TV comedy celebrated

Ricky Gervais, Paul Merton and Michael Parkinson are to appear at a TV festival later this month.

TV 2002, on London's South Bank, will also feature tributes to Spike Milligan and Tony Hancock.

Gervais will be joined by The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant to talk about their hit comedy, and introduce some unseen clips.

While Merton will interview two of his comic idols, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, writers of Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son.

The tribute to their work will include the rarely-seen Christmas specials Hancock's 43 Minutes, as well as Citizen James, the spin-off they wrote for Sid James after Hancock dissolved their partnership.

Rare clips also form the backbone of the Remembering Spike show, hosted by biographer Graham Stark.

The festival will be closed with Michael Parkinson in conversation with Alan Whicker.

TV2002 takes place from September 27 to 30at the National Film Theatre. See the official website for more details.

Published: 18 Sep 2002