A sketch and variety series built around the versatile talents of comedian Alfred Marks.
Hosted by Alfred Marks, this programme served as a major television vehicle for the popular stage and screen performer. Each edition presented a fast-moving collection of comedy sketches, monologues, and musical numbers, with Marks taking on a variety of characters. He was supported by a regular company that included Paddie O’Neil, and the series featured a considerable roster of guest stars from British entertainment, including Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Greta Gynt, and Terry-Thomas. The format and episode lengths varied considerably over its run, from fifty-minute variety specials to shorter, more focused sketch shows.
A flagship light entertainment production for the Associated-Rediffusion network in its early years, this series was a prime example of the variety format that dominated 1950s television. Produced by the powerful impresario Jack Hylton, the programme drew on the traditions of the music hall and West End revue, adapting them for the small screen. The creative team was formidable, featuring scripts from a core group of writers like Dick Vosburgh and Brad Ashton, with contributions from others including Spike Milligan and Eric Merriman. It provided a key platform for Marks, a one-time resident comic at the Whitehall Theatre, cementing his status as a household name.
Broadcast: ITV – Associated-Rediffusion, 38 Episodes, 16 February 1956 – 10 May 1961
Writers include: Dick Vosburgh, Brad Ashton, Barry Pevan, Eric Merriman, Barry Took
Directors include: Douglas Hurn, Michael Westmore
Producer: Douglas Hurn
Main Cast: Alfred Marks
With: Paddie O’Neil, Ray Ellington, Lucille Mapp, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Terry-Thomas, Greta Gynt, Petula Clark, Max Bygraves, Bernard Bresslaw
