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Butterfly Brain
Barry Cryer is one of the great comedians of the last 50 years. This is a sparkling series of hilarious and true anecdotes, almost all of which have never been told before!Barry Cryer has collaborated with all the greats from Max Miller to Tony Hancock, Bob Hope, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, John Cleese, Frankie Howerd, Kenny Everett, Spike Milligan, Eric Sykes, Dave Allen, Richard Pryor, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Graham Chapman, the Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise - in fact almost all the great comedians and comic writers since the mid 1950s. Barry's set of experiences with these legends of humour is unique, and will delight all who made PIGS CAN FLY a runaway porcine bestseller.In this completely new, organically grown book, old Baz recalls, reminisces, recounts and other words beginning with 'R', on a trip down Memory Lane, pausing only for tea and macaroons at the Stannah Stairlift Cafe. What memories - if only he can remember them. Currently 74, a third of his life has already passed and he invites you to enjoy this wonderfully funny account of it, a decorous orgy of nostalgia.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2004
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About the author
Barry Cryer
101 books1 followerCryer was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Educated at Leeds Grammar School, he studied English literature at the University of Leeds.
After appearing in University revue, Cryer was offered a week's work at the Leeds City Varieties theatre, home of The Good Old Days, which became the longest-running television entertainment show in the world. Cryer left university after learning his first-year results and travelled to London. After impressing impresario Vivian Van Damm, Cryer began as the bottom billing act at the Windmill Theatre in London, a theatre which showed comedy acts in between nude tableau shows.
However, Cryer suffered severely from eczema and, after several periods in hospital, was released from his contract by Van Damm. Concluding that a performing career was not a wholly sustainable income choice because of his skin condition, Cryer chose to focus mainly on writing – something he could do even when suffering eczema attacks, which he did for the next eight years.
Cryer always preferred to write in partnership, so that should he dry up he was never left to deliver material. His regular partner during the 1970s was John Junkin, and with Junkin performing as Eric Morecambe and Cryer most often the role of Ernie Wise, the pair wrote some of The Morecambe and Wise Show in its BBC period (the 1972 and 1976 Christmas shows) when regular writer Eddie Braben was unavailable. Cryer still enjoyed performing, appearing with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Junkin in the BBC radio series Hello, Cheeky!, in which the three performers bounced jokes off each other. He also appeared in the comedy television series The Steam Video Company and provided the voice of the judge in the 1975 animated comedy musical Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done. He hosted the ITV comedy panel game Jokers Wild (1969–74) and had a role in All You Need Is Cash, a 1978 spoof documentary about the Beatles parody band the Rutles, as well as a cameo as a police inspector in Kenny Everett's 1984 horror spoof Bloodbath at the House of Death.
With new comedians coming forward who wrote their own material, and age progressing and still wanting to perform, Cryer refocused his career to include more performance, touring with Willie Rushton in Two Old Farts in the Night and, after Rushton's death, That Reminds Me. After a brief early stint as chairman, Cryer was one of the panellists on the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, which began in 1972. He also wrote and starred in You'll Have Had Your Tea with Graeme Garden.
He wrote an autobiography, You Won't Believe This But..., as well as a book of miscellaneous anecdotes, Pigs Can Fly. In 2005 he toured the UK with Barry Cryer: The First Farewell Tour, and in 2008 he toured with Barry Cryer: Still Alive. He remained a popular after-dinner speaker.
He died at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow on 25 January 2022, at the age of 86.
abridged from Wikipedia
After appearing in University revue, Cryer was offered a week's work at the Leeds City Varieties theatre, home of The Good Old Days, which became the longest-running television entertainment show in the world. Cryer left university after learning his first-year results and travelled to London. After impressing impresario Vivian Van Damm, Cryer began as the bottom billing act at the Windmill Theatre in London, a theatre which showed comedy acts in between nude tableau shows.
However, Cryer suffered severely from eczema and, after several periods in hospital, was released from his contract by Van Damm. Concluding that a performing career was not a wholly sustainable income choice because of his skin condition, Cryer chose to focus mainly on writing – something he could do even when suffering eczema attacks, which he did for the next eight years.
Cryer always preferred to write in partnership, so that should he dry up he was never left to deliver material. His regular partner during the 1970s was John Junkin, and with Junkin performing as Eric Morecambe and Cryer most often the role of Ernie Wise, the pair wrote some of The Morecambe and Wise Show in its BBC period (the 1972 and 1976 Christmas shows) when regular writer Eddie Braben was unavailable. Cryer still enjoyed performing, appearing with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Junkin in the BBC radio series Hello, Cheeky!, in which the three performers bounced jokes off each other. He also appeared in the comedy television series The Steam Video Company and provided the voice of the judge in the 1975 animated comedy musical Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done. He hosted the ITV comedy panel game Jokers Wild (1969–74) and had a role in All You Need Is Cash, a 1978 spoof documentary about the Beatles parody band the Rutles, as well as a cameo as a police inspector in Kenny Everett's 1984 horror spoof Bloodbath at the House of Death.
With new comedians coming forward who wrote their own material, and age progressing and still wanting to perform, Cryer refocused his career to include more performance, touring with Willie Rushton in Two Old Farts in the Night and, after Rushton's death, That Reminds Me. After a brief early stint as chairman, Cryer was one of the panellists on the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, which began in 1972. He also wrote and starred in You'll Have Had Your Tea with Graeme Garden.
He wrote an autobiography, You Won't Believe This But..., as well as a book of miscellaneous anecdotes, Pigs Can Fly. In 2005 he toured the UK with Barry Cryer: The First Farewell Tour, and in 2008 he toured with Barry Cryer: Still Alive. He remained a popular after-dinner speaker.
He died at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow on 25 January 2022, at the age of 86.
abridged from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 13, 2024
Barry Cryer was one of the greats of British comedy, both as a performer and a writer. At the start of this book he points out that it isn't an autobiography. It kind of is though, albeit arranged as a series of anecdotes rather than a narrative thread.
It seems there were few people in the world of entertainment that Barry hadn't known or worked with, from the greats of the post-war variety era to more current figures. As you'd expect there are a lot of laughs to be had here, though many of them are in the footnotes which makes for a somewhat annoying Kindle experience as you're constantly switching back and forth.
The book also has that rare feature, a funny index.
It seems there were few people in the world of entertainment that Barry hadn't known or worked with, from the greats of the post-war variety era to more current figures. As you'd expect there are a lot of laughs to be had here, though many of them are in the footnotes which makes for a somewhat annoying Kindle experience as you're constantly switching back and forth.
The book also has that rare feature, a funny index.
May 2, 2022
A lovely little read from one of the genuine comedy greats (although more frequently behind the writing than in front of the audience). Having read bios and autobiographies of such acts as Peter Cook, Graham’s Chapman and the greatest of all Frankie Howerd, it was lovely reading Barry’s anecdotes about so many of them.
Despite his protestations, you could read this book by dipping in and out and picking up chapters about your favourite stars, shows and venues. That said, it’s only a short read and Cryer does do a bit of back-referencing.
As an aside, Barry’s asides (written as footnotes) are some of the best bits of the book.
Despite his protestations, you could read this book by dipping in and out and picking up chapters about your favourite stars, shows and venues. That said, it’s only a short read and Cryer does do a bit of back-referencing.
As an aside, Barry’s asides (written as footnotes) are some of the best bits of the book.
March 22, 2022
Dear old Bazza, the doyen of British comedians and comedy writers. Friend to just about everybody in the world of comedy from the newest standups to the seasoned old pros and to far more who once lit up the world and are no longer with us. (Barry was often the one asked to say a few fitting words in praise of the dearly departed. “An honorary uncle to countless comics” said Jack Dee. One of a thousand loving tributes to Barry when he died a few weeks ago.
If you are a fan then many of the anecdotes will be familiar to you but will probably make you laugh anyway. Just about everyone mentioned is something of a comedy hero or heroine to me; Linda Smith, Victoria Wood, Spike Milligan, Ricky Gervais, David Nobbs, Jeremy Hardy, Frankie Howerd, Peter Sellers, Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper, John Junkin, Humphrey Lyttleton, Kenny Everett, Peter Cook, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Ronnie Corbett, Alexei Sayle, Ronnie Barker, Eric Sykes, Benny Hill, Kenneth Williams, Tony Hancock, Bruce Forsyth, Peter Tinniswood, and on and on. He knew them all, was liked by them all and wrote for them all of with them all.
Thank you Barry. I saw you a few times when I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue came to Yorkshire and the East Midlands and I had tickets for Two Old Farts in the Night when Willie Rushton died. I’ll miss you but reading this book has been a chucklesome pleasure rather than a sadness. You brought a great deal of joy into the world and it will take a long time before that dissipates.
If you are a fan then many of the anecdotes will be familiar to you but will probably make you laugh anyway. Just about everyone mentioned is something of a comedy hero or heroine to me; Linda Smith, Victoria Wood, Spike Milligan, Ricky Gervais, David Nobbs, Jeremy Hardy, Frankie Howerd, Peter Sellers, Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper, John Junkin, Humphrey Lyttleton, Kenny Everett, Peter Cook, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Ronnie Corbett, Alexei Sayle, Ronnie Barker, Eric Sykes, Benny Hill, Kenneth Williams, Tony Hancock, Bruce Forsyth, Peter Tinniswood, and on and on. He knew them all, was liked by them all and wrote for them all of with them all.
Thank you Barry. I saw you a few times when I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue came to Yorkshire and the East Midlands and I had tickets for Two Old Farts in the Night when Willie Rushton died. I’ll miss you but reading this book has been a chucklesome pleasure rather than a sadness. You brought a great deal of joy into the world and it will take a long time before that dissipates.
August 1, 2024
He knows everyone!!!
Old Baz, love him. He has an anecdote about everyone in showbusiness from the 2nd half of the 20th century up to the time of this book being published.
Old school, yes. But very funny.
Old Baz, love him. He has an anecdote about everyone in showbusiness from the 2nd half of the 20th century up to the time of this book being published.
Old school, yes. But very funny.
November 15, 2019
Fantastic collection of reminiscences and tales from the world of show business. No one like him. I love Barry Took.
April 20, 2020
Very entertaining.
A good selection of anecdotes from the guy who wrote most of them. Best book of its kind since the last Roy Hudd book.
A good selection of anecdotes from the guy who wrote most of them. Best book of its kind since the last Roy Hudd book.
September 14, 2020
Has an honesty nestled in with the innumerable jokes
Cracks on at a great pace with stops to take a breath. Would've got 5 stars, but I'm writing this on a bus
Cracks on at a great pace with stops to take a breath. Would've got 5 stars, but I'm writing this on a bus
March 11, 2021
Just like Barry's previous two books, they're full of funny stories and anecdotes. There's quite a few references to Clue, Willie Rishton and Humph. A very entertaining read!
June 27, 2021
An entertaining read
A humorist book written light heartedly. A little insight to Barry cryers world. Would liked to have read more of his personnel life with his wife and family.
A humorist book written light heartedly. A little insight to Barry cryers world. Would liked to have read more of his personnel life with his wife and family.
October 27, 2021
A great read. Barry Cryer is a master of humour.
February 18, 2022
I loved this book and it gave me so many giggles.
March 4, 2022
Brilliant book with lots of anecdotes as you would expect!
October 13, 2022
Very amusing read
A very good read with lots of great stories of the many acts he worked and wrote for.
Written in an amusing way.
A very good read with lots of great stories of the many acts he worked and wrote for.
Written in an amusing way.
May 9, 2023
A loose collection of anecdotes. I can hear Barry telling each one. Bliss.
February 13, 2024
Really enjoyable book full of anecdotes from an absolute legend
August 26, 2025
I miss Barry.
Thanks for the laughs, Baz!
Thanks for the laughs, Baz!
April 27, 2016
I guess this was meant to be an autobiography and I guess there is a little bit of that but this book is composed mostly of opinions, stories and a lot of name dropping and anecdotes. I devoured this book in a couple of days and enjoyed it very much. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as I read a couple of paragraphs about Jimmy Savile but I guess, like most people, Cryer had no clue.... Many amusing stories, many amusing footnotes and several laugh-out loud moments, Barry Cryer is one of our national treasures, who is one of the lucky few who has made a living out of doing something he clearly loves.
January 4, 2018
Brilliant. Laid out like a set of short stories on different aspects of his life, with some serious stuff in amongst the humour. I read this in a couple of days and loved it !
May 18, 2015
Some wonderful anecdotes. John Lennon's cameo a particular favourite.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews