Count Arthur Strong

[gripper stebson]

...sitcom starts tonight on BBC2.

The radio shows are great. Hopefully the sitcom will do it justice.

Give it a go people.

 

[Buzzer]

Raconteur, after dinner speaker and twice runner up in 1968/69.....

Comedy legend. The funniest radio ahow by a mile.

 

[Manx Shearwater]

He's been appearing at Komedia for donkey's years (The Radio 4 shows are recorded there, seen quite a few of those too), first saw him in the early naughties doing his presentation about Egypt. Mind-numbingly funny!

Seen pretty much all his live shows since. Can't wait for tonight's TV debut.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Very much looking forward to this. I've seen the live shows and he has been hilarious every time.

 

[Acker79]

The adverts do not excite me.

 

[piersa]

Never heard of him, will give it a go.

 

[Manx Shearwater]

He's a bit like comedy marmite.

I took a load of friends to one of his shows at Komedia many moons ago and while me and the missus (and most of the audience) roared with laughter, they sat blank faced for the whole show and didn't understand what everyone was laughing at! Apparently he's had similar responses to his Radio 4 show.

 

[gripper stebson]

[yt]EwJzgJd5KhU[/yt]

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Looking forward to watching. The radio programmes are all about words. It may be difficult to translate the format into TV comedy, where watching the action becomes a requirement. Perhaps a 'red button' option of Sound Only could be offered?

 

[Codner pharmaceuticals]

I really don't get this at all. It ruins my drive home when it comes on the radio.
The whole premise seems to be saying words incorrectly.

This I find most unassuming (get it?).

Up there with Simon Day comedies for the last funny awards. ..

 

[Buzzer]

Malapropisms are a huge part of his act but he's that classic British comedy mainstay - the little man with a grossly inflated opinion of himself, a bore, a bully, incompetent, forever misunderstanding situations and perennial loser. Captain Manwaring, David Brent, Partridge, Hancock, Basil Fawlty, Blackadder, Victor Meldrew, Harold Steptoe, Rigsby even right back to Diary of a Nobody's Charles Pooter from the 1800s...it's a formula that seems to work.

I hadn't appreciated that he might be a bit marmite. I think he's hilarious but I guess it's a subjective thing. I worry that if it doesn't work onscreen that people might think he's rubbish because he does seem suited to radio where your own imagination fills in the blanks.

 

[beardy gull]

Graham Linehan (Father Ted,Big Train,Black Books,I.T. Crowd) is involved so I'm in.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Just got back from a few days in Spain and all sorts of things happening including this little potential gem. Love the live act and radio show. Fingers firmly crossed for the tv version.

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

The trailers made me think I'd somehow gone back to the 70's, so was instantly put off, but if Graham Linehan's involved and @Buzzer gives it the nod, then I'll happily give it a go.

 

[half time scores]

E = mc.........hammer

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

Gave it 15 minutes and personally I think it's shite.

Whatever made it funny on the radio/as stand up doesn't work on the tellybox.

 

[El Sid]

Quite enjoyed that.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I got a few laughs out of it. Light hearted comedy I'll watch again.

 

[Brovion]

Sort-of laughed a few times but eventually got bored and turned over to Modern Family on Sky One. Couldn't quite shake off the feeling that Arthur is the sort of character that came out of Harry Enfield's reject pile.

 

[Manx Shearwater]

I quite liked it. It certainly had it's moments, and its a bit daft and I like that sort of thing.