Sykes out

Veteran attacks modern comics

Eric Sykes has joined the ever-growing list of comedy veterans who attack the modern scene.

The 78-year-old launched his broadside in a Radio Times interview in which he claimed: "Entertainment is too aggressive these days, all 'In your face'. If comedians want to make a social comment they can go to the House of Commons.

"I'm proud of being a vaudevillian. I don't swear or do anything suggestive, and I've held onto that because when you're on stage you're a role model."

Skyes added that the rot started with Monty Python, although he says that show was "brilliant".

"Pyhton opened the floodgates to mediocrity. Graduates came out of university and only had to go to their friends at the BBC to be given a job. The people at the top were flaccid and didn't stop them swearing or doing things badly.

"We live in an age where the more talent you have, the less chance you have of getting on. Those in charge they can control mediocrity, but not genius, so they don't promote anyone better than them."

Skyes, who is starring in the West End farce Caught In The Net and appeared in the current Nicole Kidman film The Others, also spoke of his career alongside other comedy greats Tony Hancock and Tommy Cooper and Spike Milligan, with whom he still shares an office.

He said Hancock fell apart because "he wanted to find the answer to comedy - but there is no answer".

"Some people walk on stage and the audience warms to them. You can't explain it, and you shouldn't try. It's an arrogant assumption to say you 'decide' to become a comedian. The audience decides for you'

Skyes's interview was to promote an Arena programme about his career to be screened over Christmas and appears in the current edition of the Radio Times.

To buy Comedy Greats: Eric Sykes on BBC video