Commissioning Brief - BBC

‣ DOCUMENTARIES & MUSIC FEATURES continued
Recent highlights have included…
History Of British Comedy
David Mitchell traced the history of British humour from Music Hall to the modern day. Stand up
comedy, funny songs, blockbuster films, and superstar performers - it might seem like the world of
today, but as David learnt, we've hardly travelled any distance at all.
In the first of a four part series, David took us from 1913 to 1938. We learnt about the cutting edge
innovation that was the Music Hall 'comedy turn'. And the programme also looked at the early days
of the movies - silent at the start, but virtually entirely comedy based.
Programme two traced the history of British humour from World War 2 to the dawn of the 1960s.
From the cosy world of ITMA to the new wave represented by The Goons - here more than
anywhere else, the path of modern British comedy changed.
This episode looked at how the Variety Theatres were briefly closed - and then opened again to
boost morale - and how Radio became a nation's lifeline.
Programme three looked at 'Round The Horne' - Innuendo has been there in every programme so
far, but never in the field of British comedy has anyone pushed as hard as Julian and Sandy did!
He examined the big screen too. Everyone knows what is meant by the phrase "Carry On humour",
but as the films moved through the 60s, they became freer and laced with sexual innuendo. But by
their demise in the late seventies, the double entendre was more forced and attempts to shock
were creeping in.
Programme four traced the history of British humour from the 1980s to the present day.
70s escapism gave way to 80s cynicism, and this final episode in the series explored why comedy
changed suddenly instead of gradually - and the role Channel 4 played in that change.
This was the era of The Young Ones and Blackadder, but was alternative comedy really something
new - post World War 2 the old order was actively challenged by those seeking a new approach -
and even before that, the Crazy Gang had almost set the template for 'alternative'?
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