Legendary producer and director Sydney Lotterby dies at 93 | Credits include Porridge, Yes Minister and so much more

Legendary producer and director Sydney Lotterby dies at 93

Credits include Porridge, Yes Minister and so much more

Legendary comedy producer and director Sydney Lotterby has died at the age of 93.

His credits over a 50-year career include some of the most-loved British shows, including Yes, Prime Minister; Porridge’ Ever Decreasing Circles; Brush Strokes; Open All Hours; Butterflies, Ripping Yarns; Some Mothers Do 'Ave ‘Em; The Liver Birds; Up Pompeii! and Three Of A Kind.

BBC director-eneral Lord Tony Hall said: ‘Sydney Lotterby wasn’t just part of the golden age of British comedy – he made many of the shows that stand out as real icons of the period. Sydney also produced Open All Hours among his roster of hit comedy shows. He will be hugely missed by many. Sydney leaves behind a true legacy of laughter.’

He joined the BBC’s entertainment department in 1958 and in 1963 became a producer with Sykes and A… and his last credit was the 2005 comeback special of the  Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer sitcom As Time Goes By.

John Cleese even wrote a sketch in Python precursor At Last The 1948 Show in which four identical men were all called Sydney Lotterby simply because he liked the name:

He  won four Baftas comedy and in 1994 was appointed OBE.

Published: 30 Jul 2020

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