Even though it has been one of Britain’s most watched programmes, and was exported to over half of the world’s nations, it is not seen on TV for almost twenty years.
The Benny Hill Show, which was famous for its slapstick comedy character that chased scantily-clad women but was threatened by the “cancel culture” of modern times in 1970s, has now made an unexpected return to a nostalgic channel.
The show, which consisted of short and often risqué comedy sketches, made Hill a huge star on first the BBC and then ITV, airing for four decades from 1955.
However, Hill was fired by Thames Broadcasting in 1989 because of fears that Hill’s vulgar and loud senses of humor were making it difficult for executives to hire him.
After Hill’s death, in 1992, his estate and Thames TV controlled the rights to his TV programs. They had never been licensed to any UK broadcaster.
However, the holiday schedule now includes a number of re-runs from last night’s broadcast on That’s TV Gold.
The long-running Benny Hill Show consisted of short and often risqué comedy sketches
Famous for his role in chasing young, scantily dressed women on The Benny Hill Show
In 1989, Thames broadcaster dismissed Hill due to fears that Hill’s vulgar humour and loud personality would be viewed as inappropriate by others.
The festive program on Freeview channel That’s TV Gold now includes a series of Benny Hill reruns, which were broadcast last night. It has been renamed That’s TV Christmas.
The channel is also available on Sky or Freesat and launched last night at 9pm with a double Bill of The Benny Hill Show. This was the first show in a seven-week-long run.
There are TV specials by Kenny Everett and Mike Yarwood as well as Tommy Cooper, Tommy Cooper, the Carry On Team, and rare repeats on Beadle’s About.
A long-lost Christmas episode of Morecambe and Wise can be viewed this Christmas
Morecambe and Wise are a Christmas staple, and a long-running episode of the series is coming to fans this year.
BBC will screen the episode’s old episode next month. It was discovered in an attic belonging to Eric Morecambe’s 65-year-old son Gary. The film canister had been marked with only a BBC stamp.
Comedy duo Morecambe & Wise
This film was only shown one time, on October 8, 1970. It was seen by 14 million people.
The 45-minute movie has been restored by BBC professionals and colorized. It also features sketches and songs from Kenny Ball, Patricia Lambert, and Paul Anka.
According to a BBC source, the Daily Mirror was told by a BBC official that they were thrilled to learn of this long-lost episode. Comedy fans should find this a Christmas gift. This is an absolute joy.
Hill is cited among the first to be influenced by ‘political rightness’ in that his jokes and crossdressing made it difficult for many viewers two decades ago.
At the time Thames pulled the plug, the comic had earned the company an estimated £100million and his final episode attracted 9.58million viewers.
Hill was born “Alfred Hall” in Southampton, 1925. His family and friends remember him as the “class clown”.
As a teenager, he dropped out of school and became a milkman. He then served in the British Army as a mechanic for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during World War II.
He enjoyed performing variety shows for troops, and he adopted Benny Hill’s stage name in tribute to Jack Benny.
Hill, who had performed in London music halls during World War II, got his start in TV when he was asked to compare a BBC entertainment series.
The programme ran from December 1962 through December 1968 on BBC and December 1969 through May 1989 on ITV before being reruns until 1992.
Benny Hill enjoyed a great fame and was viewed by more Britons than any other comedian. He won the first of his many awards, the Television Personality of Year in 1954.
The Benny Hill Show was awarded 11 total awards by ITV, and the shows were also exported to more 140 countries.
A number of comedians today have spoken out in praise for Hill’s impact on their lives. David Walliams, a TV actor and comedian said that Hill should be ‘celebrated better on television’ in 2017.
Tim Vine, comedian from Not Going Out, claimed that he had kept his Benny Hill tapes. He said: “I never tired of it, I think he is hugely underrated.”
Caroline Aherne (sitcom The Royale Family) said in 1998 that she loved Benny Hill.
Ben Miller, the comedian of Armstrong and Miller fame, said that Miller’s initial work was groundbreaking. He’s the greatest comedian that Britain has produced on any international stage.
Hill, who suffered from declining health in the 1980s is shown at an ITV annual party for his garden in 1982
The Benny Hill Show was awarded 11 times during his time on ITV.
Benny Hill was at the height of his popularity when more Britons tuned into to see him than for the moon landing.
Between December 1962 and December 1968, The Benny Hill Show was broadcast on BBC Radio One
Jack Lemmon, a US actor, said that Hill had died. He stated: “In recent years, my favorite comedian was Benny Hill who was a master of his field.
“Most comedians offer a barrage with powder puffs. Benny offered you a cannonshot.”
Hill suffered a decline in his health in the 1980s. He died from coronary thrombosis at 68 years old in Teddington in South West London.
Kris Vaiksalu is That’s TV Christmas’ head of programming. He stated: “We are thrilled to have acquired the rights to The Benny Hill Show (and Beadle’s About) for our seasonal rebranding this year.
These shows belong to our cultural heritage. Although watching old-fashioned comedy is an annual Christmas tradition, these favourites are missing for over two decades.
After the year, we all feel like Christmas is overdue. We have received many requests from our viewers to present Benny Hill, and it is a joy to fulfill this Christmas wish.
He said, “But There are many more crackers in That’s TV Christmas. A Christmas TV nostalgic-fest has been planned with the best TV music and TV personalities from the last four decades.
It will feature programmes by the Carry On Team (Carry On Doctor 1968)
Beadle’s About is another show that will be on the air in the next weeks. This hidden camera show, presented by Jeremy Beadle (which ran for twenty years starting in 1986), can also be seen.
That’s TV Christmas will feature TV specials by Tommy Cooper in the next weeks
We want our viewers to have a magical Christmas. You better watch out… because Benny Hill and Jeremy Beadle are back on your telly this Christmas!’
Beadle’s About is another show that will be on the air in the next weeks. It’s a hidden camera show hosted by Jeremy Beadle. This program ran for ten consecutive years starting in 1986.
The Benny Hill Show is showing on That’s TV Christmas for seven weeks, available on Freeview channels 91, 264 and Sky channel 187. Freesat channel 175.