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4 items from 2011

12 October 2011 3:13 AM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »

The director of BBC North on why British television comedy – from Open All Hours to Phoenix Nights to Benidorm – has its roots and its future in the north

"Hello, my darlings." The first television words I ever remember. Spoken by the pint-sized comic Charlie Drake. It could easily have been Captain Mainwaring's "stupid boy", courtesy of the immortal Arthur Lowe or something from Hylda Baker. And let's not forget that other Hilda, Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden – my nomination for the funniest performance on British television for 50 years.

Catchphrases and comics lit up my childhood and now the BBC is searching for the next generation of comedy artists. And the north is a great place to start looking. When we think of great, iconic comedic talent, a whole host of northern names immediately spring to mind. From classic entertainers such as Morecambe and Wise, Les Dawson, Russ Abbott and Cannon and Ball »

4 August 2011 7:08 AM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »

As Sky's new supermarket-based sitcom Trollied hits the screen we look back at shows about jobs that work like a charm

As anyone who's served their minimum-wage sentence in a local supermarket will tell you, the daily grind of pretentious middle management, disillusioned staff and monotonous routine offers a treasure trove of comic potential. Trollied, Sky1's new sitcom, which gets under way with a double bill tonight, stalks the aisles of a fictional supermarket in the north-west. Starring Jane Horrocks, Jason Watkins and Mark Addy it's more Finest quiche than Value beans, but by tackling the nine to five most of us turn to the telly to forget, Trollied joins a rich history of comedies set in mundane workplaces on the small screen.

But which are the best? Huddle close telly fans as we separate the wheat from the chaff with our rundown of six of the best workplace comedies. »

- Daniel Bettridge

6 April 2011 10:14 AM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »

John Jarvis, who has died aged 78, was a film editor whose comic timing was behind successful comedy series such as Only Fools and Horses, Ripping Yarns, As Time Goes By, Open All Hours and The Goodies. I was John's assistant during the 1980s, and I remember an occasion when the director Sydney Lotterby came into John's cutting room to see if one of his cuts could be improved. We spent some time moving individual frames, but in the end, there was no argument. John had got it right the first time.

John was born in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, the son of Edward Jarvis, a feature film editor who had worked with Alfred Hitchcock and Alexander Korda. After finishing his national service in the army, he followed his father into the cutting rooms at Rank studios in Denham, Buckinghamshire. In the early 60s he worked with the Shell film unit. When the »

24 January 2011 1:05 AM, PST | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »

Miranda Hart hints that show might move channels after winning people's choice vote, best actress and best new comedy

Miranda Hart won three prizes at the British comedy awards last night, including the people's choice award voted for by viewers.

The star of BBC2's Miranda also claimed best new TV comedy show and best comedy actress, and hinted that her show might move channels.

"I heard BBC1 are interested and that is very nice to know that they think there might be an audience," Hart said.

Jonathan Ross hosted the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Channel 4. Russell Brand recorded a video message to accept his outstanding contribution to comedy award and poked fun at Ross over the Sachsgate scandal, saying: "Jonathan, you're a father figure, what were you thinking?"

The best TV comedy actor award went to Peter Capaldi, who plays Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It. »

4 items from 2011