Long time fan David Walliams narrates this affectionate feature length documentary about the life and career of comedian and comic actor Frankie Howerd. Howerd enjoyed a six decade career which took in stand up comedy, the much-loved Carry On films, radio, television and extensive stage work during which time he went in and out of fashion – but by his final years in show business he had been rediscovered as a comic hero to a new generation of appreciative student audiences.

 

In this critically acclaimed documentary some of Howerd’s finest work is showcased. His work in the hugely successful situation comedy Up Pompeii! in which he played Roman slave Lurcio was inspired by his stage performance in Stephen Sondheim’s musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and was the first television comedy in which a lead character addressed the camera directly. A decade earlier, Howerd had enjoyed renewed success again when he joined the regular cast of David Frost’s satirical television series That Was The Week That Was, where his comic stylings were one of the show’s much-anticipated highlights.

 

Produced for Channel 5