The ******* World And I Was The Only ******* Boy!”?

No . . . it wouldn’t work would it?!