...along with pilot footage from The Generation Game

Extracts from Larry Grayson’s never-published autobiography are to feature in a new two-hour TV documentary about the comedian’s life.

Filmmakers were given unprecedented access to Grayson’s personal archive of correspondence, family photographs, personal scrapbooks and professional memorabilia. The archive has remained unseen in a vault for more than two decades since his death in 1995, at the age of 71.

Fruits of their research will be aired on the ITV3 show, Larry Grayson: Shut That Door! which will be aired over Easter.

This film promises to take viewers back to the beginning of Grayson’s story, growing up in a foster family in the 1930s, then honing an act in working men’s clubs, relying not on jokes, but funny stories, catchphrases and imaginary characters. 

At the age of 50, he was suddenly discovered and propelled to instant stardom by television. Within a year of his 1972 debut on  ITV’s Saturday Variety – footage of which is included in the new film –  he had been named Showbusiness Personality of the Year. He went on to host The Generation Game for four years.

The documentary will also include clips from never-before-seen pilot of him presenting the BBC One gameshow as well his poignant 1994 final appearance on The Royal Variety Performance.

It also  looks at Larry’s close friendship with Crossroads star Noele Gordon and his ill-fated move from his beloved hometown Nuneaton to Torquay.

Among contributors are Isla St Clair, Larry’s TV co-star, Janet Street Porter, who made an earlier documentary about the star, and Michael Barrymore, who was his warm-up man on The Generation Game.

Executive producer Mark Wells said: ‘Larry Grayson was a one-off – a uniquely funny man whose own type of camp comedy actually opened the door for many entertainers who came after him. 

‘I hope this ITV3 film reminds viewers just what a warm and entertaining personality Larry was, and how much laughter he gave us all back in more innocent times.’

The film is made by Double Yellow,  the same production team behind the 2015 series Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man and 2013’s Les Dawson: An Audience With That Never Was.

Published: 6 Mar 2018