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The Benny Hill Show
Image:BennyHill.jpg
Benny Hill
Format sketch comedy
Starring Benny Hill
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
No. Sketch comedy consists of a series of short Comedy scenes or vignettes called "sketches" commonly between one and ten minutes long Alfred Hawthorne Hill ( 21 January 1924 &ndash 19 April 1992) better known as Benny Hill, was a prolific English The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located  of episodes 58
Production
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ITV
Original run November 19, 1969 – May 1, 1989
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Benny Hill Show is a television programme starring Benny Hill. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U Alfred Hawthorne Hill ( 21 January 1924 &ndash 19 April 1992) better known as Benny Hill, was a prolific English It was produced by Thames Television from 1969 to 1989 and was broadcast in over 140 countries. Thames Television was a licencee of the British ITV television network covering London and parts of the surrounding counties Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Previous incarnations of the show had aired on BBC Television from 1955 to 1968, and on Associated TeleVision from 1957 to 1960 plus a one-off special in 1967. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Associated TeleVision Limited, best known simply as ATV, was a British ITV company from 1955 until 1981 Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.

Contents

Show format

The Benny Hill Show featured Benny Hill in mostly short sketches (often portraying a protagonist), along with Thames Television show regulars Henry McGee, Bob Todd, Jackie Wright, Nicholas Parsons (in the early years), Jenny Lee-Wright, Sue Bond, Cherri Gilham, Rita Webb and others. Henry McGee ( May 14, 1929 – January 28, 2006) was a British actor best known as Straight man to Benny Hill Bob Todd (born Brian Todd 15 December 1921 in Faversham Kent &ndash died 21 October 1992 in Sussex) was an English comedy actor mostly known for John "Jackie" Wright (1905—January 1989 was an Irish comedian known for being the bald-headed sidekick of Benny Hill on his television programme Nicholas Parsons OBE (born 10 October 1923 in Grantham, Lincolnshire) is an English Actor and Radio Jenny Lee-Wright (born February 21, 1947 in London, England) is a British Actress and Dancer who later became Sue Bond is a blonde British Actress, cabaret Singer, and Comedienne best remembered for her appearances on The Benny Hill Show in Cherri Gilham (born 31 December 1944) also known as Cheryl Gilham, also known as Cherry Gilham is a former comedy actress who was one of the Rita Webb ( 25 February 1904 – 30 August 1981) was an English character Actress, mainly in Comedy roles Hill often demonstrated his versatility as an actor by appearing in vastly different costumes as well as in female character. Slapstick and double entendre were his hallmark. Slapstick is a type of Comedy involving exaggerated physical violence or activities which exceed the boundaries of common sense such as a character being hit in the face with Not to be confused with Puns which employ multiple phrases A double entendre is a Figure of speech similar to the Pun, in Some critics accused the show of sexism, but Hill often pointed out that the female characters were all intelligent and kept their dignity, like when Jane Leeves dressed in her underwear was asked by a Doctor what 2 plus 2 was (she answered "ehhh. Sexism is the belief or attitude that one Gender or Sex is inferior to or less valuable than the other and can also refer to a Hatred or distrust towards Jane Leeves (born April 18, 1961) is a Screen Actors Guild Award winning English actress best known for her work as Daphne Moon . Five?"), while the men chasing them were all buffoons.

He used sped-up film — also known as 'Undercranking' — and sight gags to create what he called 'live animation' and he employed techniques like mime and parody. Time-lapse photography is a Cinematography technique whereby each Film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back Time-lapse photography is a Cinematography technique whereby each Film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back In comedy a visual gag or sight gag is anything which conveys its Humor visually often without words being used at all The show typically closed with a sped-up chase scene involving himself and a crew of scantily-clad women, a takeoff on the stereotypical Keystone Cops chase scenes. The Keystone Cops was a series of Silent film comedies featuring a totally incompetent group of Policemen produced by Mack Sennett for his

He was also a composer and singer of patter songs. The patter song is a staple of Comic opera, but it has also been used in musicals and other situations Here is an example of his doggerel:

Roses are reddish
Violets are bluish
If it weren't for Christmas
We'd all be Jewish. Doggerel is a derogatory term for Poetry considered of little literary value

The theme song, "Yakety Sax", which has gained a particular cult following on its own, was written by Boots Randolph. " Yakety Sax " is a 1963 45 rpm single written by Boots Randolph and James Q Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III ( June 3, 1927 &ndash July 3, 2007) was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone The show's musical director was noted pianist and easy listening conductor Ronnie Aldrich, and vocal backing was provided by session singers, The Ladybirds, (who also frequently appeared on camera from 1969 to 1974). The title of music director or musical director is used by many Symphony orchestras to designate the primary conductor and artistic leader of the orchestra A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra Easy listening music is a style of Popular music and radio format that emerged in the mid-20th century evolving out of swing and Big band music Conducting is the act of directing a Musical performance by way of visible gestures Ronnie Aldrich (15 February 1916 Erith Kent, England - 30 September 1993 Isle of Man) was a British Easy listening Pianist Session musicians are musicians available for hire as opposed to musicians who are either permanent members of a musical outfit or who have acquired fame in their own right The Ladybirds are a British female vocal Harmony trio, most famous for their appearances in The Benny Hill Show.

Apart from the theme tune, another signature of the show was the enthusiastic announcer intro: "Yes! It's The Benny Hill Show!" (The announcer was often cast member McGee. ) From 1975 onwards, Hill was also introduced at the start of each show as "The Lad Himself. " The show closed with Hill's salute: "Thank you for being with us, and we look forward to seeing you all again — very, very soon. Until then, bye bye. "

Hill was a pioneer in the ability of the television camera to create illusions and also how it could be used for comedic value. For example, in a murder mystery farce entitled "Murder on the Oregon Express" from 1976 (a parody of Agatha Christie's classic Murder on the Orient Express), Hill used both editing and camera angles — as well as his own skill for impersonations — to depict a Quinn Martin–like TV "mystery" featuring Hill in the roles of 1970s American TV detectives Ironside, McCloud, Kojak, and Cannon (as well as Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot). Crime fiction is the Genre of Fiction that deals with Crimes their detection criminals and their motives It is usually distinguished from Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Agatha Mary Clarissa Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 &ndash 12 January 1976 commonly known as Agatha Christie, was an English Murder on the Orient Express is a work of Detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on Quinn Martin ( May 22, 1922  &ndash September 6, 1987) born Irwin Cohn was one of the most successful The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Ironside (originally broadcast under the name A Man Called Ironside in the United Kingdom) is a Universal Television series which McCloud is an American television police drama that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1977. Kojak refers to two separate but related American Crime drama Television series, with the original airing on CBS and the second series Cannon is a detective series which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1976. Agatha Mary Clarissa Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 &ndash 12 January 1976 commonly known as Agatha Christie, was an English The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those This also serves as a possible indication of Hill being canny enough to realize that American audiences would identify better with his shows if he had some humour that was derived in some part from their popular culture. A skill is the learned capacity or talent to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time energy or both. During his television career, Hill performed impersonations or parodies of American celebrities, such as W. C. Fields, with Mae West (played by Cherri Gilham), and fictional characters, ranging from The Six Million Dollar Man to Starsky and Hutch to Kenny Rogers, to The A-Team, to Cagney & Lacey. W C Fields ( January 29, 1880 &ndash December 25, 1946) was an American Juggler, Comedian, and Actor Mae West (August 17 1893 &ndash November 22 1980 was an American actress, Playwright, Screenwriter, and Sex symbol. Cherri Gilham (born 31 December 1944) also known as Cheryl Gilham, also known as Cherry Gilham is a former comedy actress who was one of the The Six Million Dollar Man is an American Television series about a fictional Cyborg working for the OSI (which was usually said to refer Starsky and Hutch (usually written as Starsky & Hutch) is a 1970s US Television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot Kenneth Ray "Kenny" Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston Texas) is an American Country music Singer-songwriter The A-Team is an American action Adventure Television series about a fictional group of ex- United States Army Special Forces Cagney & Lacey is an American television series that first aired on the CBS Television network for seven seasons from March 25 1982 to His own country's celebrities did not escape his comedic eye either: Hill also delivered impersonations of such British stars as Michael Caine (in his Alfie role), newscasters Reginald Bosanquet, Alan Whicker and Cliff Michelmore, pop-music show hosts Jimmy Savile and Tony Blackburn, musicians Roger Whittaker and Engelbert Humperdinck, his former 1960s record producer Tony Hatch, political figures Lord Boothby and Denis Healey, and Irish comedian Dave Allen. Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr, CBE (born 14 March 1933 better known by his screen name Michael Caine, is an Oscar - and BAFTA Alfie is a 1966 British film starring Michael Caine. It is an adaptation by Bill Naughton of his own Novel and play Reginald Bosanquet ( 9 August[[ 932]] – 27 May 1984) was a British journalist best known for presenting Alan Donald Whicker CBE (born 2 August 1921 or 1925 Cairo, Egypt) is a British Journalist and broadcaster. Arthur Clifford (Cliff Michelmore CBE (born 11 December 1919 in Cowes, Isle of Wight) is a British Television presenter and Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile OBE, KCSG (born 31 October 1926) commonly known as Jimmy Savile (often misspelled Tony Blackburn (born 29 January 1943 in Guildford, Surrey) is an award winning English Disc jockey, who broadcast on the Roger Whittaker (born March 22 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya) is an English - Kenyan Singer / Songwriter and Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey, May 2 1936, Madras India) is a well-known British - American The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Tony Hatch (born 30 June, 1939) is an English Composer, Songwriter, Pianist, music arranger, and producer Robert John Graham Boothby Baron Boothby, KBE (also known as Bob Boothby) ( 12 February 1900 &ndash 16 July 1986) was Denis Winston Healey Baron Healey, CH, MBE, PC (born 30 August 1917 is a British Life peer and Labour politician David William Allen ( July 6, 1936 – March 10, 2005) better known as Dave Allen, was an Irish Comedian, popular On a few occasions, he even impersonated his former straight man, Nicholas Parsons. Nicholas Parsons OBE (born 10 October 1923 in Grantham, Lincolnshire) is an English Actor and Radio

The show was first broadcast in the United States in January 1979 and screened there with a series of re-edited half-hour programs culled from the ITV specials. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The U. S. versions of his show have far less risqué material than those which were aired in the UK. The show was awarded the 'Special Prize of the City of Montreux' at the Rose d'Or festival in 1984. The Rose d'Or ( Golden Rose in English is a highly prestigious Television award given annually since 1961 at the Festival Rose d'Or in spring each year Selected sketches from the first three years (1969–1972) of the Thames run were also edited into a feature film, The Best of Benny Hill (1974). Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Best of Benny Hill is a 1974 film spinoff from the television comedy series The Benny Hill Show. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar.

Hill later recorded some shows for U. S. television, and in 1977 produced a special in Australia (see below) whose contents found their way into scattered episodes of the U. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. S. half-hour syndicated edits. The cast of that Australian show included Barry Otto and Ron Shand. Barry Otto (b 1941) is an Australian actor on both stage and Film and the father of actress Miranda Otto. Ron Shand ( 3 February 1906 &ndash 8 August 1993) was Australian actor and comedian who worked extensively

Hill's repertory group

It should also be taken as a testament to Hill's character as a person (as well as his talent as a performer and writer) that many of his cast and crew stayed with him for years, in some cases from the moment they first appeared on his show. Henry McGee and Bob Todd are the primary examples of the male cast members who remained with Hill for the long term, while long-running female colleagues included Jenny Lee-Wright (who would later go on to become a top Foley artist in England), Bella Emberg, and Hill's Angels Louise English and Sue Upton. Henry McGee ( May 14, 1929 – January 28, 2006) was a British actor best known as Straight man to Benny Hill Bob Todd (born Brian Todd 15 December 1921 in Faversham Kent &ndash died 21 October 1992 in Sussex) was an English comedy actor mostly known for Jenny Lee-Wright (born February 21, 1947 in London, England) is a British Actress and Dancer who later became The Foley artist on a Film crew is the person who creates many of the natural everyday Sound effects in a film which are recorded during a session with a Recording Bella Emberg (born Sybil I Dyke 16 September 1937 in Hove, Sussex, England, UK) is a British actress probably best known for her appearances Louise English (born London, England is a British actress well-known for her many starring roles in West End and nationally touring musical theatre productions and as Benny Sue Upton (born November 9, 1954 at Chadwell Heath, London) is an English comic actress and dancer best known for her many appearances In a related note, Upton — in book excerpts posted on her official site — stated that contrary to the leering schoolboy air he often presented on TV, Hill was a model of kindness and courtesy to all his performers, particularly the female performers. She related how Hill would never force a female performer to do or wear something she wasn't comfortable with (and how outside of work, he was like a family member to her husband and two children). On her own site, Louise English related how, after her time on the show ended when it was cancelled, Hill would come to see her in every performance she did on stage. In one of the books written about Hill, Jenny Lee-Wright related the time she was on holiday in New York and happened to mention to a customs agent at the airport that she worked with Hill, and was then driven to a local television studio to answer questions about him on an interview show. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of The City of New York A television studio is an installation in which Television or Video productions take place either for Live television, for recording Live to tape A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to

Ironically, though many of his cast and crew became just as silly as Hill himself, few if any of them capitalised on their fame to move on to larger-scale projects. Some possible minor exceptions could be made for Diana Darvey (who had a brief career as an international cabaret star after her appearances on the show), Jackie Wright (who was rumoured to have an offer for an American comedy presented to him shortly before his death), and long-time Hill's Angel Louise English (who once received a fan letter from Burt Reynolds, praising her skills and beauty). Diana Magdalene Roloff ( April 21, 1945 in Cheadle, near Stockport, Cheshire, England – April 11, Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring Comedy, Song, Dance, and Theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue &mdash a Restaurant John "Jackie" Wright (1905—January 1989 was an Irish comedian known for being the bald-headed sidekick of Benny Hill on his television programme Louise English (born London, England is a British actress well-known for her many starring roles in West End and nationally touring musical theatre productions and as Benny Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. However, the secondary example of an exception to the rule would be Jane Leeves, who, years after having been a Hill's Angel, became famous for her portrayal of Daphne on the American comedy Frasier. Jane Leeves (born April 18, 1961) is a Screen Actors Guild Award winning English actress best known for her work as Daphne Moon Frasier is an American sitcom, a Spin-off of Cheers starring Kelsey Grammer as Going further back, to BBC days, another future U. S. TV star, Susan Clark (of Webster fame), appeared on one of Hill's 1965 specials, and popular Australian personality Sue McIntosh (then known as Sue Donovon) appeared on another 1965 show. Susan Clark (born March 8, 1940) is a Canadian actress known as Katherine Papadapolis in the TV sitcom Webster Webster is an American sitcom series that premiered on ABC on September 16, 1983, and ran on that network until Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Sue McIntosh (born 1946 is a former Australian news reader for ABC News. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.

Guest stars and musical guests

Over the years, Benny Hill had relatively well-known actors and actresses who appeared as guests on the show, some of whom were already famous on other TV and radio programmes, including Don Estelle (It Ain't Half Hot Mum), Paul Eddington (The Good Life; Yes Minister / Yes, Prime Minister), Paula Wilcox (The Lovers, Man About the House), Patrick Newell (The Avengers), Hugh Paddick (Round the Horne), Kathy Staff (Crossroads, Coronation Street, Last of the Summer Wine), actress/singer Trisha Noble, entertainer Dilys Watling, stage and TV actress Stella Moray, gardener Percy Thrower, Carry On regular Liz Fraser, former Move lead singer Carl Wayne, and others. Don Estelle ( May 22 1933 - August 2 2003) was a British actor and singer It Ain't Half Hot Mum was a British sitcom about the adventures of a Royal Artillery Concert Party, broadcast between 1974 and 1981 and written Paul Eddington CBE ( 18 June 1927 – 4 November 1995) was an English Actor best known for his appearances in The Good Life is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1975 to 1978 Yes Minister is a multi-award winning satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted Paula Wilcox (born 13 December, 1949 in Manchester) is an English Actress. The Lovers was a British television Sitcom by Jack Rosenthal, starring Richard Beckinsale and Paula Wilcox as a courting Man About the House was a British sitcom starring Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett that was broadcast Patrick David Newell (born Hadleigh, Suffolk, March 27 1932 - July 22 1988) was a British actor known for his The Avengers was a British Television series featuring Secret agents in 1960s Britain. Hugh William Paddick ( 22 August 1915 &ndash 9 November 2000) was an English actor whose most notable role was in the 1960s Round the Horne was one of the most influential BBC Radio Comedy programmes comparable to The Goon Show in its influence on other Kathy Staff (born Minnie Higginbottom on 12 July 1928) is an English actress, well known for her work on British Television Crossroads is a British Television Soap opera set in a Motel near Birmingham, England. Coronation Street (commonly known as 'Corrie' is an award-winning Soap opera created by Tony Warren Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that is broadcast on BBC One. Patricia Ann Ruth "Trisha" Noble (born February 3, 1944) is an Australian singer and actress Dilys Watling (born 5 May 1946, Fulmer Chase, Buckinghamshire, England) is an actress known for appearances on British television Stella Moray (born July 29 1923 in Ladywood, Birmingham - died August 6 2006 in London) was an English A gardener is any person involved in the growing and maintenance of plants notably in a Garden. Percy John Thrower MBE ( January 30, 1913 - March 18, 1988) was a British Gardener, Horticulturist, broadcaster The Carry On films were a long-running series of low-budget British comedy films directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. This article is about the English actress For the Scottish vocalist of Cocteau Twins see Elizabeth Fraser. The Move were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s from Birmingham, England, and were among the most popular British bands to not find any success Carl Wayne ( 18 August 1943 - 31 August 2004) real name Colin David Tooley singer and Actor, is best remembered as the lead In the 1980s, as the climate of political correctness continued to grow, two of these former guests — Eddington and Wilcox — refused to allow the respective editions in which they appeared to ever be shown on British television again. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Political correctness (adjectivally politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to Language, ideas policies or behavior

His show, in its first decade on Thames TV, also had an interesting (and often eclectic) array of musical guests. One of the more famous examples was Kiki Dee, who appeared on one of his black-and-white shows in 1971, a few years before her first big hit "I've Got the Music In Me. Kiki Dee (born Pauline Matthews, 6 March 1947, Little Horton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England In the Black-and-white is a number of Monochrome forms in Visual arts. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. " Other famous musical guests included Anne Shelton, who appeared on both his BBC and Thames shows; former Seekers lead singer Judith Durham; and The Mike Sammes Singers. Anne Shelton may refer to Anne Shelton OBE, British singer Anne Shelton (courtier (1483-1555 nee Boleyn mother of Henry VIII of England's The Seekers were a group of Australian folk -influenced popular musicians that was formed in Melbourne, in 1962 Mike Sammes ( 19 February 1928 – 19 May 2001) was a Musician and vocal session arranger. Back in the BBC days, Alma Cogan, Cleo Laine and Petula Clark made appearances on the show, as did Dusty Springfield when she was part of the folk trio The Springfields. Alma Cogan ( 19 May 1932 &ndash 26 October 1966) was an English Singer of Traditional pop music in the Dame Cleo Laine DBE, (born Clementina Dinah Campbell on 28 October 1927 in Southall, Middlesex, England) is a Jazz Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932 is an English singer actress and Composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE ( 16 April, 1939 &ndash 2 March, 1999) professionally known as Dusty Springfield The Springfields were a British pop-folk vocal trio in the early 1960s who had success in the UK USA and Ireland but are now best remembered as the launch pad for singer Dusty Hill was also big on Spanish music acts, and gave the first major exposure to groups such as Luis Alberto del Parana and Los Paraguayos on his show. Los Paraguayos is a music group consisting of musicians from Paraguay.

With few exceptions, most of the musical numbers did not make it to the U. S. syndicated series.

Criticism and cancellation

In 1989, Thames Television dropped Hill, claiming a major decline in ratings, although the large cost of each episode has been stated as the official reason and Thames wanted to start production on Mr. Bean but couldn't if they were making The Benny Hill Show. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar)

At the time some argued that the show was the victim of political correctness, others that the style of comedy was simply very dated. Political correctness (adjectivally politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to Language, ideas policies or behavior 1980s British comedy stars such as Ben Elton were also dismissive of Hill's penchant for using pretty girls in his shows, supposedly in a sexist way. British Comedy, in Film, Radio and Television, is known for its consistently quirky characters plots and settings and has produced some of the most Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959 is an English Comedian, writer and director. Though Hill's characters were made to look ridiculous and lecherous, and the butt of the joke, a lot of viewers didn't think of his shows as being sexist at all. A significant change in the tone of the programmes came in 1981 when following the move by Kenny Everett to the BBC a 'Hot Gossip' style risque dance troupe Hill's Angels was forced into the show. Kenny Everett (born Maurice Cole in Seaforth Lancashire; 25 December 1944 – 4 April 1995 was an English radio DJ and television entertainer Hot Gossip were a British Dance Troupe most notable for their appearance on the TV series The Kenny Everett Video Show, which Thames' final broadcast of a brand new Benny Hill show attracted more than 9 million viewers across the ITV Network, which was below his 1970s peak of an average 20 million viewers. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. One reason often cited was that his character's constant leering at attractive women was less charming as he grew older. Another factor cited was a massive drop in quality and standards of the show itself over the course of the 1980s.

One criticism that could however be fairly levelled at Hill was his tendency to re-use jokes, gags and scenes from show to show. One example of this recycling would be an often-seen parody of washing-up liquid advertisements (usually called "Fairly Liquid", in reference to the Fairy Liquid brand of detergent). Fairy is a brand of Washing-up liquid produced by Procter & Gamble at their Dartford factory England. Hill, along with an actress, would play mother and child (with Hill as the child, kneeling next to the actress in order to appear smaller). Hill, playing the child, would remark as to the softness of the mother's hands, thanks to the brand of detergent; Hill's character would then become increasingly mischievous, to the point of angering the "mother", who eventually slapped him. He would then proclaim words to the effect of "her hand's not soft. . . it's bleedin' hard!" This particular parody first appeared during Hill's tenure at the BBC and appeared subsequently at various times during his time at ITV. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent

Another often seen joke on Hill's shows would feature Hill playing a rude waiter at a restaurant, serving a customer wine. The customer (usually Jackie Wright) would sip the wine and then grimace and indicate that it was unsuitable. John "Jackie" Wright (1905—January 1989 was an Irish comedian known for being the bald-headed sidekick of Benny Hill on his television programme Hill's waiter would agree, walk away. . . and then shuck the label off the bottle and replace it with a different one, returning to the customer and refilling his glass, after showing him the "new" bottle. To complete the joke, the customer would then sip the "new" wine and proclaim his delight. It is debatable as to whether the reuse of the same jokes during his television career was the result of creative bankruptcy, or some belief that the jokes were old favourites, being presented over and over again in the manner of a band performing an audience's favourite songs.

The argument that Hill was not sexist is hard to maintain given that the comedy in some of his sketches derived from him being able to grope a girl or spy her in a state of undress. Hill gets to pinch or slap the always shapely bottoms of a remarkable number of young women in his shows from the early 80s. In one sketch, Hill pretends to be a man doing weight training by hoisting girls clad in bikinis above him. He then lowers the girls so that their bikini clad behinds rest on his face. The spectacle of pretty girls sitting on Hill's face is meant to be funny. In another sketch, Hill plays the passenger of a bus which gets stuck in the mud. The passengers get out and push, including the inevitable pretty girl clad in the shortest and tightest of shorts. Hill leers at her derriere and then chooses to push her bottom instead of the bus. In numerous sketches, we are invited to laugh at a girl who has her dress torn off in a public place, leaving her wearing only frilly panties, bra and stockings. A multitude of men are often included in the scene, presumably to add comedy value with their leers. Apologists sometimes point out that the girls are never completely exposed. In fact, there is at least one case of Hill using totally naked girls in his sketches (see below).

A more politically insensitive criticism that could be leveled at Hill was the use of racial stereotypes in the early years of his show. An ethnic stereotype is a generalized representation of an Ethnic group, composed of what are thought to be typical characteristics of members of the group For example, Hill often portrayed a Chinese man, named "Chow Mein"[1], who squinted through thick glasses and used phrases such as "sirry iriot"[2][3] and "good evening everybloody" (as a foil to this character, Bob Todd would often play a stereotypical Indian, clad in Nehru jacket). China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party Hill also would do roles in heavy make-up designed to make him look black (usually African or Jamaican in origin, with an exaggerated accent to match); in contrast, the shows featured black performers only rarely and infrequently (and when they were featured, many times it was in stereotypical "jungle" costumes; however, it should also be noted that in sketches featuring these characters, the black characters were usually featured as being intelligent and articulate, while the white characters were presented as dull-witted). Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea.

Another example of Hill using stereotypes for humour could be found in his ability to impersonate accents. Hill used this skill to portray characters of various national origins, usually broadly painted in stereotypical fashion. German characters rolled their R's to a ridiculous extent; American characters were either apparently from the Bronx or from the Southern U.S., with the attached time-worn stereotypical behaviours; and Irish characters spoke with such a strong brogue as to be unintelligible on first listen. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate A notable example of this featured Henry McGee as a talk show host interviewing two Irish brothers (Hill and actual Irishman Jackie Wright):

Hill: (speaks what sounds like) They found his bacon, hot in the pork.
McGee (confused): His bacon. . . ?
Hill: His bacon hot. His hot he wears for bacon!
McGee (comprehending): Oh, his biking hat!

Whatever the reason for being cancelled, the board of Thames Television was unaware of the decision and attempted to entice Hill back. Hill's friend and producer/director, Dennis Kirkland, was furious and persuaded Hill to go to Central Independent Television to make a new series of programmes. Dennis Kirkland ( 2 December 1942 – 16 February 2006) was a British Television producer and director who was Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central and now legally ITV Central Ltd, is the British Independent Television contractor A contract from Central arrived on the day of his death.

Legacy of reruns/DVDs

The Benny Hill Show most recently aired in one-hour portions (not corresponding to the original hour-long format), twice nightly on BBC America (Dish Network channel 135/DirecTV channel 264/Comcast channel 162). BBC America is an American Television network owned and operated by BBC Worldwide Americas, and available on both cable and satellite Not be confused with Indian Service Dish TV DISH Network is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service that provides Satellite television DirecTV (trademarked as "DIREC' TV' " is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service based in El Segundo California, USA, that was founded Comcast Corporation ( is the largest Cable television company the second largest Internet service provider and (according to the company the fourth largest telephone The series ran on the channel from October 2004 to April 2007. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

The syndicated version consists of 111 half-hour episodes, re-edited from the original hour-long specials made by Thames Television and screened on Britain's ITV network three or four times a year. Thames Television was a licencee of the British ITV television network covering London and parts of the surrounding counties Half-hour edits also appeared on ITV, although the contents may be different from the syndicated U. S. versions.

The show has also been aired in India on UTV network and a few other networks. For other uses of the UTV acronym see UTV (disambiguation UTV (formerly Ulster Television) is a Television channel based It has even been dubbed in various Indian languages, which is proving to be a great hit with viewers.

There is far less DVD material currently available in the UK, although in 2005 the Thames specials began to appear uncut on Region 2 DVD sets, each representing one year and entitled The Benny Hill Annual, as of February 2008 going up to 1981. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981

In 2004, the same year Benny Hill started airing on BBC America (originally in two half-hour shows), the Thames specials began to appear uncut on Region 1 DVD sets for the U. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is S. , by A&E Home Video, entitled Benny Hill: Complete And Unadulterated. A&E is a cable and Satellite television network with headquarters in Manhattan and offices in Stamford, Atlanta, And unlike the UK sets, each set package represents multiple years of the shows in order of the original airings, with Benny Hill Trivia Challenges, a booklet, and extras:

The Naughty Early Years

The Hill's Angels Years

Note: All "The Hill's Angels Years" Sets have an "I Was A Hill Angel" Documentary; however, each one is different.

In total, all 58 episodes of the Thames years of TBHS are showcased in the collection.

As for his BBC works, roughly half of the total shows he did for them still exist. The best of the surviving editions were released on Region 1 DVD by Warner Home Video in 2005 under the title Benny Hill: The Lost Years, and contain sketches originating from shows that first aired between 1958 and 1968. DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is Warner Home Video is the Home video unit of Warner Bros Entertainment Inc Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

It is unknown if any collections of his various specials will be released.

Programme summary

The various Benny Hill Show programmes are as follows:

References

External links

The Museum of Broadcast Communications (or MBC) is located in Chicago Illinois. BBC America is an American Television network owned and operated by BBC Worldwide Americas, and available on both cable and satellite The Museum of Broadcast Communications (or MBC) is located in Chicago Illinois.
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