"The Benny Hill Show" (1969)TV series 1969-1989

Director:

John Robins
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19

Release Date:

January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Cult Comedy | Eccentric | British | Beautiful Woman | Pretty Girl

Awards:

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

Cast

Benny Hill	...	Host / ... (59 episodes, 1969-1989)
Henry McGee	...	Himself / ... (45 episodes, 1969-1989)
Jackie Wright	...	Himself / ... (43 episodes, 1969-1985)
The Ladybirds	...	Vocal Backing / ... (42 episodes, 1969-1989)
Bob Todd	...	Himself / ... (41 episodes, 1970-1989)
Sue Upton	...	Various Roles / ... (28 episodes, 1977-1989)

(more)

Series Directed by
Dennis Kirkland		(25 episodes, 1979-1989)
John Robins		(14 episodes, 1969-1974)
Mark Stuart		(10 episodes, 1974-1977)
Keith Beckett		(4 episodes, 1972-1978)
Ronald Fouracre		(4 episodes, 1975-1979)
David Bell		(2 episodes, 1971)
Benny Hill		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Writing credits
Benny Hill		(58 episodes, 1969-1989)

Series Produced by
Dennis Kirkland	....	producer (25 episodes, 1979-1989)
Nigel Cook	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 1980-1985)
John Robins	....	producer (14 episodes, 1969-1974)
Mark Stuart	....	producer (10 episodes, 1974-1977)
Philip Jones	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 1969-1985)
Keith Beckett	....	producer (4 episodes, 1972-1978)
William P. Cartlidge	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
David Bell	....	producer (2 episodes, 1971)
Ronald Fouracre	....	producer (2 episodes, 1975-1978)
John Howard Davies	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Cinematography by
Ted Adcock		(16 episodes, 1977-1985)
Dick Bayley		(9 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ray Sieman		(5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Chic Anstiss		(3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Roy Pointer		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jim Howlett		(3 episodes, 1982-1985)
Alan Jonas		(3 episodes, 1986)
Peter Lang		(2 episodes, 1971-1972)

Series Film Editing by
John Wright		(11 episodes, 1984-1989)
John Plummer		(10 episodes, 1971-1982)
Archie Ludski		(7 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ray Ball		(5 episodes, 1978-1989)
Beryl Wilkins		(4 episodes, 1976-1981)
Dan Carter		(3 episodes, 1973-1983)
Roy Hayden		(3 episodes, 1977)
Ann Leno		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Casting by
Pat Hayley		(13 episodes, 1984-1989)
Shirley Teece		(10 episodes, 1980-1983)

Series Production Design by
Tony Borer		(15 episodes, 1970-1977)
Bill Laslett		(6 episodes, 1980-1985)
Darrell Lass		(5 episodes, 1972-1975)
Jan Chaney		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Harry Clark		(4 episodes, 1969-1970)
Bill Palmer		(3 episodes, 1973-1975)
David Marshall		(3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robin Parker		(3 episodes, 1978-1982)
David Richens		(3 episodes, 1981)
Ian Russell		(3 episodes, 1989)
Norman Garwood		(2 episodes, 1971-1976)
Neville Green		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Mike Hall		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robin Tarsnane		(2 episodes, 1979)
Anthony Cartledge		(2 episodes, 1984)
Alison Wratten		(2 episodes, 1988)
Roger Allan		(1 episode, 1972)
Rod Stratfold		(1 episode, 1976)
Peter Le Page		(1 episode, 1977)
Michael Minas		(1 episode, 1978)
Ian Watson		(1 episode, 1980)
Peter Elliott		(1 episode, 1983)
David Ferris		(1 episode, 1983)

Series Costume Design by
Frances Bolwell		(17 episodes, 1972-1989)
Pam Doolan		(7 episodes, 1981-1983)
Allard Tobin		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Louise Walker		(4 episodes, 1980-1983)
Jean Kelly		(3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Derek Needs		(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Graham Williams		(2 episodes, 1979)
Stephanie Hawkes		(1 episode, 1978)
Marcia Stanton		(1 episode, 1978)
Frank Van Raay		(1 episode, 1978)

Series Makeup Department
Christine Morrell	....	makeup artist (9 episodes, 1975-1978)
Gilly Wakeford	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1982-1988)
Dianne Millar	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1978-1986)
Lesley Sanders	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1980-1983)
Pearl Rashbass	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1985-1989)
Carol Green	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1981)
Ann Briggs	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1989)
Carol Cooper	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)

Series Production Management
Nigel Spong	....	unit supervisor: outside broadcast (1 episode, 1978)

Series Art Department
Mike Webb	....	graphic designer (14 episodes, 1978-1985)
Lester Halhed	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1983-1989)
Geoff Alexander	....	graphic designer (3 episodes, 1982-1984)
John Stamp	....	graphic designer (2 episodes, 1982)
Rob Page	....	graphic designer (1 episode, 1978)
Andy Newmark	....	graphic designer (1 episode, 1983)
Jeff Harrison	....	graphic designer (1 episode, 1989)
Andy Armstrong	....	props (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Clive Hall	....	sound / dubbing mixer (18 episodes, 1980-1989)
Richard Churchill	....	sound / sound effects (16 episodes, 1978-1989)
Julian Ford	....	sound / sound effects / ... (11 episodes, 1978-1982)
Dick Bradford	....	sound / sound effects (4 episodes, 1977-1981)
Paul Gartrell	....	sound (4 episodes, 1980-1985)
Stuart Gain	....	sound / sound effects (4 episodes, 1981-1984)
Bruce Englefield	....	sound (3 episodes, 1977)
Basil Rootes	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1971-1972)
Peter Ball	....	sound (1 episode, 1979)
Alan Lester	....	sound effects (1 episode, 1979)

Series Special Effects by
Peter Boffin	....	vision mixer (10 episodes, 1979-1986)
Martin Perrett	....	vision mixer (7 episodes, 1978-1989)
Nick Bigsby	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Visual Effects by
Nick Ames	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunt double (1 episode, 1971)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Adrian J. Fearnley	....	senior camera operator (10 episodes, 1981-1989)
Allan James	....	vision controller (8 episodes, 1979-1989)
Bill Marley	....	vision controller (6 episodes, 1978-1988)
Roy Easton	....	senior camera operator (5 episodes, 1978-1986)
Peter Howell	....	senior camera operator (5 episodes, 1980-1988)
Allen Harradine	....	lighting technician / lighting director (5 episodes, 1981-1984)
Andy Andrews	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1984-1988)
Peter Bower	....	lighting director / vision controller (4 episodes, 1978-1989)
Bob Simmons	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1978-1986)
Albert Almond	....	senior camera operator (4 episodes, 1979-1989)
Malcolm Harrison	....	lighting technician (3 episodes, 1977-1979)
Chas Watts	....	senior camera operator (3 episodes, 1980-1984)
Ian Jones	....	vision controller (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Bob Mason	....	vision controller (3 episodes, 1985-1989)
David Motture	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1977-1986)
Brian Kerr	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1980-1982)
Keith Reed	....	lighting technician (2 episodes, 1980)
Richard Waiting	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1981-1986)
Ian Coram	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1985-1988)
Richie Richardson	....	lighting technician (1 episode, 1978)
Peter Coombs	....	senior camera operator (1 episode, 1979)
Ken Tester-Brown	....	lighting technician (1 episode, 1981)
Stuart Gain	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1989)
Graham Jaggers	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1989)
Bob Newman	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1989)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Keith Rosson	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1988)
Vernon White	....	wardrobe set supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Colin Bocking	....	editor: video tape (7 episodes, 1980-1988)
Camilla Keenan	....	editor: video tape (6 episodes, 1978-1982)
David Lewinton	....	editor: video tape (5 episodes, 1978-1989)
Peter Phillips	....	vision mixer (5 episodes, 1979-1989)
Thomas Kavanagh	....	editor: video tape (5 episodes, 1984-1989)
Roger Holmes	....	editor: video tape (4 episodes, 1983-1989)
Grant Goodwin	....	editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1981-1985)
Terry Badham	....	editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1986-1989)
Fred Turner	....	editor: video tape (2 episodes, 1978)
Mark Dobson	....	editor: video tape (1 episode, 1988)

Series Music Department
Ronnie Aldrich	....	musical director (55 episodes, 1969-1989)
Ted Taylor	....	music associate / musical associate (46 episodes, 1969-1989)
Boots Randolph	....	composer: theme "Yakety Sax" (44 episodes, 1969-1989)
Joyce Sharpen	....	music executive (27 episodes, 1978-1989)
Syd Lucas	....	music associate / musical associate (12 episodes, 1970-1973)
Albert Elms	....	musical director (3 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Other crew
Auriol Lee	....	stage manager (25 episodes, 1979-1989)
Fizz Waters	....	floor manager (13 episodes, 1979-1988)
Libby Roberts	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels (13 episodes, 1984-1989)
Bruce Englefield	....	studio supervisor / operational supervisor (12 episodes, 1978-1988)
Eamonn Duffy	....	location manager (10 episodes, 1984-1989)
Bernard Allum	....	title designer (9 episodes, 1978-1981)
Linda Finch	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels / choreographer (7 episodes, 1980-1983)
John White-Jones	....	studio supervisor (7 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Lopes	....	floor manager (6 episodes, 1979-1982)
Debbie Newman	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1986-1989)
René Bloomstein	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1970-1978)
Angela Carter	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Johnny Greenland	....	choreographer (4 episodes, 1971-1973)
Iris Frederick	....	booking executive (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Angie Piper	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Eric Pavitt	....	location manager / location supervisor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Mike Mulloy	....	stand-in: Benny Hill (4 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michele Green	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1980)
David Downing	....	floor manager (3 episodes, 1981)
Gill Horwood	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1981)
Gerry Levy	....	location manager (3 episodes, 1981)
Bridget Moore	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1981)
Maria Finnis	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1984-1988)
Peter Ernster	....	studio supervisor (3 episodes, 1986-1989)
Keith Lund	....	location manager (3 episodes, 1986)
Dennis Kirkland	....	program associate (2 episodes, 1973)
Arlene Phillips	....	choreographer: "Love Machine" (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dee Dee Wilde	....	choreographer / choreographer: Pan's People (2 episodes, 1979)
Michele Green	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1980)
Julie Hervieu	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels (2 episodes, 1981)
Angie Billington	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983)
Brian Kerr	....	studio supervisor (2 episodes, 1984)
Ann Tivendale	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1988)
Aidan Boulter	....	floor manager (2 episodes, 1989)
Kerry Mann	....	floor manager (1 episode, 1978)
Peter Piddock	....	floor manager (1 episode, 1978)
Sarah Prebble	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1978)
Nora Stapleton	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1978)
Samantha Stevens	....	choreographer (1 episode, 1978)
Sue Gwynn	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1979)
Derek Cotty	....	location manager (1 episode, 1980)
Don Terrett	....	location manager (1 episode, 1980)
Francesca Jaynes	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels (1 episode, 1982)
Fred Cope	....	studio supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Del Randall	....	studio supervisor (1 episode, 1988)
Peter Beaven	....	floor manager (1 episode, 1989)
Dick Hibberd	....	studio supervisor (1 episode, 1989)

Production Companies

• Thames Television

Distributors

• A&E Home Video (2004-) (USA) (DVD)
• AZUL Televisión (1999-2002) (Argentina) (TV)
• Canal 11 Buenos Aires (1980-1988) (Argentina) (TV)
• D.L. Taffner Syndication Sales (1979-1989) (USA) (TV)
• Fox Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• France 3 (FR 3) (1992) (France) (TV) (edited version) (dubbed version)
• France Regions 3 (FR3) (1975) (France) (TV) (dubbed version) (edited version)
• Fremantle Media (2001-) (worldwide) (TV)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Independent Television (ITV)
• RTL 9 (2005) (France) (TV) (dubbed version) (recut version)
• Televisión Federal (Telefe) (1989-1994) (Argentina) (TV)
• Uni/Polydor (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Thames Studios, Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK  taping location

Runtime:

France:35 min (edited version) (dubbed version) | 60 min (58 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (some epiosodes) | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG (some episodes) | UK:PG | USA:TV-PG | Singapore:NC-16

Company:

Thames Television

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 (1974). 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".

Quotes:

Nicholas Parsons: Are Thames executives against attractive nude women?
Fred Scuttle: Not as often as they'd like to be!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Projected Man (#10.1)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

The Age of Aquarius

The King Of British Comedy

There was a time on Earth when all of the world stopped to watch The Benny Hill Show. Businesses would close, people stayed home and every tv in the world in every house tuned in to watch this man who just wanted to make us laugh. And laugh we did. The world died when his show stopped, and it cried when he left this mortal realm. Labeled a dirty old man for the content of the material in less than a quarter of his sketches, he was considered a genius by his fans and his peers for the other seventy-five percent. Even Thames Television admitted far too late that cancelling the show was the worst mistake they had ever made. Letting it go was a knife in Benny's side, a heartbreak that led to his death, but what a great legacy of humor !