From music hall roots to film and television fame, Fred Emney charmed audiences with his larger-than-life persona and impeccable comic timing. Read the remarkable story of the star who was known to many as “the posh bloke with a monocle and a cigar.”
Remembering the quintessential fictional 'spiv' Arthur English, who off stage was a humble man, as kind in spirit as he was funny on it
John Esmonde and Bob Larbey have unquestionably been responsible for some of British comedy's best loved programmes. From the comfort of suburbia in The Good Life to the darker world of Mulberry, the writers have given us some of the most memorable characters on television.
Best known to television audiences for his role as gunner 'Lofty' Sugden in the long running BBC sitcom 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', The 4ft 9in actor became a household name almost overnight
Television Heaven pays tribute to the man whose distinctive voice, dishevelled appearance, and incredible talent made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
Terence Feely was, without doubt, one of the most prolific scriptwriters of that dubiously tagged "Golden Age" of British television.
Voted BBC TV Personality of the Year in 1991, awarded an OBE in 1998, CBE in 2006 and a BAFTA fellowship in 2008, Bruce Forsyth was associated with some of the most successful shows in television history. The secret of his success lay in a winning combination of innate talent and a natural rapport with audiences.
Gretchen Franklin, the spirited British actress and dancer, captivated millions as Ethel Skinner in EastEnders, crowning a remarkable career that spanned over seven decades in show business
The fact that she was best known for her provocative comedy roles masked the fact that Liz Fraser was a talented actress with an indomitable spirit
British character actor who appeared regularly as a pompous upper class gent, Ronald Fraser appeared in numerous plays, films and television shows without realising his full potential, possibly due to his love of London's pubs and nightspots
Her warm smile, likeable personality and natural comic timing makes her one of Britain’s best loved modern-day television actresses
The founding fathers of British situation comedy. "Without them all our lives would have been filled with a lot less laughter."
We remember Harold Goodwin who belonged to a distinguished and well-loved line of British character actors who played working-class figures in many wartime and postwar films
The annals of British television history boast a handful of giants whose impact upon the medium has conferred upon them the status of legends. However, towering above them all is a single larger than life figure.
An often underappreciated yet vital component to the success and memory of any TV series or film is its music. In the field of classic British telefantasy there has arguably been no finer exponent than Barry Gray.
For a star so loved by the public, the speed of Larry Grayson’s rise to prime-time stardom was almost immediately matched by his disappearance from the television screens. We pay an affectionate tribute to a "funny, lovely, gentle man."
Having kick-started Morecambe and Wise's television career in the 1960s, Sid Green and Dick Hills created the catch-phrases "the one with the short fat hairy legs", "the one with the glasses" and "get out of that!" But following Eric's heart attack in 1968, get out of that is exactly what Sid and Dick did.
British actor Richard Griffiths was known for his portrayals of Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films, Uncle Monty in Withnail and I, and Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky. But before he became a star, he had brutal start to life...
An unsung master of comic creations, Deryck Guyler became a radio star almost overnight in 1946, before finding a whole new audience on television over 20 years later
Boasting a career spanning more than five decades, Irene Handl captivated audiences with her impeccable comedic timing and remarkable versatility brought to life by the witty and eccentric characters that became her trademark
When it comes to the history of the television cartoon series you need look no further than Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera. Creating countless cartoon characters and collecting seven Oscars, eight Emmys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hanna-Barbera were the masters of their craft
"I think I represent a cross between the Wizard of Oz and Father Christmas." - William Hartnell speaking to The Daily Express on being Doctor Who.
The brief career of an actress whose beauty and talent, coupled with the tragic circumstances of her life, have made her a memorable figure in the history of British film and television
Peter Hawkins’ face may not have been well known, but to several generations of television watchers, young and old, his voice was as familiar as that of one of our own family.
Patricia Hayes was another of those actors who were the unsung heroes of television. The actors who were ever-present and we took to our hearts, but seldom, if ever, received star billing
The Arthur Haynes show was essential viewing in the early days of ITV. A favourite of millions but for too long overlooked Television Heaven takes a look back at his career and the impact he had on television comedy.
James Hayter had over 150 screen appearances and enjoyed an extensive range of stage performances in a long and distiguished career. Yet it was a series of TV commercials, for which you only heard his voice, that made him instantly recognisable
A prolific composer who left an indelible mark on British television, enriching our viewing experience with his musical prowess, Ronnie Hazlehurst wrote some of the most iconic theme tunes that are still warmly remembered today
In his lifetime Nat Hiken was known as the 'King of the Half Hour' and was rewarded with eight Emmy Awards. But in later years his contribution to television has been forgotten far too easily. It is time to look back and remember one of the giants of the small screen.
With the passing of Benny Hill, the world of comedy lost one of its greatest clowns. He broke the language barrier in much the same way as his idols; Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and his impact on a generation can easily be compared with these masters of mirth.