Humphrey Barclay (Producer)

Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus

Discover how six seemingly ordinary but supremely talented men became Monty Python, sketch comedy's inspired group of lunatics who turned such unlikely sources of inspiration as Spam, dead parrots and the Inquisition into enduring punch lines. This entertaining documentary includes interviews with members of the troupe, as well as home movies, photos and rare recordings from Monty Python's early years.

Release Date2008-07-01

Charactersd Self

Vote Count3

Desmond's

Desmond's was a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. With 71 episodes, Desmond's became Channel 4's longest-running sitcom. The first series was shot in 1988, with the first episode broadcast in January 1989. The show was made in and set in Peckham, London, England and featured a predominantly Black British Guyanese cast. Conceived and co-written by Trix Worrell, and produced by Charlie Hanson and Humphrey Barclay, this series starred Norman Beaton as barber Desmond Ambrose. Desmond's shop was a gathering place for an assortment of local characters.

Release Date1989-01-05

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count71

Vote Count13

Do Not Adjust Your Set

Innovative and influential, and originally envisaged as children’s show, Do Not Adjust Your Set was a madcap early-evening comedy sketch show that quickly acquired a cult following with Swinging Sixties adults, who rushed home from work to see it. Written by and starring Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, with great performances and additional material by David Jason and Denise Coffey, it also provided an early showcase for the hilarious animations of Terry Gilliam, and the brilliantly bizarre musical antics of the legendary Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

Release Date1967-12-26

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count29

Vote Count8

Spaced

Spaced: the anti-Friends, in that it examines the lives of common 20 somethings, but in a way that is more down to earth and realistic. Here we have Daisy and Tim; two 'young' adults with big dreams just trying to get by in this crazy world. They are thrown together in a common pursuit of tenancy, which they find by posing as a couple. The house has a landlady and an oddball artist living there. The series explores the ins and outs of London living.

Release Date1999-09-24

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count14

Vote Count457

Surgical Spirit

Surgical spirit is a British situation-comedy television series starring Nichola McAuliffe and Duncan Preston that was broadcast from 14 April 1989 through to 7 July 1995. It was written by Annie Bruce, Raymond Dixon, Graeme Garden, Peter Learmouth, Paul McKenzie and Annie Wood. It was made for the ITV network by Humphrey Barclay Productions for Granada Television.

Release Date1989-04-14

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count50

Vote Count3

All About Me

All About Me is a British television sitcom starring Jasper Carrott about a multicultural family living in Birmingham. It was broadcast on BBC One from 2002 to 2004. All About Me was created by Steve Knight, who also wrote many of the early episodes.

Release Date2002-03-08

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count22

Two's Company

Two's Company is a British television situation comedy series that ran from 1975-79. Produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV Network, the programme starred Elaine Stritch and Donald Sinden.

Release Date1975-09-06

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Episode Count22

Vote Count4

Me and My Girl

A British television situation comedy broadcast on ITV between 1984 and 1988 starring Richard O'Sullivan, which centred on the challenges faced by a widower raising his adolescent daughter.

Release Date1984-08-31

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count52

Vote Count3

Metal Mickey

Scientific whizkid Ken Wilberforce thought a robot would be a help around the house, so he built Metal Mickey. But someone interferes - and deep within Mickey's electronic innards, something stirs...

Release Date1980-09-06

DepartmentCreator

JobCreator

Vote Count5

Whoops Apocalypse

Whoops Apocalypse is a six-part 1982 British sitcom by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick, made by London Weekend Television for ITV. Marshall and Renwick later reworked the concept as a 1986 film of the same name from ITC Entertainment, with almost completely different characters and plot, although one or two of the original actors returned in different roles. The series has a big cult audience, and copies of videos are heavily sought after. The British budget label Channel 5 Video released a compilation cassette of all six episodes edited together into one 137-minute chunk in 1987. In 2010 Network DVD released both the complete, unedited series and the movie on a 2-DVD set entitled Whoops Apocalypse: The Complete Apocalypse.. John Otway also recorded a song called "Whoops Apocalypse", which was used as the theme song for the film. He occasionally performs it live.

Release Date1982-03-14

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count6

Vote Count9

Hot Metal

Hot metal is a London Weekend Television sitcom about the British Newspaper industry broadcast between 1986 and 1988. The daily crucible, the dullest newspaper in Fleet Street, is suddenly taken over by media magnate Terence "Twiggy" Rathbone. Its editor Harry Stringer is 'promoted' to managing editor, and is replaced in his old job by Russell Spam. Spam then takes the paper shooting downmarket and turns the crucible into a sensation seeking scandal rag, very much in the style of the British tabloids of the 1980s. He is helped along by his ace gutter journalist, Greg Kettle, who intimidates his tabloid victims by claiming to be "a representative of Her Majesty's press" and produces stories such as accusing a vicar of being a werewolf. Throughout the first series, a running plot involved cub reporter Bill Tytla gradually uncovering an actual newsworthy story that went to the very heart of government. Written by David Renwick and Andrew Marshall, it is very much a continuation in style from their previous sitcom Whoops Apocalypse!. It was produced by Humphrey Barclay.

Release Date1986-02-16

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count13

Vote Count6

The Complete and Utter History of Britain

The Complete And Utter History Of Britain was a 1969 television comedy sketch show. It was created and written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones between the two series of Do Not Adjust Your Set. It was produced for and broadcast by London Weekend Television but was not shown in other ITV regions. The idea was to replay history as if television had been around at the time. Sketches included interviews with the vital characters in the dressing-room after the Battle of Hastings, Samuel Pepys presenting a TV chat-show and an estate agent trying to sell Stonehenge to a young couple looking for their first home. Seven programmes were written and produced, but LWT amalgamated the first two episodes into a single "stronger" episode, resulting in a six-part series. For many years the entire series was believed to have been wiped. However, copies of the first two episodes have now been found, as have the complete first two episodes as produced. As of June 2008, none are known to have been repeated on television or released on DVD. Terry Jones has expressed dissatisfaction with the show, complaining after a showing of surviving episodes that the pacing was off and the soundtrack all wrong.

Release Date1969-01-12

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count6

Vote Count5

Porkpie

Porkpie was a British sitcom on Channel 4 television starring Ram John Holder as Augustus "Porkpie" Grant. It was a spinoff from Desmond's. Porkpie kept several key characters from Desmond's and in the first episode Grant was seen standing outside the barbershop Desmond used to run, saying: "Desmond, since you died it hasn't stopped raining. I know how much you used to say it can rain in England, and it's true. Must be one of two things: either a thousand angels weeping for you, or you having a good drink up in heaven and you spilling it all over the place."

Release Date1995-11-13

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count12

Vote Count2

No, Honestly

No, Honestly is a British sitcom that was originally produced in 1974. No, Honestly featured the real-life married couple of Pauline Collins and John Alderton respectively as Clara and Charles Danby, a newlywed couple living in London. The character of Clara was a ditzy dreamer who hoped to write books for children. Charles Danby by contrast was a struggling actor with a more serious streak. At the start of each episode, the couple appeared in front of an audience telling stories about their first meeting, courtship and life as newlyweds. The entire programme, therefore, was a series of flashbacks as the couple recounted the earlier days of their romance. Filled with witty and sparkling banter, the episodes featured comic situations ranging from problems with mistaken identity to decorating and makeover mishaps. In homage to George Burns and Gracie Allen, CD would end each episode with the phrase "Say goodnight, Clara." The series is based on the novels Coronet Among the Weeds and Coronet Among the Grass written by Charlotte Bingham, who was co-creator of the TV series with her husband Terence Brady. The theme song for No, Honestly was written and performed by Lynsey De Paul. It peaked on the UK charts at number 7.

Release Date1974-10-04

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count13

Vote Count2

Blind Men

Release Date1997-11-21

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count6

Live!Girls! present Dogtown

Live! Girls! Present Dogtown is a comedy series shown on BBC Three. It tells the story of life for the residents of Horton-le-Hole, a fictional coastal town where things are not all they seem. A controlling optician meets a mild librarian to enact secret fantasies as Oscar-winning movie stars and Olympic champions; a socially inept teacher dreams of becoming a deputy head; a pyromaniac dwarf psychic has set up a business in a bus stop; and, while romantic fiction books are systematically and mysteriously vandalised, one of the greatest love affairs the world has ever known begins to stir in the library. Written by Sunderland twin sisters Emma and Beth Kilcoyne, and starring Emma Kilcoyne and Sam Battersea, who perform in a number of guises, the series is based on their live act, Live! Girls!, which played in Edinburgh to rave reviews. Emma Kilcoyne plays Eenie Thompson, the 73-year-old arsonist dwarf; Bill Taddler, the misguided and overbearing geography teacher; and Denise Taylor, the put-upon librarian with a secret. Sam Battersea plays Sheila Taddler, Bill's long-suffering wife, and Carol Gomez, the unusual optician with the domineering fantasy life. Dogtown's regular supporting cast includes Geraldine McNulty as Sue McCardle, the ruthlessly ambitious "Scale Two" librarian; and James Gaddas as Geoff Torville, her debonair, film noir-ish boss; as well as Rachel Pickup, Madelaine Newton and Dave Johns. The series also features cameo appearances from Kevin Whately and Imelda Staunton.

Release Date2006-10-04

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count6

End of Part One

End of Part One was a British television comedy sketch show written by David Renwick and Andrew Marshall, it was made by London Weekend Television. It ran for two series on ITV, from 1979 to 1980 and was an attempt at a TV version of The Burkiss Way. The first series concerned the lives of Norman and Vera Straightman, who had their lives interrupted by various television personalities of the day. The second series was mainly a straight succession of parodies of TV shows of the time, including Larry Grayson's Generation Game and Nationwide.

Release Date1979-04-15

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count14

Vote Count1

That's Love

That's love! is a British television sitcom about the domestic problems of a young married couple, lawyer Donald and designer Patsy.

Release Date1988-01-19

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count26

Vote Count1

Dream Stuffing

Dream Stuffing is a British television sitcom which aired on Channel 4 in early 1984. The series followed the exploits of two working class young women, Mo and Jude, who share a flat in a council tower block in London's East End, along with their three-legged cat, Tripod. Mo has a menial job in a glass eye factory, whilst Jude is on the dole. Part way through the series, Mo loses her job and the two girls become a thorn in the side for employment review officer Mrs Tudge. Other characters include their gay neighbour Richard, Mo's interfering mother May, who runs the local launderette, Brenda, who works with Mo at the glass eye factory, Bill and Mr Sharples. The series' theme tune, "London Girls", was written and performed by Kirsty MacColl. The series was repeated once by Channel 4 in Summer 1985. It has so far not been released on video or DVD.

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count1

Brighton Belles

On her husband's demise, attractive Bridget suddenly finds she can't meet the financial demand of her Sussex country house in Brighton without his income. Her solution: take in lodgers. Two other "belles" answer her offer. Annie, also a widow, is a dim but friendly, likable farmer's daughter from a small village; Frances is a sardonic, sarcastic teacher whose husband Gilbert left her for a younger woman, taking the house. Later, Frances' tactless, overprotective mother Josephine moves in as well, to hover over and generally annoy her daughter. The women bond and Bridget shows her seductive side and she searches for a new mate.

Release Date1993-03-09

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count11

Vote Count2

Look Back in Anger

Look Back in Anger is a love triangle involving the brilliant-but-disaffected young Jimmy Porter, his upper-middle-class, impassive wife Alison Porter, and her aristocratic best friend Helena Charles). Cliff , an amiable Welsh lodger, attempts to keep the peace.

Release Date1989-12-28

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count2

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It

John Cleese is hilarious as the descendant of Sherlock Holmes in this modern detective drama of international power politics and intrigue. Unlike his illustrious grandfather however, he only succeeds in bungling every job he organizes. Also stars Arthur Lowe as the "bionic" grandson of Dr. Watson, Stratford Johns as the Commissioner of Police, and Connie Booth as Mrs. Hudson.

Release Date1977-09-18

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count14

Peter Cook & Co.

A TV Special consisting of various sketches with the titular comedian and fellow comics in guest appearances.

Release Date1980-11-14

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count3

Canned Laughter

Robert Box asks his colleague Lorraine out for a date. They go to a restaurant where Dave Perry tries to break it as a stand-up comedian.

Release Date1979-04-08

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count10

Day To Remember

Wally is spending Christmas with his wife Hilda at the house of their daughter and son-in-law. Wally is hoping that he will miraculously regain his memory during the festive season.

Release Date1986-12-21

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Bostock's Cup

Former players and associates of third division club Bostock Stanley gather for a celebratory dinner to commemorate their famous FA Cup victory twenty-five years previously during which a shocking truth is revealed.

Release Date1999-06-24

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count2