Roy Hudd Show, The

1 9 6 9 (UK)
7 x 30 minute episodes

This Yorkshire Television series debuted on Monday 17 February 1969 with Hudd assisted by Freddie Jones, Frank Abbott and Joan Turner. Roy, Freddie and Joan had previously worked together in Show of the Week for the BBC.

Items ranged from sketches about a newsreader, a DJ and spare parts surgery for human beings, to character studies of Max Miller, Billy Bennett and Dan Leno, along with short, punch-line quickies.

A regular feature was a 1 – 2 minute item featuring the work of cartoonist Hector Breeze.

Contributing writers to the series included Keith Waterhouse, Willis Hall, Michael Billington (The Times TV critic), David Nobbs, Peter Tinniswood, John Antrobus, Peter Lewis (Daily Mail drama critic), Peter Doberciner (The Observer golf critic), and Philip Purser (Sunday Telegraph TV critic).

Despite Hudd’s skills as a great all-round comic, impressionist, satirist and knock-about – and the impressive array of comedy scriptwriters – the show didn’t quite gel, falling between the two stools of satire and music hall.

Roy Hudd died in March 2020, aged 83, after a short illness.

Roy Hudd
Freddie Jones
Joan Turner
Frank Abbott