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Private Notes
A programme tracing the extraordinary career of one of Britain's most versatile stars. Michael Crawford was a child actor who hit the 60s at just the right time. His first film The Knack was an award winning cult success that saw him rub shoulders with the Beatles. A surprise move to the stage caught the eye of Gene Kelly and led to a lead role for Michael in the film Hello Dolly - one of the last great Hollywood musicals.
The programme features a new interview with Michael in which he reveals he's not a natural singer or dancer - the Hello Dolly producers wanted to overdub his most famous song. That song is now a cult classic but his Hollywood success was short lived and he spent some time working in his wife's cushion factory before landing his best known part as Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do Ave Em. His love of stunts and mastery of Frank's comic mannerisms made him a household name but once more Michael Crawford turned to the stage in what became the biggest musical of all time - The Phantom of the Opera.
In recent years he has stayed on stage but relentless stunt work and a punishing schedule has taken a toll on his health. Nevertheless, after more than 50 years in the business, he recently returned to the stage in the musical The Wizard of Oz - still singing and dancing with a new generation.
A programme tracing the extraordinary career of one of Britain's finest actors in comedy and drama. Robbie Coltrane talks candidly about his career as well as featuring exclusive interviews with JK Rowling, Jimmy McGovern, Keith Allen, Peter Richardson, Mike Newell, John Sessions, Rupert Grint and Gerladine Somerville. The multi-award winning actor has gone from edgy alternative comedian to performing in one of the most well-known roles in the Harry Potter films. Showing the funniest and finest moments of Robbie's career, this is a rollercoaster ride through the career of one of our most loved and respected performers.
For 17 years, The Dick Emery Show dominated Saturday night TV. Regularly pulling in audiences of 17 million, Dick Emery became one of the giants of British character comedy, until his untimely death in 1983, aged 67. Firmly rooted in the traditions of the Concert Party and Vaudeville, his characters and their catchphrases were legendary.
In this programme, his influence is acknowledged by current comedians such as David Walliams, Charlie Higson and David Baddiel. With previously unseen footage and contributions from his family, contemporaries and those he worked with, The Many Faces of Dick Emery takes a closer look at his career.
Ronnie Corbett is an icon of television entertainment. His starring role in The Two Ronnies has earned him a chapter in the book of all-time comedy greats. But who knew of his first screen role in You're Only Young Twice, or that six episodes of Two Ronnies were made in Australia?
Like many of his generation, Ronnie had a strong career on stage and was 36 before his first big television break. That was on the groundbreaking Frost Report - a live tinder box of comedy talent that also introduced John Cleese and Ronnie Barker. Ronnie's comedy is still vibrant. Show business has refused to let him stop working. The list of his modern-day collaborators is both lengthy and impressive. Expect to see favourite moments and many surprises in The Many Faces of Ronnie Corbett.
