How Do You View? was the first comedy series on British television.[1][2] The programme was based on an on-screen persona of Terry-Thomas as "a glamorous, mischievous and discreetly cash-strapped man-about-town", introducing a series of sketches in which he also appeared,[3] alongside Peter Butterworth as his chauffeur; Janet Brown (Butterworth's real life wife); Avril Angers; H.C. Walton as the family retainer, Moulting, Sam Kydd, and Diana Dors, as 'Cuddles', in the six episodes of series four.[4] The programme was broadcast live and often included Terry-Thomas walking through control rooms and corridors of the BBC's Lime Grove and Alexandra Palace studios.[4][5]
The series is described by the author and historian Mark Lewisohn as being "inventive ... truly televisual and not just a radio programme in costume".[6]
Series history
edit- Series one: 26 October – 21 December 1949
- Series two: 5 April – 17 May 1950
- Series three: 8 November 1950 – 28 February 1951
- Series four: 19 September – 28 November 1951
- Series five: 2 April – 11 June 1952
- Special: 9 September 1953[6]
Notes and references
edit- ^ McCann 2009, p. 51.
- ^ Ross 2002, p. 52.
- ^ McCann 2009, p. 55.
- ^ a b Ross 2002, p. 54.
- ^ McCann 2009, p. 59.
- ^ a b Lewisohn 1998, p. 333.
Bibliography
edit- Lewisohn, Mark (1998). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-5633-6977-6.
- McCann, Graham (2009). Bounder! The Biography of Terry-Thomas. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1-84513-441-9.
- Ross, Robert (2002). The Complete Terry-Thomas. London: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 978-1-903111-29-1.