Nicholas Lyndhurst (April 26, 1961) is an English actor best known for his role as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses and as Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart.
Famous for being a shy actor he always manags to find his tongue when he has adrenelinge pumping through his body before and after a performance.
As a child student at Corona Stage Academy, he appeared in a succession of commercials and children's films in the early 1970s it was purely by chance that he ever apperared in a sitcom but found himself at home and continued through the years untl he first found recognition in Butterflies at the age of 17.
In between 1997 and 1999 Nicholas Lyndhurst was the public face of the stationery chain store WH Smith, starring as all four members of a family in their adverts. He won a BAFTA for his acting in the adverts.
Whether he is playing a bumbling brother, husband, or son, he's sure to bring a smile to your face with his ingratiating, pleasant personality.
Sunday
Is radio still important to the development of sitcoms?
Sitcoms started on radio and in the 1950’s had massive success. However with the introduction of modern technologies they are no longer as valued on the radio. Some radio comedy shows however are still aired to day on BBC 7 a few of these include Stilgoe’s around from the 1980’s, the men from the ministry from the 1970’s and many more old classics that are still remembered today. Although some still listen to the old radio classics most people prefer to watch them on T.V so the expressions and performance of the humour can be seen aswell as hearing the great lines. Many of the sitcoms that are now on television started off on the radio or where inspired by a radio programme. As today’s society are relaxing into new technologies they no longer appreciate a good radio show. The main reason now for people to be listening to the radio is to listen to music most do this while driving so having a comedy show to listen to would distract them music does not as this is purely background noise not many really listen to it.
I believe that through past radio shows new T.V sitcoms have been produced based on a similar idea on the other hand sitcoms do not rely on old radio sitcoms to create a show their have been many which are a fresh idea.
I believe that through past radio shows new T.V sitcoms have been produced based on a similar idea on the other hand sitcoms do not rely on old radio sitcoms to create a show their have been many which are a fresh idea.
The United Kingdom has produced a wealth of sitcoms, many of which have been exported to other nations or adapted for other countries. The British sitcom tends to rely less on quick-fire jokes and quirky characters, and focuses more on plots, the analysis of the British individual, and exaggerated caricatures of everyday stereotypes.There is also a tendency towards black humor. A frequent theme in British sitcoms is that of people trapped in an unpleasant situation or, more often, in a dysfunctional relationship.
Many British sitcoms are re-made for American audiences. For example, Till Death Us Do Part became All in the Family; Man About the House became Three's Company; and, the immensely popular Steptoe and Son became Sanford and Son. The Office was also remade for an American audience using the same title. Political sitcom The Thick of it is currently going an American adaption, also under the same name. However, most British sitcoms usually fare better in their original forms. Re-makes of Red Dwarf, Men Behaving Badly, Coupling, and One Foot in the Grave fell victim to adaptations that largely removed the essence of the comedy and did not stand the test of time.
Possibly the best example of this was Fawlty Towers, in which there were three attempts to Americanize the show. The first attempt was a proposed series titled Chateau Snavely in 1978 but a pilot was never produced. The second attempt at Americanising Fawlty Towers was Amanda's, where the character of Basil became a woman played by Beatrice Arthur. This eliminated the roles of the hen-pecked lead and the dragon-like wife. Amanda's was picked up by ABC in 1983 but never attracted an audience and was cancelled soon after. The final attempt to remake Fawlty Towers was Payne, in which John Larroquette played the title role. It was seen on CBS in 1999, but like Amanda's it was soon dropped by the network.
The UK is home to the world's longest running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine. The show's pilot was broadcast in early 1973 with the first series starting that autumn. The series continues to this day with the show's 29th series, coming soon in 2008.
Many British sitcoms are re-made for American audiences. For example, Till Death Us Do Part became All in the Family; Man About the House became Three's Company; and, the immensely popular Steptoe and Son became Sanford and Son. The Office was also remade for an American audience using the same title. Political sitcom The Thick of it is currently going an American adaption, also under the same name. However, most British sitcoms usually fare better in their original forms. Re-makes of Red Dwarf, Men Behaving Badly, Coupling, and One Foot in the Grave fell victim to adaptations that largely removed the essence of the comedy and did not stand the test of time.
Possibly the best example of this was Fawlty Towers, in which there were three attempts to Americanize the show. The first attempt was a proposed series titled Chateau Snavely in 1978 but a pilot was never produced. The second attempt at Americanising Fawlty Towers was Amanda's, where the character of Basil became a woman played by Beatrice Arthur. This eliminated the roles of the hen-pecked lead and the dragon-like wife. Amanda's was picked up by ABC in 1983 but never attracted an audience and was cancelled soon after. The final attempt to remake Fawlty Towers was Payne, in which John Larroquette played the title role. It was seen on CBS in 1999, but like Amanda's it was soon dropped by the network.
The UK is home to the world's longest running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine. The show's pilot was broadcast in early 1973 with the first series starting that autumn. The series continues to this day with the show's 29th series, coming soon in 2008.
Layout of Yes Minister
3 series with 6 episodes each
they then changed the name to yes prime minister and aired a further two shows however this time round they extended them to 8 episodes a series.
As the series revolves around the inner workings of central government, most of the scenes take place in private locations, such as offices and exclusive lounges. There was not a single scene set in the house of commons because... government does not take place in the House of Commons; some politics... and much theatre takes place there. Government happens in private. As in all public performances, the real work is done in rehearsal, behind closed doors. Then the public, and the House, are shown what the government wishes them to see.
they then changed the name to yes prime minister and aired a further two shows however this time round they extended them to 8 episodes a series.
As the series revolves around the inner workings of central government, most of the scenes take place in private locations, such as offices and exclusive lounges. There was not a single scene set in the house of commons because... government does not take place in the House of Commons; some politics... and much theatre takes place there. Government happens in private. As in all public performances, the real work is done in rehearsal, behind closed doors. Then the public, and the House, are shown what the government wishes them to see.
The Cast and Crew of Yes Minister
Cast
Paul Eddington The Rt Hon James Hacker
Nigel Hawthorne Sir Humphrey Appleby
Derek Fowlds Bernard Woolley
Diana Hoddinott Annie Hacker
John Nettleton Sir Arnold Robinson
John Savident Sir Frederick ('Jumbo')
Neil Fitzwilliam Frank Weisel
Gerry Cowper Lucy Hacker
Ludovic Kennedy Ludovic Kennedy
Crew
Antony Jay writer
Jonathan Lynn writer
Stuart Allen director
Sydney Lotterby director
Peter Whitmore director
Stuart Allen producer
Sydney Lotterby producer
Peter Whitmore producer
Paul Eddington The Rt Hon James Hacker
Nigel Hawthorne Sir Humphrey Appleby
Derek Fowlds Bernard Woolley
Diana Hoddinott Annie Hacker
John Nettleton Sir Arnold Robinson
John Savident Sir Frederick ('Jumbo')
Neil Fitzwilliam Frank Weisel
Gerry Cowper Lucy Hacker
Ludovic Kennedy Ludovic Kennedy
Crew
Antony Jay writer
Jonathan Lynn writer
Stuart Allen director
Sydney Lotterby director
Peter Whitmore director
Stuart Allen producer
Sydney Lotterby producer
Peter Whitmore producer
Friday
Character Profile: James "Jim" Hacker
Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) was an academic political researcher,polytechnic lecturer and editor of a newspaper, Reform, before entering Parliament, where he apparently spent a good deal of time in Opposition before his party won the general election. In Yes Minister he is the Minister for Administrative Affairs (a fictitious ministry of the British government) and a cabinet minister. Hacker received his degree from the London School of Economics for which he is frequently derided by the Oxford-educated Sir Humphrey. His early character is that of a gung-ho, but naïve, politician, bringing sweeping changes to his department. Before long, Hacker begins to notice that Civil Service tactics are preventing his planned changes being put into practice. As he learns he becomes more sly and cynical, and uses some of the Civil Service ruses himself. While Sir Humphrey initially held all the aces, Hacker now and again plays a trump card of his own.
Throughout Yes Minister, Hacker is often portrayed as a publicity-mad bungler, incapable of making a firm decision, prone to potentially embarrassing blunders, and who elicits bad press and stern lectures from the party apparatus, particularly the Chief Whip. In Yes, Prime Minister Hacker quickly develops statesmanlike skills. He practises more grandiose speeches, dreams up his "grand design", and hones his diplomatic skills, and these nearly all land him in trouble.
Yes Minister
Jim Hacker, Member of Parliment, is appointed Cabinet as Minister For Administrative Affairs. There he is introduced to Bernard Wooley, his private secretary and Civil Servant boss Sir Humphrey ApplebyMy research will follow this summary of Yes Minister
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