The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989)

A skit based show with Benny Hill, often containing smutty humour.

Stars:

Benny Hill, Henry McGee, Jackie Wright

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Benny Hill	...	Himself - Host (59 episodes, 1969-1989)
Henry McGee	...	Himself (46 episodes, 1969-1989)
Jackie Wright	...	Himself (44 episodes, 1969-1985)
Bob Todd	...	Himself (42 episodes, 1970-1989)
The Ladybirds	...	Vocal Backing (42 episodes, 1969-1989)
Sue Upton	...	Various Roles (26 episodes, 1977-1989)

Storyline

A sketch-comedy series in which Hill would often play multiple characters and satirize popular British and American performers and stars. Common themes in the show were the husband-beating wife, buxom women, and silent, high-speed chase scenes between Hill and the other characters.

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Plot Keywords:

british | sketch comedy | absurd humor | slapstick | joke | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Benny Hill

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thames Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 51 min (58 episodes) 35 min (dubbed version) (edited) (dubbed)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (1970-1971) (3 episodes) Color (1969-1970 and 1971-1989)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Only one sketch from among the three black-and-white shows of 1970-71 has ever been shown in U.S. syndication, albeit in sepia tone: the "Love Will Find a Way" sketch from the 27 January 1971 telecast (episode 2.3), with Hill as a penniless actor, Lesley Goldie as an actress whom he pines for and Jackie Wright as the rich banker to whom she is bethrothed; this sketch was also featured in The Best of Benny Hill. In addition, an interview sketch with Hill as an East End poet and Goldie as the interviewer (from the last of the black-and-white shows, originally aired 24 February 1971, episode 2.4) was later included in the album "This Is Benny Hill".

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Quotes

Henry McGee: [referring to Scuttle's fellow astronaut] How old is he?
Captain Fred Scuttle: Fifty-eight. He's a late developer.
Henry McGee: He looks older.
Captain Fred Scuttle: Well, he worries a lot.

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Connections

Referenced in Tripping the Rift: Witness Protection (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Yakety Sax"
Written by Boots Randolph and James Rich
(closing theme)

User Reviews

Benny Hill - the funniest man ever

Ladies and Gentlemen - The Benny Hill Show. You don't need much to be funny - just some jokes that are funny. Benny Hill is just like that. He makes it all look so easy, but is impossible to imitate because he's simply be the funniest man ever to have lived on Earth. Basically Benny has only few jokes that he repeats and makes it all again with little variation. That doesn't mean that he repeats himself, because he rather guarantees a good laugh when the audience exactly knows what is going to happen. And when it happens, they laugh.

The archetype jokes are a mistake, accidental insult and the chase. In a mistake Benny thinks something is something that really isn't it. For example something is heavier than it appears or Benny takes man for a woman. Accidental insult happens when Benny does something that causes harm for someone. For example he touches woman's breast when he's looking for some similar object. The chase is a cliché, but you'll always wait for it. You'll know the chase will soon be on, when the funny 'chase tune' starts to play.

The Show is however much more fun than my diagnosis of it. Go and see it!