Peter Cook – the funniest man to draw breath
David Blackburn 12:55pm
Peter Cook single-handedly changed the face of British comedy in the early 60s. Without Cook there could have been no Python, no Not the Nine O’Clock News and no Brass Eye. He was a peerless satirist and comedian, a profanicist (to coin a phrase), and a brilliant small screen actor. There is even an argument, admittedly somewhat melodramatic, that Cook’s iconoclasm initiated the cultural upheavals of the mid sixties. Genius is a term of last resort that applies to Cook, whose talents were not contrived or calculated. As this flight of fancy from Beyond the Fringe proves, he was natural and effortlessly funny.
The below clip is the first part of one of those TV programmes where the wild-eyed great and the good spout self-important platitudes about their even greater though sadly demised friend. This one is worth watching – I’ll post the remainder in the series over the next few days.
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Glen Green
March 18th, 2010 4:10pm Report this commentI only met him once. Well when I say met, I actually mean "stood next to".
Anyway it was at the theatre and we were all busy trying to get our drinks in before taking to our seats.
I caught his eye and gave a knowing smile and nod. He looked at me with the kind of glare which said "I wouldn't pi$$ on you if you were on fire"!
I still have a warm feeling when I reminisce over this chance encounter.
What a great man.
ed hall
March 18th, 2010 4:47pm Report this commentHe was funny for about 5 years, then descended into nastiness over the genuine talent of Dudley Moore. After that it was bitterness and drink all the way down.
Austin Barry
March 18th, 2010 4:59pm Report this comment" He was a peerless satirist and comedian, a profanicist (to coin a phrase), and a brilliant small screen actor."
Agree with all of the above except the brilliant TV actor bit. His appearances in the awful American comedy series, 'The Two of Us' in the early eighties were dire. But, to be fair, he was befuddled by drink and a misguided, jealous ambition to emulate Dudley Moore's US success.
harymaverick
March 19th, 2010 4:52am Report this commentits feels pretty cool when im searching through hotmail and i get a peter cook google alert. to then click on it look at the article and see that it's my video upload thats being used. to those naive enough to say someting ill about peter cook, then stop wasting your hands on a keyboard and go use them to fold boxes at the folding box factory you come from.
yeah spectator dont immediately post my comment you conformists.
Beer Moth
March 19th, 2010 10:21pm Report this commentCan't see what all the fuss is about this man. One or two good sketches early doors, followed by a few decades of flouncery and the camp loathing of anything not called Peter Cook.
Is there any truth in the story that his agent phoned him one year, to ask if he would like to turnoffthe Oxford Street Christmas lights after the season?
harymaverick
March 20th, 2010 1:43pm Report this commentthanks for the post brews
and keep up the representing for all the deceased heroes
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