Frankie Howerd’s Hour – Nostalgia Central

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1 9 7 1 (UK)
2 x 60 minute episodes

These two specials from Thames Television were written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and tailor-made for Frankie Howerd, who appeared in an assortment of roles.

One segment, set 31 years after the start of World War II, found Frankie still hiding in an attic from the German war machine, believing the war was still ongoing. This was thanks to his devoted but dotty and smothering mother (Angela Baddeley), who played tape recordings of the Blitz every night to keep up the pretence.

The second show had Frankie being debriefed by his CO (Allan Cuthbertson), and explaining what exactly he did do during the war – including a dramatic reconstruction of his meeting with Adolf Hitler (Colin Jeavons) in 1944 (he had penetrated the Fuhrer’s HQ on a mission to assassinate the leader of the Third Reich, but – unsurprisingly – the plan went wrong).

Howerd also appeared in sketches as the Vicar of Much Rutting-in-the-Wold, giving his own interpretation of the marriage service, lecturing about sin and an overwhelming tide of pornography in the village, and explaining away a visit to Soho.

Also appearing in the hour-long specials were Sheila Hancock, Jean Kent, Tim Barrett, Gerard Heinz, John Carlin, ex-heavyweight boxer Billy Walker, Mike Savage, Paul Haley, Michael Standing and Raymond Farrell.

The first show aired on Wednesday 1 September 1971, with the second special following four weeks later on 29 September. The producer was Peter Frazer-Jones.