Comedy Classics - Season 1

Season 1

Episodes

Comedy Classics: Porridge
A tribute to Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais's prison-based sitcom Porridge. This documentary examines how the characters in Slade Prison revolved around Fletch, Ronnie Barker's inimitable creation. As well as those laugh-out-loud moments from the three series, there's a look at 1978 spin-off Going Straight, Porridge: The Movie, US remake On the Rocks, and the 2017 reboot starring Kevin Bishop and Ricky Grover.

Comedy Classic: The Vicar of Dibley
Documentary celebrating Richard Curtis's much-loved sitcom, featuring clips along with insight and analysis from cast, crew and celebrity fans. The programme examines how the fictional village of Dibley was never the same once Dawn French's inimitable comedy creation Geraldine Granger arrived as the new vicar, and there is a look at the Comic Relief specials.

Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs
A look back at the popular sitcom that starred Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket, who was endlessly let down by her family in her attempts to climb the social ladder. Cast, crew and celebrity fans pay tribute to the show and share backstage secrets, with Routledge revealing how she came to be cast, how she developed the character, and what happened when the cameras stop rolling.

Comedy Classics: The Good Life
The Good Life was the smash hit sitcom of the 1970s. For four series, including an iconic Christmas special and even a royal command performance, millions of viewers tuned in to enjoy the antics of Tom and Barbara Good, played by Richard Briers and Felicity Kendall, as they tackled self-sufficiency in the unlikely setting of suburbia. Add to that, their friends and neighbours – the long-suffering Jerry, played by Paul Eddington and the snobbish Margot, played by Dame Penelope Keith – and the BBC had all the ingredients for a hilarious and iconic comedy.
Over 90 minutes, this documentary explores the Good Life phenomenon. With contributions from Margot herself, Dame Penelope Keith, along with the families of Richard Briers and Paul Eddington, we hear how the series came to life, on-set stories and secrets. We learn how Richard Briers, unlike Tom Good, couldn't stand mud, hated chickens and couldn't grow a vegetable. Dame Penelope shares her many memories of the show, including: how the cast, rehearsed pea pod burgundy drunk scenes by indulging in several bottles of fine wine, and what happened when Her late Majesty, The Queen, dropped in to watch a very special recording of the show.
Featuring all the classic and laugh out loud moments from the show, along with rare personal archive from the cast and never before seen backstage moments and bloopers, this is the ultimate celebration of one of the UK's most enduring sitcoms.

Bread, Butterflies & The Liver Birds: Comedy Classics
A celebration of the writer's three most popular sitcoms, featuring the flat-sharing girls-about-town in The Liver Birds, bored, frustrated housewife Ria in Butterflies, and the Boswell family in Bread. Wendy Craig talks how Butterflies nearly never made it on air due to its adultery story line, while John Nettles remembers being cast in one of his very first TV roles as Sandra's boyfriend Paul in The Liver Birds. Peter Howitt, Melanie Hill and Nick Conway remember their time on Bread and recall the time that Paul and Linda MacCartney appeared in an episode.

To the Manor Born: Comedy Classics
Between 1979 and 1981, up to 24 million viewers were glued to their TV sets for a sitcom that followed the fortunes of upper-class widow Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (Penelope Keith) after she was forced to sell her manor house to self-made grocer Richard DeVere (Peter Bowles). This 90-minute special features an interview with Penelope Keith, as well as hearing from co-stars, crew and celebrity fans, while there are classic clips and behind-the-scenes archive.
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