Michael Parkinson interviews comedian and presenter Larry Grayson on his chat show. The other guests are fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, and television presenter Russell Harty.
Benny Hill called Grayson "First Thug" in a Bill credits parody but i've never heard Grayson bitch about Benny in public so i guess it was all done in cliquey circles away from the medias eye.
My belovéd Mum died suddenly on 5 April 2023. Subsequently, I have laughed very little, and I have been only what I can describe as 'down.' Watching this interview with Larry has been the first time in nearly a year, I have had a few 'belly laughs', genuinely.....May his pure soul rest in eternal peace, and thank you
My condolences, I know what it's like to lose a mother suddenly. I'm glad the video cheered you up, if only for a brief period. Hope you feel a bit brighter soon, just give it time. All the best to you 👍
I never thought Larry Grayson's act was a particularly strong one, but I liked him very much all the same because he was warm, gentle and witty - and it was clear audiences adored him. The comedian Ken Dodd, who privately took an almost academic interest in comedy acts summed up Larry Grayson, saying "He loved everybody and he wanted them to love him in return and yes, they did, they all loved Larry"
I was wondering the same thing. Dame Edna, Danny La Rue, Hinge & Bracket - all wonderful performers. But then again, did any of these performers exist in 1978? Oh dear. Am I getting my decades mixed up? 😆
@@shirleysavoury5638Danny La Rue for sure, he was the first big star. Dame Edna technically, but may not have become famous by then (his (quite different) Australian housewife act began in the late 1960s), Hinge and Bracket may well have been around also, I certainly remember them in the 1980s.
Loved all of Larry’s imaginary friends. Brilliantly developed so that the audience actually cared about Apricot Lil, slack Alice etc. Original and highly entertaining.
Lovely man, shame to hear Kenny Williams thought Larry got everything from him, I see very little comparison, the campness and the disapproving side looks maybe but the similarity pretty much ends there, his late success in life should be an inspiration to all
Kenneth always said that he hated the camp stuff. He saw himself as a serious actor but it was the camp stuff that made him famous and was what people liked to see him do. It was one of the reasons he left the Hancock show, apart from Hancock not wanting to be outshone by someone else. :They always wanted him to play what they called the 'snide'. Larry didn't copy Kenneth at all in my view.
Kenny was very prone to jealousy, unfortunately. The truth is that Kenny could never have been as warm and friendly as Larry. There was always a distance between him and the audience, even a snootiness (which he used brilliantly, of course). Larry's informal, chatty style was much more like Frankie Howerd's.
Fantastic mental pictures of obscure beginnings and people and situations that he paints, a brilliant and humble man that nevertheless shines like the brightest star , fabulous memories of seeing him as a lad, feels like an old friend RiP Sir!
my aunt had a lift from him yests ago , she did some shopping and was at the bus dtop it was raining snd he pulked up sat in the back of his Rolls sead get in love i live near you ill pop you up the road 😂 and she had a lift home 😂😂
Opposite to his friend Noele Gordon who in her rolls drove past her co star Pamela Vezey (Kath Brownlow) stood in the pouring rain at the bus stop, telling the 'Crossroads ' director "Alan darling, I think Pamela is going to be rather late this morning, I've just passed her at the bus stop"😂
Hard to believe this was quite outrageous in 1978 - in a lovely way, though (there was nowhere near as much bigotry - or racism for that matter - as people seem to want to believe these days). Now, this just seems utterly delightful. Larry and Russell are a polished hoot.
Poor Russell, he was a really shy man in real life, he looked really awkward. Larry amazing as usual. Rest in peace Larry, Russell and Micheal. I don’t know the woman.
Great video! Russell Harty, as we now know, was a gay man. Was his almost outing himself in this interview? Parky pressed him on the issue and Russell was back tracking immensely!
Benny Hill called Grayson "First Thug" in a Bill credits parody but i've never heard Grayson bitch about Benny in public so i guess it was all done in cliquey circles away from the medias eye.
Unprecedented, unique, unequalled. Never to be repeated. He was truly a one off. RIP Larry Grayson. We shall never forget you.
indeed, a wonderful man, loved him in the 70s, top man
Such a character, and I’m sure if you met him in the street, he would have been most friendly! Lovely man 🙂
Benny Hill called Grayson "First Thug" in a Bill credits parody but i've never heard Grayson bitch about Benny in public so i guess it was all done in cliquey circles away from the medias eye.
A magnificently warm, funny and totally loveable man. I grew up in the 70's with this superb man.
Agreed a genuine man
Shut that door!
This is wonderful. What an absolute entertainer. We have nothing today that comes close. All the best.
Saw Larry once open a fete at a local hospital.. He was very funny and pleasant to everyone. A real celebrity.
Lovely lovely man. I miss our Larry. Thanks for posting 😊
Billy was a genuinely lovely man and very funny
God bless Larry he was truly unique and missed greatly.
I’m from Nuneaton, and Larry was a family friend of ours, he was so kind and generous, great memories 👍
This made me smile, just lovely, warm comedy.
Wonderful! Never get bored of Larry
His warmth could take a lot of the hate out of the world. I'm glad I grew up with this. I'd forgotten how it was.
Truly a unique talent of his time, from a better, kinder time where real charisma shone through. Gentle, warm, generous - greatly missed
Could listen to his old showbiz stories for ever, used to love him as a kid on the generation game rip
The funniest gay comedian / presenter of all time.A complete one off.
Thanks for posting this of dear Larry, it's a real tonic. 😂
Absolutely loved watching such a funny guy
A very funny and genuine man
He was great. Nobody has this kind of natural style anymore. People try too hard.
lol still laughing out loud after all these years lol
Very interesting views on drag at the end - extraordinary talent
My belovéd Mum died suddenly on 5 April 2023. Subsequently, I have laughed very little, and I have been only what I can describe as 'down.' Watching this interview with Larry has been the first time in nearly a year, I have had a few 'belly laughs', genuinely.....May his pure soul rest in eternal peace, and thank you
My condolences, I know what it's like to lose a mother suddenly. I'm glad the video cheered you up, if only for a brief period. Hope you feel a bit brighter soon, just give it time. All the best to you 👍
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. I trust you are well and thanks for a superb upload, from Northern Ireland 👍@@JuggiesArchive
A one-off. He always seemed so nervous on stage and sweated profusely. But that's what made the act so funny.
I never thought Larry Grayson's act was a particularly strong one, but I liked him very much all the same because he was warm, gentle and witty - and it was clear audiences adored him. The comedian Ken Dodd, who privately took an almost academic interest in comedy acts summed up Larry Grayson, saying "He loved everybody and he wanted them to love him in return and yes, they did, they all loved Larry"
I understand where you’re coming from, however, when he was at his best Larry was so funny he could bring the house down with laughter.
What an absolutely charming man.
A very beautiful soul rest in peace Larry 🌹
Sadly I very much doubt that!
A very funny and genuine man
Parkinson saying he didn't like drag is interesting. The mileage he had out of Dame Edna is immeasurable.
I was wondering the same thing. Dame Edna, Danny La Rue, Hinge & Bracket - all wonderful performers.
But then again, did any of these performers exist in 1978?
Oh dear. Am I getting my decades mixed up?
😆
@@shirleysavoury5638Danny La Rue for sure, he was the first big star. Dame Edna technically, but may not have become famous by then (his (quite different) Australian housewife act began in the late 1960s), Hinge and Bracket may well have been around also, I certainly remember them in the 1980s.
@@jamesthecat Arthur Lucan as Old mother Riley come to mind,, in films through the 1930's to early 195'0s. Essentially an early drag act.
He was such a great character to have on the telly. Great fellow.
It may seem old hat to some but Larry Grayson was a natural talent, that is rare today. Loved him.
Loved all of Larry’s imaginary friends. Brilliantly developed so that the audience actually cared about Apricot Lil, slack Alice etc. Original and highly entertaining.
Could watch and listen to Larry for hours. Great man
Wonderful thank you for posting this
Pure tv gold.😂
Aww.. I loved Larry.. How lovely to watch this 😊.. So funny
Thanks for posting, a time long gone a trip down memory lane.
Lovely man, shame to hear Kenny Williams thought Larry got everything from him, I see very little comparison, the campness and the disapproving side looks maybe but the similarity pretty much ends there, his late success in life should be an inspiration to all
Kenneth always said that he hated the camp stuff. He saw himself as a serious actor but it was the camp stuff that made him famous and was what people liked to see him do. It was one of the reasons he left the Hancock show, apart from Hancock not wanting to be outshone by someone else. :They always wanted him to play what they called the 'snide'. Larry didn't copy Kenneth at all in my view.
I agree i see nothing in common, Totally different people and humour
Kenny was very prone to jealousy, unfortunately. The truth is that Kenny could never have been as warm and friendly as Larry. There was always a distance between him and the audience, even a snootiness (which he used brilliantly, of course). Larry's informal, chatty style was much more like Frankie Howerd's.
Looks like the lighting crew were on strike....
"Seems like a nice boy".
Fantastic mental pictures of obscure beginnings and people and situations that he paints, a brilliant and humble man that nevertheless shines like the brightest star , fabulous memories of seeing him as a lad, feels like an old friend RiP Sir!
Shut that door! My Nan loved Larry. I think he was hilariously cool to.
He was a lovely lovely kind gentleman and so generous.
Shut that door 😅
My fav saying of his 😂😂
Larry Grayson great entertainer a complete one of
my aunt had a lift from him yests ago , she did some shopping and was at the bus dtop it was raining snd he pulked up sat in the back of his Rolls sead get in love i live near you ill pop you up the road 😂 and she had a lift home 😂😂
Opposite to his friend Noele Gordon who in her rolls drove past her co star Pamela Vezey (Kath Brownlow) stood in the pouring rain at the bus stop, telling the 'Crossroads ' director "Alan darling, I think Pamela is going to be rather late this morning, I've just passed her at the bus stop"😂
This guy was brilliant I bet he was wonderful company to be in...Sadly missed RIP Larry
So nice. You'll make it one day. 😇
Hard to believe this was quite outrageous in 1978 - in a lovely way, though (there was nowhere near as much bigotry - or racism for that matter - as people seem to want to believe these days).
Now, this just seems utterly delightful. Larry and Russell are a polished hoot.
Poor Russell, he was a really shy man in real life, he looked really awkward. Larry amazing as usual. Rest in peace Larry, Russell and Micheal. I don’t know the woman.
An overnight sensation only took 35 years or so!!!!!!
He lived in Nuneaton and I often saw him in Barclays bank, his sister was my midwife
Zandra Rhodes was 🔥
I never realised til watching this how much he reminds me of frank spencer
An era that is gone but not forgotten
Larry was such a warm funny genuine man.
Back in the day when tv entertainers did that old fashioned thing that is no longer seen on tv these days think its called ''Entertain''
Thank you so much for uploading this.
Thank you for watching! 👍👌😁
He was right about surgical stockings 😅
The two ronnies in drag always made me laugh..
....can't belive the BBC let him go out to roost ....a humorous natural! ...he didn't have to speak to get a laugh ❤❤
Fantastic
Great video!
Russell Harty, as we now know, was a gay man. Was his almost outing himself in this interview? Parky pressed him on the issue and Russell was back tracking immensely!
totally different time,people in general had private lives.
and they remained private.
I think Larry knew or suspected Harty was gay (homosexual intuition?) Larry is teasing, possibly flirting with Harty.
Happy Times. Great talent's.
Dear Larry.
Shut that door......
A great catchphrase still said amongst those of a certain age 😊
Self raising Fred 😅😅
And "pop it in Pete" 😄
Legend xxx
Didn’t realise Nigel Farage was that funny.
Don’t make them like that anymore 😢
All we get today is endless profanities and overt anatomy humour (?).
Larry could do a lot of that too, but cleverly using innuendo. When he was live in the clubs though a lot of his content wouldn't be broadcastable.
Didn’t realize he was from Nuneaton, now I know why he sounds like my Auntie Maude
Anybody remember Hinge and Bracket?
Russell Hart is not comfortable at all with some of Larry';s comments.
Seems like a nice boy
Funny bloke
Hahaha!! This man is quite plainly a homosexual!! Outrageous!!! (Just kidding - I bloody Love Larry G!!) 😂❤
❤😂🎉
😊
❤🎉😂
Benny Hill called Grayson "First Thug" in a Bill credits parody but i've never heard Grayson bitch about Benny in public so i guess it was all done in cliquey circles away from the medias eye.
👍
Was he gay
very.
Aren't all the best people.
He was just happy.
@@mikeoleary1723 He was gay and happy and rightly so.
As today.
Unprecedented, unique, unequalled. Never to be repeated. He was truly a one off. RIP Larry Grayson. We shall never forget you.