In this light entertainment series, comedian and musician Richard Digance presents a mix of songs, stand-up comedy, and guest performances.
Hosted by Richard Digance, this variety show served as a vehicle for his brand of anecdotal humour and original music. Each episode was built around Digance’s monologues and songs, with the host often interacting directly with the studio audience. The format was augmented by a selection of guest acts, which ranged from musical performers like Status Quo and The Fabulous Singlettes to character comedians such as Doon Mackichan and Steve Rawlings.
Presented as a modern form of music hall, the programme was tailored to Richard Digance’s established stage persona: a witty, observational storyteller. The title, a portmanteau of “Abracadabra” and the host’s surname, signalled the show’s personality-driven and slightly eccentric nature. Digance himself was the principal writer for the series, ensuring the material remained rooted in his distinctive comic voice. The production was a straightforward showcase for an entertainer at the peak of his popular appeal, blending the intimacy of a folk club performance with the gloss of a mainstream television variety show.
Broadcast: LWT, 4 Episodes, 27 August 1988 – 7 April 1990
Written by: Richard Digance, Paul Minett, Brian Leveson, Alan Wightman
Director: John Kaye Cooper
Producer: John Kaye Cooper
Theme Music: Alan Parker
Main Cast: Richard Digance (Host)
