New book and DVD about popular post-war comedian

Popular post-war comedian Dickie Henderson is to be the subject of a new book and DVD to mark his centenary.

The star was born on October 30, 1992, the son of music hall comedian Dick Henderson, and himself became a hit on the stage, and then, in the early 1950s, on TV.

He hosted the top-rated variety series Sunday Night At The London Palladium, appeared in eight Royal Variety Shows, and fronted several self-titled comedy series, ranging from sketch to sitcom and stand-up. He also forged an on-screen partnership with Bob Monkhouse.

Archive specialists Kaleidoscope say his ‘significant contributions to British comedy now sadly overlooked since his early death’ in September 1985 – and now hope to go some way to redressing the balance with the new book and DVD.

The book, provisionally titled Dickie Henderson: A Lifetime in Broadcasting, will feature a new biography of Henderson and examination of his career from the comedy historian Graham McCann  as well as comprehensive listings and credits for his career.

The accompanying DVD will present a collection of surviving programmes from his long association with ITV’s first London weekday broadcaster, Associated-Rediffusion Television – many unseen since their original broadcast decades ago.

This will include episodes of hit sitcom The Dickie Henderson Show, chiefly written by the prolific Jimmy Grafton (the man responsible for uniting The Goons), and Jeremy Lloyd – now best known for his later association with David Croft and creating sitcom hits such as ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Are You Being Served?.

Debuting in 1960 and concluding its final, ninth series in 1968, the  comedy totalled 116 episodes, although fewer than 20 are now known to exist. A

The set will be released on Saturday December 10

Published: 31 Oct 2022