The Frankie Howerd Show

The Frankie Howerd Show, 1964

When ‘Hancock’ came to an end in 1961, writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson had struck up a friendship with Frankie Howerd.

With the writers now free to persue new projects the BBC were keen to know what they had planed next.  Galton and Simpson wanted to write for Howerd.  Head of BBC comedy Tom Sloan wasn’t keen, but did not want to loose a succesful writing team.  Sloan told the two writers that Frankie Howerd had had his day and to forget the idea.  To prove his point, he produced graphs showing the low ratings for Howerd’s last series.

Galton and Simpson went on to write the first two series of Comedy Playhouse which were a huge success, whilst despite the graphs  Frankie Howerd went on to stage a remarkable career comeback.

In 1964 the opportunity arose to write a series for Howerd.  Still keen Galton and Simpson wrote The Frankie Howerd Show.  It ran for twelve episodes over two series.

Summary

The series format was not too dis-similar to ‘Hancock’s Half-Hour’.

Howerd plays ‘Francis Howerd’, an exaggerated version of himself, a humble comedian with aspirations of becoming an international star.

Each edition would begin with Frankie addressing the audience directly, before relating a personal experience which would be told in flashback.

Each week he would be aided and abetted by various star guests.

Clips

 

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Starring

Frankie Howerd

Details

Channel: BBC
Written By: Ray Galton and Alan Simpson
Produced By: Duncan Wood
Original Transmission Dates: 11th December 1964 – 29th March 1966