John Thomson's character to showcase stand-up greats

John Thomson is to revive his club comedian character Bernard Righton for a new TV series about stand-up greats.

UKTV’s Gold channel has commissioned a six-part series titled Legends of Stand-Up & Bernard Righton, featuring archive footage interspersed with Righton’s material.

Comics to be featured include Victoria Wood, Frankie Howerd, Morecambe & Wise, Joan Rivers, Tommy Cooper, Jim Carrey and Woody Allen.

Commissioning editor Iain Coyle said: ‘This is the perfect format, the very best of classic stand-up, hosted by one of my favourite ever comedy creations. I’ve genuinely been crying laughing in the meetings for this show, I might have to be restrained when I watch it on the telly.’

Fast Show and Coronation Street star Thomson created Righton early in his career as a politically-correct answer to working men’s club comedians. The character appeared alongside Steve Coogan in the 1992 Edinburgh Fringe show that won them the Perrier Award.

Thomson has written the new Gold show with John Quinn, Nigel Alred, Willy Norton and Mike Williams, who is producer and director for North One Television.

The company previously made Ross Noble: Freewheeling, The Two Ronnies’ Spectacle and Bring Me Morecambe & Wise for UKTV.

Published: 25 Jun 2015