Remembering Ronnie Barker

Ronnie Barker was one of our most respected and best-loved comedy actors and here, in this fascinating biography, Richard Webber delves deep in to the heart of Barker's life and career, peppering his narrative with original and incisive memories from some of Barker's closest contemporaries, including Ronnie Corbett, Michael Palin and Barry Cryer. Star of the much-adored comedy classics Porridge, The Two Ronnies - one of the most successful and long-running television comedy shows ever on British television - and Open All Hours, Ronnie Barker was universally admired by the public and industry insiders alike. From his early days writing for and performing skits on The Frost Report right up to his retirement in 1988, he lit up television screens across the country with his wonderful gift for comedy and his remarkable skill for character acting. Beyond his performances on the stage and screen, Barker was also an accomplished comedy writer, providing many of the sketches and songs for The Two Ronnies and contributing material to a number of other television and radio shows. And despite his retirement he retained pole position in the public's affection, returning to the screen in 1999 to team up with his erstwhile comedy partner and great friend Ronnie Corbett for a Two Ronnies night on BBC1, followed by a BAFTA tribute in 2004 and a final appearance on television in 2005 on The Two Ronnies Christmas Sketchbook. Effortlessly funny, universally adored and an actor and writer responsible for some of Britain's best-loved and most-respected comedy, Ronnie Barker was a true comedy legend. Here he's brought to the page in winning style as he's remembered by those who best loved and knew him.

This volume is not just a book about the much-loved characters of 'The Two Ronnies' sketch show. It is a story of a partnership and a friendship so close that throughout the years that Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker worked together, there was never a cross word between them.

"On 1st April 1971, The Two Ronnies aired for the first time on the BBC. It quickly became one of the most successful and long running television comedy shows ever on British television and its stars - Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett - became national treasures. For the first time, Ronnie Corbett takes us beyond the screen image of the much-loved show. He lets us amble with him along the continuous round corridor of the BBC, and plunges us into the nostalgic world of the legendary duo that brought us 'Charley Farley and Piggy Malone', 'But First the News', Ronnie in the Chair', memorable serials such as 'The Worm that Turned' and 'The Phantom Raspberry Blower of London Town', the elaborate musical finales and not forgetting some of the most beloved sketches of all time - 'Mastermind' and 'Fork Handles'." "But this isn't just a book about the adored characters of The Two Ronnies. It's an intricate journey back to the beginning of Barker's and Corbett's early careers - when their paths first crossed at the Buckstone Club and how the two came together to star regularly on The Frost Report. It's also about two exceptionally unique men - one a quiet, private person who found it hard to speak directly to an audience as himself unless he was in character, and the other outgoing and confident, with an acute sense of comic timing and ease with the public."--BOOK JACKET.

A selection of Ronnie Barker's writing, including monologues, sketches and songs.

Written with the full consent and collaboration of Ronnie Barker himself, this biography is full of interviews and unseen personal illustrations from his own collection.

Ronnie Barker has long been known as one of Britain’s greatest comedy performers. But he was also responsible for writing much of the material he performed, often hiding the fact from the public by using a number of pen names. Showcasing the complete work of a true comic icon, All I Ever Wrote is a laugh-out-loud collection of sketches, monologues, songs, poems and scripts from every strand of Ronnie’s long and brilliant career. With gems like ‘Fork Handle’s,’ Three Classes’ and ‘Pismonouncers Unanimous', Ronnie’s clever writing, double entendres and spoonerisms will bring a smile to your face, as you rediscover some of the twentieth century’s finest comedy moments.