1980s comedy duo reunite for stage appearance

Little and Large are reuniting for their first stage appearance in decades.

Syd Little, 75, and Eddie Large, 77, drew audiences of up to 15million for their TV sketch shows of the 1970s and 1980s.

But their show was cancelled in 1991, and the partnership ended, and the pair drifted apart – not least because Large developed a life-threatening heart condition that required major surgery in 2003.

He retired while Little – real name Cyril Mead – went on to work the cruise ships and run the restaurant in a pub in his hometown of Fleetwood, Lancashire.

In 2010, Large – real name Edward McGinn – admitted he hadn’t spoken to his erstwhile double act partner  in decades. But they did reunite earlier this year for a TV appearance on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Now the duo will reunite on stage at the Slapstick festival of classic comedy in Bristol on January for An Audience With… show.

Their session at the Old Vic on January 18 is one of 32 events lined up for the four-day festival.

Richard Herring is curating a strand at the event in which he quizzes Tim Vine about his comedy favourites, interviews The Goodies about their DVD box set, and looks back at The Inbetweeners with its writers, Damon Beesley and Iain Thomas and actor Joe Thomas.

Herring said: ‘As a lifelong comedy nerd, this is absolute heaven for me. Hopefully for you too. But I’m the important one here.’

Other highlights include:  a silent comedy gala hosted by Marcus Brigstocke;  A screening of the Harold Lloyd classic, For Heaven’s Sake with live music at Bristol Cathedral and a debate involving stand-ups Robin Ince and Lucy Porter, among others, on whether jokes can mock religion.

Festival director Chris Daniels says: ‘This is our biggest Slapstick to date – a true celebration of silent, visual and classic comedy, featuring an impressive array of top comedy talent from many different decades.’

The full programme is available here.

Published: 2 Nov 2018