Christopher Stevens

The Masters of Sitcom

From Hancock to Steptoe

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Details

Imprint: O'Mara Books

Publication date: 30/09/2011

ISBN: 9781843177739

Subject: Non-Fiction

Size: EPUB 2

Extent: 352 pages

Territorial Rights: World

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Summary:

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are two of the most influential and celebrated television scriptwriters of our time. Praised for inventing the sitcom, their own seminal creations are still standing the test of time with modern audiences - Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son are two of the most successful sitcoms ever made. This book is a charming tribute to their career in comedy, written in collaboration with Galton and Simpson themselves and with exclusive access to their personal archive of scripts. Readers will discover the fascinating story of their progress from variety shows to television, and how they came to create characters and programmes that have captured the nation's heart for generations. Their insightful comments on their own writing, along with their first-class understanding of the television writers' craft, make this anthology unique, informative and incredibly entertaining.

Reviews:

Comedy without Galton and Simpson would be like literature without Dickens.

Harry Enfield

An excellent guide to two of Britain's sitcom pioneers. A must-buy for fans of classic comedy.

Paul Merton

Galton and Simpson are The Beatles of British comedy - they changed everything.

Frank Skinner

In Christopher Stevens their achievements have found a perceptive and sympathetic chronicler

Sunday Express

Breathtakingly funny

Matt Lucas and David Walliams

Descriptive and informative narrative written by an obvious enthusiast of their work

Tony Hancock Archives Newsletter

About the Author:

Christopher Stevens

Christopher Stevens is a television critic, author and journalist. He began working as a journalist in 1983 and currently holds the position of Daily Mail TV critic, writing daily reviews of the previous night's viewing from Monday to Friday. He has written 6 books and is the father of two teenage boys.