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All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Tommy Cooper

    • October 10, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to the heroes of comedy who he has worked with over his many years in the business, starting with Tommy Cooper.

  • S01E02 Frankie Howerd

    • October 17, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer looks back on the life and career of Frankie Howerd, one of Britain's post-war comedy greats who starred in Up Pompeii and a host of Carry On films.

  • S01E03 Joan Rivers

    • October 24, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer looks back on the life and career of Joan Rivers, whose cutting wit and sarcasm left an indelible mark on the comedy world.

  • S01E04 Ronnie Barker

    • October 31, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer looks back on the career of Ronnie Barker. From Porridge and Open All Hours to the Two Ronnies, Barker was one of British TV's best-loved entertainers.

  • S01E05 Bob Hope

    • November 7, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of British-born American entertainer Bob Hope, whose remarkable comedy and acting career spanned nearly 80 years.

  • S01E06 Jack Benny

    • November 14, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer explores the career of Jack Benny, the influential comedian who was one of the most celebrated American entertainers of the 20th century.

  • S01E07 George Burns

    • November 21, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer examines the life and work of George Burns, the New York comedian best known for his long-running radio and television show with wife Gracie Allen.

  • S01E08 Morecambe & Wise

    • November 28, 2018
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, one of British TV's best-loved comedy duos, whose Christmas Day shows became a national institution.

Season 2

  • S02E01 The Marx Brothers

    • October 16, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reviews the timeless vaudeville family, the Marx Brothers.

  • S02E02 Lily Tomlin

    • October 23, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of multi-Emmy-winning comedian and actress Lily Tomlin.

  • S02E03 Richard Pryor

    • October 30, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of American comedian Richard Pryor, who collaborated with Gene Wilder in four films including Stir Crazy and Silver Streak.

  • S02E04 Madeline Kahn

    • November 6, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of American comedian and actress Madeline Kahn, who was nominated for Academy Awards for her roles in Paper Moon and Blazing Saddles.

  • S02E05 Steve Martin

    • November 13, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of American actor comedian Steve Martin, who starred in films including The Jerk, The Man with Two Brains and Roxanne.

  • S02E06 John Cleese

    • November 20, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of writer and actor John Cleese, who shot to fame as a member of Monty Python and co-wrote and starred in classic sitcom Fawlty Towers.

  • S02E07 Phyllis Diller

    • November 27, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    She was one of the first female comics to become a household name in America, paving the way for the likes of Joan Rivers and Roseanne Barr. Barry Cryer explores her life.

  • S02E08 Lucille Ball

    • December 4, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer fondly looks back at the life and career of the comedy superstar who created the highly influential I Love Lucy among many other popular sitcoms.

  • S02E09 Terry Thomas

    • December 11, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the life and career of actor Terry Thomas, who starred in Tom Thumb and I'm Alright, Jack before going on to find international fame.

  • S02E10 Sid James

    • December 18, 2019
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to comedy actor Sid James, who rose to fame in Hancock's Half Hour and became a mainstay of the Carry On franchise.

  • S02E11 Billy Connolly

    • January 2, 2020
    • Sky Arts

    From his days as a welder in the Glaswegian shipyard, Billy Connolly was also a banjo player in the folk music band The Humblebums and found the jokes he told between songs went down well, and eventually formed his entire act. Becoming a fulltime comedian, he rose to fame across the UK through his appearances on Michael Parkinson's chat show in the seventies. Before long, he broke the USA, with numerous world tours and appearances in blockbuster films like Disney Pixar's Brave and The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. In 2013 Connolly disclosed he was being treated for initial symptoms or Parkinson's disease, and earlier this year confirmed further that the advance of his symptoms may force his retirement. But as far as legacies, go, there are few comedians who can rival Billy's.

  • S02E12 Peter Sellers

    • January 8, 2020
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to actor Peter Sellers, who shot to fame in The Goons and starred in the Pink Panther franchise and was Oscar-nominated for Dr Strangelove and Being There.

Season 3

  • S03E01 Charlie Chaplin

    • October 8, 2020

    Barry Cryer takes a look at the life and career of the one and only Charlie Chaplin. Coming from a background of poverty, Chaplin would rise to stardom during the silent era through his beloved character of "The Tramp" - a role so iconic that it is still immediately recognisable over one hundred years after he first appeared and some fifty years after Chaplin's death.

  • S03E02 Julia Louis-Dreyfus

    • October 15, 2020

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to the decorated comic actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Having won more Emmys and Screen Actors Guild Awards than any other performer, she is perhaps best known for her roles in the long-running comedy series Seinfeld and Veep.

  • S03E03 Norman Wisdom

    • October 22, 2020

    Norman Wisdom is best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966, where he played a hapless character by the name of Norman Pitkin. However, he enjoyed a wonderfully diverse life. He enjoyed a career on Broadway, was given the freedom of the City of London, and was described by Charlie Chaplin as his "favourite clown". This is the story behind the man.

  • S03E04 Kenneth Williams

    • October 29, 2020

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to the Carry On star, whose shining career and personal life left a huge impact on the world.

  • S03E05 Chevy Chase

    • November 5, 2020

    From Saturday Night Live to his roles in Foul Play and National Lampoon's Vacation, Barry Cryer looks back on the iconic career moments of Chevy Chase.

  • S03E06 John Candy

    • November 12, 2020

    Barry Cryer looks back at the successful career of the comic, whose appearances in comedy films such as Cool Runnings, Home Alone and Uncle Buck made him a household name.

  • S03E07 Bob Newhart

    • November 19, 2020

    Barry Cryer celebrates the Emmy-winning star known for his best-selling comedy album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, and his acting and voice work in film and TV.

  • S03E08 Eric Sykes

    • November 26, 2020

    Barry Cryer presents a look back at the career of Eric Sykes, which spanned more than five decades and earned him many awards

  • S03E09 Alastair Sim

    • December 3, 2020

    His performances in the West End, as well as in classic films like Scrooge - earned him widespread fame. Barry Cryer looks back on the fruitful career of Alastair Sim.

  • S03E10 Leslie Phillips

    • December 10, 2020

    Barry Cryer celebrates the career of the Carry On, Doctor in the House and The Navy Lark star.

Season 4

  • S04E01 Eddie Murphy

    • August 5, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to more of his favourite comediansl, beginning by looking back on the career of Eddie Murphy, from his early days on Saturday Night Live to Hollywood superstardom in Trading Places and the Beverly Hills Cop franchise.

  • S04E02 Hattie Jacques

    • August 12, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to comedy actress Hattie Jacques, known widely for her work in the Carry On films.

  • S04E03 Billy Crystal

    • August 19, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to comedian and actor Billy Crystal, whose films include When Harry Met Sally, Throw Momma from the Train and City Slickers.

  • S04E04 Joyce Grenfell

    • August 26, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to the singer, comedian and actress, whose roles include The Belles of St Trinian's, The Magic Box and The Happiest Days of Your Life.

  • S04E05 Goldie Hawn

    • September 2, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer reflects on the career of Goldie Hawn who rose to fame on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In before going on to star in Cactus Flower and win an Oscar for her role.

  • S04E06 Laurel & Hardy

    • September 9, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to much-loved double act Laurel and Hardy, whose slapstick comedy style brought them international fame.

  • S04E07 Dan Aykroyd

    • September 16, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to Canadian actor and writer Dan Aykroyd, who gained fame on Saturday Night Live before going on to star in The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters.

  • S04E08 Will Ferrell

    • September 23, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to Will Ferrell, from his fruitful beginnings on Saturday Night Live to his starring roles in Anchorman, Elf and Holmes & Watson

  • S04E09 Tina Fey

    • September 30, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    Barry Cryer pays tribute to actress, comedian and writer Tina Fey, who found fame on Saturday Night Live and created 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

  • S04E10 Tim Allen

    • September 30, 2021
    • Sky Arts

    From Toy Story to Home Improvement, Barry Cryer takes a look at the versatile portfolio of Tim Allen for the last episode in the series