The Laughter Show
The Laughter Show was a BBC comedy sketch show, which featured Dustin Gee and Les Dennis, from 1984 to 1986 and then just featuring Dennis until 1991.
| The Laughter Show | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Dustin Gee and Les Dennis |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 8 |
| No. of episodes | 51 (including. 3 Christmas specials) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 7 April 1984 – 27 July 1991 |
History
Dustin Gee and Les Dennis, both started their TV careers on Who Do You Do in 1975, where they formed their partnership.[1] The pair went on to appear on stage and TV including The Russ Abbot Madhouse. In 1984, BBC 1 gave the pair their own show The Laughter Show, whilst continuing to work on The Russ Abbot Madhouse.
This was the show that included their most notable impression, as Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth in two-handers with Mavis Riley (played by Les Dennis).
On 3 January 1986 Dustin Gee died,[2] shortly before transmission of the third series (which had already been recorded) was due to start. The series continued with Les Dennis, retitled The Les Dennis Laughter Show, until 1991.
Series
1984
- Episode 1–7 April
- Episode 2–14 April
- Episode 3–21 April
- Episode 4–28 April
1985
- Episode 1–16 February
- Episode 2–23 February
- Episode 3–2 March
- Episode 4–9 March
- Episode 5–16 March
- Episode 6–23 March
1986
- Episode 1–28 December 1985; Christmas Special
- Episode 2–18 January
- Episode 3–25 January
- Episode 4–1 February
- Episode 5–8 February
- Episode 6–15 February
- Episode 7–22 February
1987
- Episode 1–13 June
- Episode 2–20 June
- Episode 3–27 June
- Episode 4–4 July
- Episode 5–11 July
- Episode 6–18 July
1988
- Episode 1–28 May
- Episode 2–4 June
- Episode 3–11 June
- Episode 4–18 June
- Episode 5–25 June
- Episode 6–2 July
- Episode 7–9 July
- Episode 8–16 July
- 1988 Christmas special-27 December
1989
- Episode 1–10 June
- Episode 2–17 June
- Episode 3–24 June
- Episode 4–1 July
- Episode 5–8 July
- Episode 6–15 July
- 1989 Christmas Special - 23 December
1990
- Episode 1–9 June
- Episode 2–16 June
- Episode 3–23 June
- Episode 4–30 June
- Episode 5–14 July
- Episode 6–21 July
- 1990 Christmas Special - 22 December
1991
- Episode 1–22 June
- Episode 2–29 June
- Episode 3–6 July
- Episode 4–13 July
- Episode 5–20 July
- Episode 6–27 July
References
- Dustin Gee. The Times (London, England), Monday, January 6, 1986; p. 12
- Glasgow Herald 4 Jan 1986 p4 " Comedian Dies after Collapsing at theatre