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Great Lives, Great Lives, Benny Hill

Great Lives

Great Lives

Benny Hill

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April 14, 2025

27 minutes

Available for over a year

Biography show in which the guest picks someone they ire. Benny Hill is a thorny choice but playwright Jonathan Maitland is determined that - despite accusations of sexism and racism later in his career - Britain's most successful comedian deserves a second look. Benny was fired by Thames TV in 1989. "The show was past its sell-by date," was the official line. Critics had been questioning The Benny Hill Show for almost a decade, but in the 1950s and 1960s he was seen as a pioneer, particular for his work on TV. ing the discussion is the comedian and writer Helen Lederer, bringing a little nuance to the show.

Contains archive of Ruth Jones, Barry Cryer, David Cameron and Benny himself.

The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde