Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1950s Television
    1950s Television Comedy Shows B UK TV Variety 2 Mins Read

    Before Your Very Eyes

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 3 – 1 9 5 8 (UK)

    The first three series’ of Arthur Askey’s Before Your Very Eyes were broadcast on BBC between 1952 and 1955, after which the show transferred to ITV for three more years.

    Each episode of the show began with a straight-to-camera routine featuring Askey as himself, followed by a short sketch, a commercial break and then a single long sketch (usually some sort of film or TV parody) taking up the entirety of part two.

    beforeyourveryeyes

    Askey later claimed that the show pioneered the now standard television techniques of addressing the home audience, fluffing lines, corpsing and stepping out of character to acknowledge the presence of cameras and walk off the edge of the set.

    Like Eric Morecambe, Askey relied hugely on asides to camera and intertextual comment for his laughs.

    Jerry Desmonde provided a splendid comic foil and one of the best straight men in the business, best remembered for his work with Sid Field and Norman Wisdom – appearing in most of the latter’s films.

    Before Your Very Eyes introduced the busty ‘dumb blonde’ Sabrina (real name Norma Sykes, pictured with Askey) to British television. She had once (believe it or not) been the junior breast-stroke champion of Manchester.

    Endearingly unprofessional and, according to Askey, deliberately chosen because “she had a lovely face and figure but could not act, sing, dance or even walk properly”, she did little more than giggle at the endless jokes about her physique. But the show made her a celebrity, and she developed a successful cabaret act before marrying and retiring to America.

    Other episodes featured June Whitfield and Askey’s daughter Anthea (pictured at right).

    Before Your Very Eyes was named from one of Askey’s many catchphrases. Others included “Ay thang yew!”, “Hello, playmates!” and “Doesn’t it make you want to spit!”

    Related Posts

    • Raise Your Glasses
      Raise Your Glasses
      1 9 6 2 (UK) 5 x 45 minute episodes Arthur Askey starred in this fortnightly BBC series (alternating with The…
    • Dickie Henderson Show, The
      Dickie Henderson Show, The
      1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 5 (UK) 1 9 6 8 (UK) 116 x 30 minute episodes This British…
    • goodnessgraciousme
      Goodness Gracious Me
      1 9 9 8 - 2 0 0 0 (UK) 18 x 30 minute episodes Goodness Gracious Me began life as…
    • jokerswild99
      Jokers Wild
      1 9 6 9 - 1 9 7 4 (UK) Another classic from Yorkshire Television, this hilarious and unusual game show…
    • Howerd Crowd, The
      Howerd Crowd, The
      1 9 5 2  (UK) 3 x 60 minute episodes 1 9 5 5 (UK) 2 x 60 minute episodes 1 9 5…
    • dickiehendersonhalfhour1
      Dickie Henderson Half Hour
      1 9 5 8 - 1 9 5 9 (UK) Sketches, song and dance were the ingredients of the Dickie Henderson Half…
    • theedge00
      Edge, The
      1 9 9 2 - 1 9 9 3 (USA) 20 x 30 minute episodes This sketch comedy series from…
    • biggirlsblouse00
      Big Girl's Blouse
      1 9 9 4 - 1 9 9 5 (Australia) 10 x 25 minute episodes Fast Forward regulars Magda Szubanski, Jane…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleCool For Cats
    Next Article Gadzooks! It’s All Happening/Gadzooks! It’s The In Crowd

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.
    Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    You may also like

    • arthurstreasuredvolumes2
      Arthur's Treasured Volumes
      1 9 6 0 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes It's title inspired by the initials of the television company that…
    • Love and Kisses
      Love and Kisses
      1 9 5 5 (UK) 5 x 30 minute episodes Bill Brown (Arthur Askey) was a former engine driver - originally…
    • Dickie Henderson Show, The
      Dickie Henderson Show, The
      1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 5 (UK) 1 9 6 8 (UK) 116 x 30 minute episodes This British…
    • dickiehendersonhalfhour1
      Dickie Henderson Half Hour
      1 9 5 8 - 1 9 5 9 (UK) Sketches, song and dance were the ingredients of the Dickie Henderson Half…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.