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The Masters of Sitcom Paperback Christopher Stevens
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.
- GenresHumor
Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
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About the author
Christopher Stevens
68 books11 followersChristopher Stevens is a widely published writer and journalist. His biography of Kenneth Williams, Born Brilliant, was abridged as a Radio Four Book of the Week, and shortlisted for the Sheridan Morley Theatre Biography prize. His celebration of the fathers of classic sitcom, Galton & Simpson, was launched at the National Theatre on London's South Bank and led to the premiere performance of a lost comedy masterpiece, The Day Off, which he discovered.
His memoir, A Real Boy, was hailed as "incredibly moving" by the Sun. For the past 15 years, Christopher Stevens has been a senior sub-editor at the Observer, Britain's oldest and most respected Sunday newspaper. He has also written for newspapers and magazines from Hello! to the Telegraph, and been interviewed more than 50 times for television and radio about his books, including keynote appearances on NPR and CNN. - from book bio.
His memoir, A Real Boy, was hailed as "incredibly moving" by the Sun. For the past 15 years, Christopher Stevens has been a senior sub-editor at the Observer, Britain's oldest and most respected Sunday newspaper. He has also written for newspapers and magazines from Hello! to the Telegraph, and been interviewed more than 50 times for television and radio about his books, including keynote appearances on NPR and CNN. - from book bio.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 5, 2018
The author argues that Galton and Simpson were not just “Masters of Sitcom” but that they invented (or at least re-invented) sitcom. When they first started writing, British comedy required a straight man to provide a set-up and a funny man to deliver the punchline. Galton and Simpson, along with Hancock, set out to change that.
As they did so, the author argues they changed the face of comedy and traces a direct line from Steptoe And Son to The Royale Family. Whether you buy into that thesis or not (and I'm inclined to give some of the credit to people like Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes) the real strength of this book is in the quotes from Galton and Simpson scripts. More than half the book is straight Galton and Simpson and that alone makes it worth a four star review.
I liked the insights given into their writing process. For example, on what is probably Hancock’s most famous line:
It is imprecisely precise… and that’s why it’s funny. What’s missing though is much of an insight into the relationship with their actors… for example, with Hancock. Clearly a man with mental health issues and yet rather than help him, they seemed to pick at the wound. Given his insecurities, it seems a bit of an omission to reproduce the following without comment:
Hmm! Insensitive? Ignorant? Evil? I can’t help but feel it was just plain nasty yet the author offers no comment.
In Hancock’s Half Hour, though, there would be no joke-telling, punchlines or music-hall patter. The writers were intent on getting rid of catchphrases, songs, running gags, musical interludes and sketches. This was a type of comedy as radical as the realist theatre that would sweep the English stage in the late fifties: natural, honest and unflinching.
As they did so, the author argues they changed the face of comedy and traces a direct line from Steptoe And Son to The Royale Family. Whether you buy into that thesis or not (and I'm inclined to give some of the credit to people like Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes) the real strength of this book is in the quotes from Galton and Simpson scripts. More than half the book is straight Galton and Simpson and that alone makes it worth a four star review.
I liked the insights given into their writing process. For example, on what is probably Hancock’s most famous line:
“A pint... that’s very nearly an armful!” It started off as, “A pint... that’s an armful!” and then one of us said, “Nearly an armful,” and the other one said, “Very nearly an armful.” It’s funnier, because it’s more precise.
It is imprecisely precise… and that’s why it’s funny. What’s missing though is much of an insight into the relationship with their actors… for example, with Hancock. Clearly a man with mental health issues and yet rather than help him, they seemed to pick at the wound. Given his insecurities, it seems a bit of an omission to reproduce the following without comment:
HANCOCK: I’ve been living a lie. (Dramatic) Geraldine, I have never said a funny thing in my life.
GERALDINE: When do we get to the lie?
TONY: All those funny things you hear me say aren’t me at all. I employ a ventriloquist. He stands off stage thinking up funny jokes while I stand here opening me mouth. (Emotional) Yes, Hancock the funny man is nothing but a great big dummy.
GERALDINE: When do we get to the lie?
Hmm! Insensitive? Ignorant? Evil? I can’t help but feel it was just plain nasty yet the author offers no comment.
December 3, 2019
I am huge tony Hancock fan and have met gallstone and Simpson a couple of times at events and always found them great blokes. The book gave me a lot of insight into the guys and the brilliant work they have done. It’s remarkable to hear how they got into the game and how they made their mark on the BBC and the world. It’s a remarkable story and well worth a read.
July 31, 2020
Well worth a read if you're a fan of these writers. This books is split between the writers giving a history/background on the pair and how they came to fame, mixed with script snippets from some of their best work. A joy to read.
October 15, 2018
See the review from my school account: Review: The Masters of Sitcom: From Hancock to Steptoe.
May 5, 2021
Very entertaining and plenty of “ new” anecdotes.
Enjoyed the book a lot. Not as reliant on other biographies as is often the case for stories and kept my attention until the end.
Enjoyed the book a lot. Not as reliant on other biographies as is often the case for stories and kept my attention until the end.
June 4, 2021
Excellent coverage of their work with many excerpts from scripts to highlight the innovation and creativity they brought to comedy.
March 6, 2012
What you get in this book is a celebration of Galton and Simpson's work. The layout includes snippets of biographical information or anecdotes followed by extracts of scripts from throughout their career - from Hancock through to Steptoe.
And the scripts, even in written form, are funny - particularly early on.
As someone who would like to write comedy too it was interesting to hear that they agonised over each line making sure it was absolutely right before committing it to the page. For them it was turn of phrase that was important, not just jokes.
My only gripe though is the end is rather condensed. After faithfully reproducing extracts from many of Galton and Simpson's early works through to the fourth series of Steptoe their work after that, and indeed the reasons for quitting scriptwriting, are given next to no coverage. I guess this may have been due to deadlines but overall I very much enjoyed this book.
And the scripts, even in written form, are funny - particularly early on.
As someone who would like to write comedy too it was interesting to hear that they agonised over each line making sure it was absolutely right before committing it to the page. For them it was turn of phrase that was important, not just jokes.
My only gripe though is the end is rather condensed. After faithfully reproducing extracts from many of Galton and Simpson's early works through to the fourth series of Steptoe their work after that, and indeed the reasons for quitting scriptwriting, are given next to no coverage. I guess this may have been due to deadlines but overall I very much enjoyed this book.
March 6, 2012
What you get in this book is a celebration of Galton and Simpson's work. The layout includes snippets of biographical information or anecdotes followed by extracts of scripts from throughout their career - from Hancock through to Steptoe.
And the scripts, even in written form, are funny - particularly early on.
As someone who would like to write comedy too it was interesting to hear that they agonised over each line making sure it was absolutely right before committing it to the page. For them it was turn of phrase that was important, not just jokes.
My only gripe though is the end is rather condensed. After faithfully reproducing extracts from many of Galton and Simpson's early works through to the fourth series of Steptoe their work after that, and indeed the reasons for quitting scriptwriting, are given next to no coverage. I guess this may have been due to deadlines but overall I very much enjoyed this book.
And the scripts, even in written form, are funny - particularly early on.
As someone who would like to write comedy too it was interesting to hear that they agonised over each line making sure it was absolutely right before committing it to the page. For them it was turn of phrase that was important, not just jokes.
My only gripe though is the end is rather condensed. After faithfully reproducing extracts from many of Galton and Simpson's early works through to the fourth series of Steptoe their work after that, and indeed the reasons for quitting scriptwriting, are given next to no coverage. I guess this may have been due to deadlines but overall I very much enjoyed this book.
October 13, 2014
Wonderful stuff. And these *really* are the masters of sitcom. Craftsmen at work.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews