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CRAIG CHARLES: 'We Brits
are known for our sense of humour.'
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00:00:09,381 --> 00:00:11,885
'We like nothing better than
sitting in front of the telly
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00:00:11,910 --> 00:00:13,635
'and having a right good laugh.'
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00:00:13,660 --> 00:00:15,835
DANNYjOHN-JULES:
'Today, British comedy is revered
5
00:00:15,860 --> 00:00:17,996
'as some of the best in the world.'
6
00:00:19,910 --> 00:00:23,476
'And Black British comedians are
playing a big part in that success.'
7
00:00:23,501 --> 00:00:26,276
Delbert Wilkins, on the
Brixton Broadcasting Corporation,
8
00:00:26,301 --> 00:00:27,965
the BBC, how you feeling?
9
00:00:27,990 --> 00:00:30,246
He is the most talented person
I've ever worked with.
10
00:00:30,271 --> 00:00:33,046
Norman Beaton, what you did
for comedy was second to none.
11
00:00:33,071 --> 00:00:35,196
I knew from the day
I saw Richard Blackwood
12
00:00:35,221 --> 00:00:36,406
that he was gonna be a star.
13
00:00:36,431 --> 00:00:37,635
But we're Black on TV.
14
00:00:37,660 --> 00:00:39,276
The great Little Miss Jocelyn.
15
00:00:39,301 --> 00:00:42,126
Everyone was watching
The Real McCoy.
16
00:00:42,151 --> 00:00:44,835
'But it's a tough journey
to the top of the comedy game.'
17
00:00:44,860 --> 00:00:46,606
'And for everyone who makes it,
18
00:00:46,631 --> 00:00:49,556
'there are many more that struggle
to get their big break.
19
00:00:49,581 --> 00:00:50,806
'I'm Craig Charles.'
20
00:00:50,831 --> 00:00:53,046
'And I'm Dannyjohn-jules.'
21
00:00:53,071 --> 00:00:55,276
'My feline friend and I
hit the big time
22
00:00:55,301 --> 00:00:59,196
'as two Black comic actors,
on a voyage to outer space.'
23
00:00:59,221 --> 00:01:01,965
'Red Dwarf changed both our lives,
but the truth is,
24
00:01:01,990 --> 00:01:06,196
'we were standing on the shoulders
of those who came before us -
25
00:01:06,221 --> 00:01:08,126
'the pioneers.'
26
00:01:08,151 --> 00:01:11,526
LAUGHTER
It's a belter, that one!
27
00:01:11,551 --> 00:01:14,606
'And the amazing talent
that followed.'
28
00:01:14,631 --> 00:01:16,806
We're not paying them prices,
no way!
29
00:01:16,831 --> 00:01:20,046
'Through some of our favourite
ground-breaking shows,
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00:01:20,071 --> 00:01:24,965
'we tell the story of what it means
to be Funny, Black and On TV.
31
00:01:28,740 --> 00:01:30,916
'Our journey begins in the 1970s,
32
00:01:30,941 --> 00:01:33,476
'when the Ford Cortina
was king of the road
33
00:01:33,501 --> 00:01:36,406
'and the chopper bike
was prince of the pavement.'
34
00:01:36,431 --> 00:01:37,916
'It was a golden era.
35
00:01:37,941 --> 00:01:40,166
'West Indies
dominated the cricketing world,
36
00:01:40,191 --> 00:01:42,526
'and I wore fashion
my dad wouldn't understand.'
37
00:01:42,551 --> 00:01:44,606
'Yeah, doubt that's changed, Danny.
38
00:01:44,631 --> 00:01:47,276
'But as the UK
became more multiracial,
39
00:01:47,301 --> 00:01:49,916
'far-right groups
took to the streets in protest
40
00:01:49,941 --> 00:01:52,026
'at the changing face of Britain.'
41
00:01:52,051 --> 00:01:55,196
'Yeah. It appeared that TV
was also a bit slow on the uptake,
42
00:01:55,221 --> 00:01:57,366
'and comedy was all about
the mother-in-law
43
00:01:57,391 --> 00:01:59,895
'and upsetting as many foreigners
as possible.'
44
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:03,696
'But one proud Yorkshireman
stood out from the crowd.
45
00:02:03,721 --> 00:02:07,416
'Ha-hey! Charlie! Charlie!'
46
00:02:07,441 --> 00:02:10,286
CHARLIE: Does tha know?
I said to Enoch Powell,
47
00:02:10,311 --> 00:02:13,056
I said, "Nocher, come here, cock,
how are thee?"
48
00:02:13,081 --> 00:02:17,286
'Yes, 50 years ago, a cheeky
Yorkshire lad from Barnsley
49
00:02:17,311 --> 00:02:21,725
'was the first mixed-race comedian
to storm onto our telly.
50
00:02:23,311 --> 00:02:25,456
'Charlie Williams
honed his comedy skills
51
00:02:25,481 --> 00:02:26,845
'in working men's clubs,
52
00:02:26,870 --> 00:02:29,176
'and eventually made it
onto our TV screens
53
00:02:29,201 --> 00:02:31,845
'in one of the biggest shows
of the '70s.'
54
00:02:31,870 --> 00:02:35,206
'He would become the first
Black comic to appear on television,
55
00:02:35,231 --> 00:02:38,456
'at a time when stand-up comedy
was dominated by white men.'
56
00:02:39,641 --> 00:02:41,176
Ee, it's grand.
57
00:02:41,201 --> 00:02:43,176
You know, there were a bloke
went to t'doctor's -
58
00:02:43,201 --> 00:02:45,645
it's true, this - Doctor says,
"Can I help thee, old fruit?"
59
00:02:45,670 --> 00:02:47,056
He says, "Tha can, lad."
60
00:02:47,081 --> 00:02:49,476
Everybody was a fan
of Charlie Williams.
61
00:02:49,501 --> 00:02:53,696
I mean, as a Caribbean man myself,
I found him extra funny,
62
00:02:53,721 --> 00:02:57,566
because this Yorkshire accent,
one found a bit strange,
63
00:02:57,591 --> 00:02:59,725
but very, very funny.
64
00:02:59,750 --> 00:03:01,126
'With bang-on punchlines,
65
00:03:01,151 --> 00:03:04,095
'Charlie was an instant hit
with the audiences.'
66
00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,975
Charlie was a lovable Yorkshireman,
and don't forget,
67
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,206
that culture had already permeated
the British psyche.
68
00:03:11,231 --> 00:03:13,895
George Formby
used to play his ukulele
69
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:17,115
and sing all these kind of
working-class cultural songs,
70
00:03:17,140 --> 00:03:19,366
with his broad Yorkshire accent.
71
00:03:19,391 --> 00:03:23,286
So hearing a Black man
with that voice
72
00:03:23,311 --> 00:03:25,616
was kind of unique for the time.
73
00:03:28,111 --> 00:03:30,725
'Charlie was born in 1927.
74
00:03:30,750 --> 00:03:33,536
'His dad had come from Barbados
in 1918,
75
00:03:33,561 --> 00:03:36,056
'decades before
the Windrush generation.'
76
00:03:37,591 --> 00:03:42,176
I came over here in 1918,
to Barnsley.
77
00:03:42,201 --> 00:03:44,366
Most of them worked in the pits.
78
00:03:44,391 --> 00:03:46,926
My Uncle Cliff, here,
is the only one left.
79
00:03:46,951 --> 00:03:49,616
In them times,
everybody were alike, you know.
80
00:03:49,641 --> 00:03:51,816
It's only in these later years
where they begin to get
81
00:03:51,841 --> 00:03:54,086
this kind of mixed-up talk
about colours.
82
00:03:54,111 --> 00:03:57,286
LAUGHTER
83
00:03:57,311 --> 00:03:59,286
DANNY LAUGHS
84
00:04:01,391 --> 00:04:04,645
'As a 21-year-old,
Charlie signed for Doncaster Rovers.
85
00:04:06,721 --> 00:04:09,336
'And after hanging up his boots
in 1959,
86
00:04:09,361 --> 00:04:12,206
'Charlie sang
in working men's clubs.
87
00:04:12,231 --> 00:04:14,036
'But it was his banter
between the songs
88
00:04:14,061 --> 00:04:15,905
'that captivated the audience.'
89
00:04:15,930 --> 00:04:18,546
Am I Yorkshire, eh?
90
00:04:18,571 --> 00:04:20,735
Tha can't buy class, can tha?
91
00:04:22,121 --> 00:04:25,186
There was no better training
than the working men's clubs,
92
00:04:25,211 --> 00:04:26,905
cos they were ruthless.
93
00:04:26,930 --> 00:04:30,186
Like, you had to be on your A-game.
94
00:04:30,211 --> 00:04:33,296
Because if not, "Boo!"
95
00:04:33,321 --> 00:04:35,186
'A decade after starting out,
96
00:04:35,211 --> 00:04:38,105
'Charlie got his big break
on the hit show The Comedians.'
97
00:04:38,130 --> 00:04:40,675
'With its brightly-coloured
end-of-the-pier styling
98
00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:42,486
'and its Who's Who
99
00:04:42,511 --> 00:04:44,936
'of smartly-dressed comedians
of the day,
100
00:04:44,961 --> 00:04:47,985
'Charlie soon became part of
the television comedy elite.'
101
00:04:48,010 --> 00:04:49,855
Ah, ta.
102
00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,855
That's lovely, me old flowers,
that's grand.
103
00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,626
'Me old flower!
I love that, it's so charming.'
104
00:04:56,651 --> 00:04:58,655
'Yeah, he chatted to the audience
105
00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,216
'as if he was gossiping
with his neighbours over the fence.'
106
00:05:02,241 --> 00:05:04,426
'In keeping with the other comedians
on the show,
107
00:05:04,451 --> 00:05:07,105
'Charlie's gags
were often race-based.'
108
00:05:07,130 --> 00:05:10,346
'Yeah, he had to tread a fine line
with his brand of comedy.
109
00:05:10,371 --> 00:05:13,346
'And his gags often ended
with him as the punchline.'
110
00:05:13,371 --> 00:05:16,136
And then you know what happens?
"Don't rub your eyes, love -
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00:05:16,161 --> 00:05:18,105
"all that mascara,
you'll be darker than me!"
112
00:05:18,130 --> 00:05:20,296
LAUGHTER
113
00:05:20,321 --> 00:05:22,266
Obviously, he's put himself down.
114
00:05:22,291 --> 00:05:24,496
This was tailored
for a white audience.
115
00:05:24,521 --> 00:05:26,466
So he was the token Black man,
116
00:05:26,491 --> 00:05:28,426
but speaking their tongue.
117
00:05:28,451 --> 00:05:32,426
There was an acceptable face
of Black comedy.
118
00:05:32,451 --> 00:05:34,266
And it's Black comedy
119
00:05:34,291 --> 00:05:37,286
that doesn't make white audiences
feel uncomfortable.
120
00:05:37,311 --> 00:05:39,466
Me mother's Yorkshire, me mother.
121
00:05:39,491 --> 00:05:42,296
She is, aye. Me dad,
anybody's guess, but doesn't matter.
122
00:05:42,321 --> 00:05:46,136
So in order for white audiences
to feel comfortable,
123
00:05:46,161 --> 00:05:48,066
I'm gonna make the joke about me.
124
00:05:48,091 --> 00:05:50,706
He didn't feel like
he was talking to us.
125
00:05:50,731 --> 00:05:53,655
You'd watch them because
they were mainstream television,
126
00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,706
and they were...
127
00:05:55,731 --> 00:05:57,936
It wasn't an option,
you just watched it,
128
00:05:57,961 --> 00:06:02,496
and you just knew that that was
comedy from the British perspective.
129
00:06:04,010 --> 00:06:07,826
'And in 1973, Charlie was asked
to host The Golden Shot,
130
00:06:07,851 --> 00:06:09,735
'a prime-time game show.
131
00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,105
'Millions tuned in each week.'
132
00:06:12,130 --> 00:06:14,186
And the next contestant, my flower?
133
00:06:14,211 --> 00:06:17,426
Miss Valerie Hodgson,
and she's from Blackpool...
134
00:06:17,451 --> 00:06:20,785
Blackbrook, yes? Yes.
Blackbrook, in Derbyshire.
135
00:06:20,810 --> 00:06:23,496
Thank you very much.
That name does want changing,
136
00:06:23,521 --> 00:06:25,296
it should be Brownbrook.
LAUGHTER
137
00:06:40,321 --> 00:06:42,985
'The Golden Shot ended in 1974,
138
00:06:43,010 --> 00:06:47,686
'and Charlie kept working
until he retired in 1995.
139
00:06:47,711 --> 00:06:50,356
'But he went on to receive an MBE
140
00:06:50,381 --> 00:06:52,556
'for his contribution
to entertainment.'
141
00:06:52,581 --> 00:06:54,085
I could look at him now
142
00:06:54,110 --> 00:06:56,715
and take on
the ignorant kind of philosophy
143
00:06:56,740 --> 00:06:58,885
of, like, "l would never do that!"
144
00:06:58,910 --> 00:07:01,326
But that's because I don't have to.
145
00:07:01,351 --> 00:07:03,326
He did it
so that I don't have to do it.
146
00:07:03,351 --> 00:07:05,606
To get through in those clays,
147
00:07:05,631 --> 00:07:07,806
you know, it was
just about getting through.
148
00:07:07,831 --> 00:07:11,835
And I remember he had a little poem,
It's Nice To Be Nice.
149
00:07:11,860 --> 00:07:14,046
It was about prejudice
and colourism,
150
00:07:14,071 --> 00:07:16,606
and he'd always say that
to the audience
151
00:07:16,631 --> 00:07:19,446
as he rounded up, you know,
his comedy act.
152
00:07:19,471 --> 00:07:23,406
And I think he just did it hoping
that they would get the message,
153
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which was his kind of rebellion.
154
00:07:26,021 --> 00:07:29,246
'You have to big up and give
huge respect to Charlie Williams.
155
00:07:29,271 --> 00:07:31,116
'A true pioneer.'
156
00:07:33,831 --> 00:07:37,715
'As the '70s rolled on,
Britain was changing fast.
157
00:07:37,740 --> 00:07:40,116
'We had decimalisation,
supersonic travel,
158
00:07:40,141 --> 00:07:42,446
'and the advent of disco.'
'Whoo!
159
00:07:42,471 --> 00:07:45,356
'And nowhere could that change
be seen more clearly
160
00:07:45,381 --> 00:07:47,556
'than in its population.'
161
00:07:47,581 --> 00:07:51,116
You had a rise of a certain
new generation, and a new Britain,
162
00:07:51,141 --> 00:07:53,835
where you'd had
the Windrush generation.
163
00:07:53,860 --> 00:07:55,196
Their children, like me...
164
00:07:55,221 --> 00:07:57,246
On a cultural level,
things were changing,
165
00:07:57,271 --> 00:08:00,196
but television was finding it hard
to catch up.
166
00:08:00,221 --> 00:08:03,715
Television in England in the '70s
was just horrible.
167
00:08:03,740 --> 00:08:06,446
Look, Jim Davidson,
he had a character called Chalky.
168
00:08:06,471 --> 00:08:09,076
My mate Chalky, who lives next door
to me, knocks at me door one day.
169
00:08:09,101 --> 00:08:11,166
BAD CARIBBEAN ACCENT: "Hello there!
170
00:08:11,191 --> 00:08:14,085
"L've just bought myself a new car,
come and have a look."
171
00:08:14,110 --> 00:08:16,476
He said that he really did have
a friend called Chalky,
172
00:08:16,501 --> 00:08:19,996
but Chalky probably now
would've gone,
173
00:08:20,021 --> 00:08:22,526
"l don't even know why
I let you guys call me that."
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00:08:22,551 --> 00:08:26,326
The next day at school, you'd know
that Jim Davidson was on last night,
175
00:08:26,351 --> 00:08:29,526
cos they'd be in the playground
going, "Chalky, Chalky!"
176
00:08:29,551 --> 00:08:31,765
And you'd just think,
"Here we go again."
177
00:08:31,790 --> 00:08:33,996
'Television thought it could help,
178
00:08:34,021 --> 00:08:36,715
'by offering up comedy shows
like Mind Your Language
179
00:08:36,740 --> 00:08:38,916
'and Mixed Blessings.'
180
00:08:38,941 --> 00:08:41,276
'And with only three
television channels on the box,
181
00:08:41,301 --> 00:08:45,526
'around 17 million viewers regularly
tuned in to Love Thy Neighbour.'
182
00:08:47,631 --> 00:08:50,356
'It was one of the most watched
sitcoms of the decade,
183
00:08:50,381 --> 00:08:54,046
'with some of the most colourful
and racist language.' 'Nah!'
184
00:08:54,071 --> 00:08:56,686
I want to buy this bed
for me and the wife.
185
00:08:58,631 --> 00:09:00,765
Look, white takes precedence
over Black.
186
00:09:04,471 --> 00:09:08,446
'Then, in 1974, writer Eric Chappell
flipped the script,
187
00:09:08,471 --> 00:09:10,686
'and gave us a very different
Black character
188
00:09:10,711 --> 00:09:12,406
'in the sitcom Rising Damp.'
189
00:09:13,790 --> 00:09:15,996
'It starred Don Warrington
as Philip,
190
00:09:16,021 --> 00:09:19,526
'a privately-educated son
of an African chief.'
191
00:09:22,141 --> 00:09:24,326
When I saw Philip on Rising Damp
as a kid,
192
00:09:24,351 --> 00:09:26,526
I was like, "Oh, yeah,
I recognise that character."
193
00:09:26,551 --> 00:09:28,765
I'm from
a Nigerian immigrant family.
194
00:09:28,790 --> 00:09:31,965
My family are very well educated,
very well spoken.
195
00:09:31,990 --> 00:09:33,835
All right, Rigsby,
if you're so sporting,
196
00:09:33,860 --> 00:09:35,406
why don't you watch Muhammad Ali?
197
00:09:37,021 --> 00:09:39,196
Then how did he become
World Champion?
198
00:09:40,941 --> 00:09:43,606
Don Warrington
plays it so brilliantly.
199
00:09:43,631 --> 00:09:44,916
He's so cultured.
200
00:09:44,941 --> 00:09:48,965
He brings
this kind of whole air of civility.
201
00:09:48,990 --> 00:09:52,046
He's got etiquette,
he's got manners. You know,
202
00:09:52,071 --> 00:09:55,326
he looks great, he's so sexy.
203
00:09:55,351 --> 00:09:59,166
Everything that Leonard Rossiter
is not.
204
00:09:59,191 --> 00:10:01,116
Philip is always in control.
205
00:10:01,141 --> 00:10:02,965
He's two or three steps ahead.
206
00:10:12,351 --> 00:10:14,406
Do you want to call it off, Rigsby?
207
00:10:18,381 --> 00:10:21,526
I thought you seemed nervous.
208
00:10:21,551 --> 00:10:25,715
'So, as Don Warrington was becoming
a rising champ on Rising Damp...'
209
00:10:25,740 --> 00:10:29,076
'Nice! You should try poetry.'
210
00:10:29,101 --> 00:10:31,276
'..new stars were starting
to break through.
211
00:10:31,301 --> 00:10:35,526
'And in 1975, one Brummie teenager
was bunking off school
212
00:10:35,551 --> 00:10:38,806
'to take part in the nation's
biggest talent contest.'
213
00:10:38,831 --> 00:10:41,085
It's got to be Lenny Henry!
214
00:10:42,191 --> 00:10:44,196
Lenny on New Faces... I mean,
215
00:10:44,221 --> 00:10:46,446
the actual casting of him
was a genius thing.
216
00:10:46,471 --> 00:10:49,916
This guy came on, and you couldn't
see what he looked like,
217
00:10:49,941 --> 00:10:52,116
and he turned...
218
00:10:52,141 --> 00:10:54,476
and it was, like,
this Black kid going, "Mmm, Betty!"
219
00:10:54,501 --> 00:10:56,446
And it was just,
"Oh, my God, this is brilliant."
220
00:10:56,471 --> 00:10:57,715
And it WAS brilliant.
221
00:10:57,740 --> 00:10:59,885
AS FRANK SPENCER: Oh!
222
00:10:59,910 --> 00:11:02,326
There's a lot of people out there!
223
00:11:02,351 --> 00:11:04,635
Young Lenny Henry was dynamite,
yeah.
224
00:11:04,660 --> 00:11:06,476
Lenny Henry was the Don.
225
00:11:06,501 --> 00:11:08,116
She said,
"Frank, my mother in Bolton
226
00:11:08,141 --> 00:11:09,885
"used to cuddle me when I was cold."
227
00:11:09,910 --> 00:11:12,105
I said, "l'm not fetching
your mother from Bolton
228
00:11:12,130 --> 00:11:14,066
"at this time of night!"
LAUGHTER
229
00:11:14,091 --> 00:11:16,266
'The audiences loved Lenny
from the off,
230
00:11:16,291 --> 00:11:19,066
'and just a year after getting
his big break on New Faces,
231
00:11:19,091 --> 00:11:22,576
'Lenny landed the lead role
in Britain's first Black sitcom,
232
00:11:22,601 --> 00:11:24,266
'lTV's The Fosters.'
233
00:11:24,291 --> 00:11:26,985
'And young Lenny
got the chance to showcase
234
00:11:27,010 --> 00:11:28,985
'his burgeoning acting skills
235
00:11:29,010 --> 00:11:32,576
'alongside classically-trained actor
Norman Beaton.'
236
00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,376
Sonny, if you really
wanna cheer me up,
237
00:11:37,401 --> 00:11:39,826
just keep that mouth of yours
shut tight, you hear me?
238
00:11:39,851 --> 00:11:41,546
OK, Dad.
239
00:11:41,571 --> 00:11:43,016
Good.
240
00:11:43,041 --> 00:11:45,655
HE SPEAKS WITH CLOSED MOUTH
241
00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:47,706
The Fosters was ground-breaking.
242
00:11:47,731 --> 00:11:50,936
It was the first Black family
situation comedy in this country.
243
00:11:50,961 --> 00:11:52,905
The Fosters,
being an all-Black cast,
244
00:11:52,930 --> 00:11:55,376
was a real excitement to watch.
245
00:11:55,401 --> 00:11:57,706
Seeing a reflection of us on screen.
246
00:11:57,731 --> 00:11:59,296
Here's some good news!
247
00:11:59,321 --> 00:12:01,855
The value of stocks and shares
is going down.
248
00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,016
What's good about that?
249
00:12:04,041 --> 00:12:05,426
We haven't got any.
250
00:12:07,491 --> 00:12:10,296
I suppose it must have been daunting
for Lenny as a teenager.
251
00:12:10,321 --> 00:12:12,016
He got the gig,
252
00:12:12,041 --> 00:12:14,376
and then he had to learn on the job.
253
00:12:15,731 --> 00:12:18,066
'But perhaps 1970s Britain
254
00:12:18,091 --> 00:12:21,016
'wasn't quite ready
for an all-Black sitcom.
255
00:12:21,041 --> 00:12:24,016
'After just one season,
the show was axed.'
256
00:12:31,401 --> 00:12:35,346
'Coming up, it's the 1980s,
and Lenny hits the big time!'
257
00:12:36,401 --> 00:12:40,016
Lenny was a brand,
and quite an iconic one.
258
00:12:40,041 --> 00:12:44,216
'And the bros take their fros
for a trim down at Desmond's.'
259
00:12:44,241 --> 00:12:45,466
now!'
260
00:12:45,491 --> 00:12:48,186
It was great to see
a great representation
261
00:12:48,211 --> 00:12:50,576
of a beautiful Black family.
262
00:13:01,111 --> 00:13:04,206
'So, Craig, what are
your impressions of the 1980s?'
263
00:13:04,231 --> 00:13:05,566
'I don't do impressions.'
264
00:13:05,591 --> 00:13:07,446
'It was big and brash,
265
00:13:07,471 --> 00:13:10,925
'and, like Harry Enfield said,
Loadsamoney!'
266
00:13:10,950 --> 00:13:14,366
'We had a grocer's daughter
as our first female Prime Minister.'
267
00:13:14,391 --> 00:13:17,125
The lady's not for turning.
268
00:13:18,181 --> 00:13:19,875
'Anything seemed possible.'
269
00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:22,206
'We had mobile phones
the size of bricks,
270
00:13:22,231 --> 00:13:24,726
'and Black American popstars
were ruling the charts.'
271
00:13:24,751 --> 00:13:26,828
# Wanna feel the heat
With somebody. #
272
00:13:29,014 --> 00:13:30,599
'But TV was changing,
273
00:13:30,624 --> 00:13:33,078
'and the usually calm waters
of kids' telly
274
00:13:33,103 --> 00:13:34,909
'was in for a comedy makeover,
275
00:13:34,934 --> 00:13:36,799
'when, fresh from New Faces
276
00:13:36,824 --> 00:13:39,039
'and Britain's first
Black sitcom The Fosters,
277
00:13:39,064 --> 00:13:41,708
'Lenny landed a new job on Tiswas!'
278
00:13:44,094 --> 00:13:47,679
'Every Saturday, kids revelled
in being covered in flour,
279
00:13:47,704 --> 00:13:50,109
'as Tiswas,
with its catchy theme tune,
280
00:13:50,134 --> 00:13:52,799
'brought the spirit of anarchy
to children's TV.'
281
00:13:52,824 --> 00:13:55,439
That studio was just
the stuff of legends.
282
00:13:55,464 --> 00:13:57,399
I mean, it was just awash,
every week.
283
00:13:57,424 --> 00:13:59,239
People in the cage
covered in rubbish.
284
00:13:59,264 --> 00:14:01,549
And children were crying!
285
00:14:01,574 --> 00:14:04,319
'This zany and chaotic environment
286
00:14:04,344 --> 00:14:09,109
'turned out to be ideal for Lenny
and his many funny characters.'
287
00:14:09,134 --> 00:14:12,078
Lenny used to do
this regular weekly thing
288
00:14:12,103 --> 00:14:15,599
as Trevor McDonald, who we'd decided
we'd call Trevor McDoughnut.
289
00:14:15,624 --> 00:14:19,679
The first time I saw Lenny
as Trevor McDoughnut,
290
00:14:19,704 --> 00:14:22,878
I thought it was hilarious,
because his face never broke.
291
00:14:22,903 --> 00:14:24,828
Lenny would do,
"Here are the main headlines."
292
00:14:24,853 --> 00:14:27,039
With his silly glasses,
and we'd throw water on him.
293
00:14:27,064 --> 00:14:30,599
I could imagine that Trevor McDonald
would look and laugh.
294
00:14:30,624 --> 00:14:34,239
In Oxford Street today,
a suicidaljapanese fighter pilot
295
00:14:34,264 --> 00:14:36,399
crashed his plane... Pardon?
296
00:14:36,424 --> 00:14:38,878
LAUGHTER
297
00:14:38,903 --> 00:14:40,828
Look at his face.
298
00:14:42,184 --> 00:14:44,748
It was brilliant. I mean,
but there is a close-up there,
299
00:14:44,773 --> 00:14:46,439
when Lenny looks really like,
300
00:14:46,464 --> 00:14:48,349
"Oh, my God,
what have they done to me now?"
301
00:14:48,374 --> 00:14:51,319
Trevor sat down, we put the real
Trevor McDoughnut in front of him,
302
00:14:51,344 --> 00:14:53,708
and the two of them
read silly news items.
303
00:14:53,733 --> 00:14:57,109
And at the end, they got buckets
and buckets of water.
304
00:14:57,134 --> 00:14:59,319
The Tiswas years.
They were wonderful years,
305
00:14:59,344 --> 00:15:01,828
and Lenny grew and grew and grew
during that period.
306
00:15:01,853 --> 00:15:04,039
'Some say good things
come in threes,
307
00:15:04,064 --> 00:15:05,828
'and after three years on Tiswas,
308
00:15:05,853 --> 00:15:08,989
'Lenny starred in a new sketch show,
Three Of A Kind.'
309
00:15:09,014 --> 00:15:10,958
Think it's the milkman?
310
00:15:10,983 --> 00:15:13,708
I thought that combination with
Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield
311
00:15:13,733 --> 00:15:15,039
was brilliant.
312
00:15:15,064 --> 00:15:19,748
What they went on to do as a result
of that show is phenomenal.
313
00:15:19,773 --> 00:15:22,679
'Tracey would go on
to make it big in the US,
314
00:15:22,704 --> 00:15:26,519
'and in 1984,
Lenny landed his own show.'
315
00:15:26,544 --> 00:15:29,069
It was very significant
that Lenny Henry got his own show.
316
00:15:29,094 --> 00:15:32,439
Lenny was a brand, at that time.
317
00:15:32,464 --> 00:15:34,399
And quite an iconic one.
318
00:15:34,424 --> 00:15:36,599
He wasn't just the add-on,
319
00:15:36,624 --> 00:15:39,349
he wasn't the butt
of other people's jokes,
320
00:15:39,374 --> 00:15:42,519
he was Lenny Henry
in his own domain,
321
00:15:42,544 --> 00:15:44,399
and allowed to shine.
322
00:15:44,424 --> 00:15:48,109
'The more Lenny began to tap into
Black culture for inspiration,
323
00:15:48,134 --> 00:15:50,989
'the more his sketch characters
became comedy classics,
324
00:15:51,014 --> 00:15:53,799
'like elderly Jamaican Deakus.'
325
00:15:53,824 --> 00:15:56,069
I realised that you English people
326
00:15:56,094 --> 00:15:58,439
have a lot of different words
for cold.
327
00:15:58,464 --> 00:16:03,439
Deakus is paying homage to those
that came to England the first time.
328
00:16:03,464 --> 00:16:06,439
And he was able to weave in
329
00:16:06,464 --> 00:16:08,828
good, straight up, traditional gags
330
00:16:08,853 --> 00:16:10,828
within that kind of character,
331
00:16:10,853 --> 00:16:13,189
which is, you know, quite genius.
332
00:16:13,214 --> 00:16:15,708
Back home in Jamaica,
we just have the one word for cold.
333
00:16:15,733 --> 00:16:17,109
"England!"
334
00:16:17,134 --> 00:16:19,628
'He might've drawn inspiration
from his roots,
335
00:16:19,653 --> 00:16:22,628
'but he made comedy
that all Britain related to.
336
00:16:22,653 --> 00:16:25,748
'Millions of people tuned into
The Lenny Henry Show at its peak.'
337
00:16:25,773 --> 00:16:27,748
He could do all different types
of characters,
338
00:16:27,773 --> 00:16:30,989
from American to Brit,
to young, to old.
339
00:16:31,014 --> 00:16:34,599
Hi, there, ladies.
This is Theophilus P Wildebeeste,
340
00:16:34,624 --> 00:16:36,748
and I've got a mirror
on my kitchen ceiling -
341
00:16:36,773 --> 00:16:38,599
that's how cool I am.
342
00:16:38,624 --> 00:16:41,549
Theophilus P Wildebeeste, baby!
LAUGHS
343
00:16:41,574 --> 00:16:47,109
It felt like it was an homage
to all the '80s Black soul singers.
344
00:16:47,134 --> 00:16:50,748
Those kind of big voice characters,
345
00:16:50,773 --> 00:16:52,828
women loved!
346
00:16:52,853 --> 00:16:56,799
But Lenny mashed them all up
into one,
347
00:16:56,824 --> 00:16:58,748
and he created Theophilus.
348
00:16:58,773 --> 00:17:03,519
Lenny would go to about 80%
of how the person sounded.
349
00:17:03,544 --> 00:17:06,269
# Talking about northern girls... #
350
00:17:06,294 --> 00:17:10,039
That extra 20% gave him the space
351
00:17:10,064 --> 00:17:13,039
to embellish and put the funny
in there as well.
352
00:17:14,134 --> 00:17:16,519
My favourite character
was Delbert Wilkins.
353
00:17:16,544 --> 00:17:19,399
# Delbert! #
354
00:17:19,424 --> 00:17:21,399
The laugh is quite high-pitched.
355
00:17:21,424 --> 00:17:22,828
HIGH-PITCHED LAUGH
356
00:17:22,853 --> 00:17:26,109
The playfulness. As a young kid,
I was like, I wanted to be like him.
357
00:17:26,134 --> 00:17:28,958
# Delbert Wilkins on the BBC! #
358
00:17:28,983 --> 00:17:31,319
Yeah, that's right,
that's who you're listening to,
359
00:17:31,344 --> 00:17:34,439
Delbert Wilkins on the Brixton
Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC.
360
00:17:34,464 --> 00:17:35,989
He put Brixton on the map.
361
00:17:36,014 --> 00:17:39,909
All of a sudden,
you could see people you recognised
362
00:17:39,934 --> 00:17:42,828
that wasn't in your area,
but you knew that it was more,
363
00:17:42,853 --> 00:17:44,399
it was the vibes.
364
00:17:44,424 --> 00:17:48,269
He was in tune
with what was going on.
365
00:17:48,294 --> 00:17:50,958
There was lots of negative
portrayals of young Black men,
366
00:17:50,983 --> 00:17:52,708
and then you've got these two.
367
00:17:52,733 --> 00:17:56,469
It was great to see
two positive characters on TV.
368
00:17:56,494 --> 00:17:59,469
'Four decades on,
Lenny's still in showbiz.
369
00:17:59,494 --> 00:18:02,239
'As well as comedy,
he's turned in some ace performances
370
00:18:02,264 --> 00:18:03,679
'as a serious actor.'
371
00:18:03,704 --> 00:18:06,679
'And he's a Sir. Rise, Sir Lenny!
372
00:18:06,704 --> 00:18:09,628
'An icon of British comedy.'
373
00:18:09,653 --> 00:18:14,109
'I think we both remember that for
a long time in mainstream TV comedy,
374
00:18:14,134 --> 00:18:16,909
'there was only really Lenny,
wasn't there?' 'That's right.
375
00:18:16,934 --> 00:18:21,599
'But in 1982, Channel 4 launched
with Black sitcom No Problem.
376
00:18:21,624 --> 00:18:23,989
'Times were changing.'
377
00:18:24,014 --> 00:18:27,549
'But six years later,
young British writer Trix Worrell
378
00:18:27,574 --> 00:18:29,909
'wrote a sitcom
about a Peckham barber shop
379
00:18:29,934 --> 00:18:31,469
'that became an instant hit.'
380
00:18:34,903 --> 00:18:38,189
Oh, Desmond's!
381
00:18:38,214 --> 00:18:40,989
The theme tune,
straight away, you know,
382
00:18:41,014 --> 00:18:42,748
you'd rush to the TV to watch it.
383
00:18:42,773 --> 00:18:44,969
Yeah, it was like calypso,
wasn't it?
384
00:18:44,994 --> 00:18:47,799
I remember the images of Windrush,
385
00:18:47,824 --> 00:18:51,039
and then it cuts to, like,
Peckham and Peckham Market.
386
00:18:51,064 --> 00:18:53,078
It was good.
387
00:18:53,103 --> 00:18:55,109
'The title role of Desmond
388
00:18:55,134 --> 00:18:57,159
'was played by Guyanese actor
Norman Beaton,
389
00:18:57,184 --> 00:18:59,909
'who showed his thespian flair
from an early age.'
390
00:18:59,934 --> 00:19:02,349
Norman and I,
we go back a long ways together.
391
00:19:02,374 --> 00:19:04,519
I knew him as a boy.
392
00:19:04,544 --> 00:19:06,069
We were in school together,
393
00:19:06,094 --> 00:19:09,039
riding our bicycles
up to the sea wall in Georgetown.
394
00:19:09,064 --> 00:19:12,469
And he was very bright,
very bright as a kid.
395
00:19:12,494 --> 00:19:14,958
You know,
his nickname was Shakespeare,
396
00:19:14,983 --> 00:19:19,159
because he used to be able
to memorise reams of Shakespeare
397
00:19:19,184 --> 00:19:22,989
and unload it at the street corner.
398
00:19:23,014 --> 00:19:24,989
'But it would be a street corner
399
00:19:25,014 --> 00:19:27,599
'in the same part of London
as Del Boy and Rodney
400
00:19:27,624 --> 00:19:31,549
'that another classic '80s sitcom
legend was born.'
401
00:19:31,574 --> 00:19:34,519
'And it gave 56-year-old Norman
his most famous role,
402
00:19:34,544 --> 00:19:36,189
'as a West Indian barber.'
403
00:19:36,214 --> 00:19:37,989
'As it's set in a barber shop,
404
00:19:38,014 --> 00:19:40,958
'I wonder what happened
when the director shouted, "Cut!"'
405
00:19:40,983 --> 00:19:44,239
'Yeah, right,
that could be confusing.'
406
00:19:44,264 --> 00:19:46,439
There was a time when
people wanted their hair cut.
407
00:19:46,464 --> 00:19:48,708
Now they want it styled!
408
00:19:54,014 --> 00:19:56,269
That's because we had style,
didn't we, Porkpie?
409
00:19:56,294 --> 00:19:57,878
Yeah, man!
410
00:19:57,903 --> 00:20:00,159
'Norman gave audiences
an unforgettable performance
411
00:20:00,184 --> 00:20:01,989
'as a proud Guyanese barber,
412
00:20:02,014 --> 00:20:04,109
'bantering with his family
and friends.'
413
00:20:05,014 --> 00:20:07,628
It was great to see
a great representation
414
00:20:07,653 --> 00:20:09,958
of a beautiful Black family,
you know,
415
00:20:09,983 --> 00:20:12,269
that had their own business,
they're doing well.
416
00:20:12,294 --> 00:20:14,439
I don't know why
this didn't occur to me before:
417
00:20:14,464 --> 00:20:16,269
Desmond and Daughter!
418
00:20:16,294 --> 00:20:19,039
I mean, I can't see my son
running the family business.
419
00:20:19,064 --> 00:20:22,679
I mean, it calls for someone
with imagination and flair,
420
00:20:22,704 --> 00:20:24,878
of which my son Michael's got none.
421
00:20:24,903 --> 00:20:27,319
It was uplifting.
They were working people.
422
00:20:27,344 --> 00:20:29,549
You had a very supportive wife,
423
00:20:29,574 --> 00:20:31,519
you had kids
who were going through life.
424
00:20:31,544 --> 00:20:33,389
Barber shop,
the West Indian hair shop,
425
00:20:33,414 --> 00:20:35,679
and the West Indian food shop
and the church,
426
00:20:35,704 --> 00:20:38,349
these are the hubs
of the Black community.
427
00:20:38,374 --> 00:20:42,599
There's so much that goes on
in the Black barber shop.
428
00:20:42,624 --> 00:20:46,389
We talk about politics, life,
sport, you know.
429
00:20:46,414 --> 00:20:48,828
'And at the heart of the barber shop
430
00:20:48,853 --> 00:20:52,699
'was the role so expertly observed
by Norman Beaton.'
431
00:20:52,724 --> 00:20:56,129
You see, Porkpie, who said
Black people aren't enterprising?
432
00:20:56,154 --> 00:20:58,929
I think I better go Short and Curly
and get a haircut,
433
00:20:58,954 --> 00:21:01,129
because I'm not getting one here!
434
00:21:01,154 --> 00:21:03,819
Sit down, you arse!
435
00:21:03,844 --> 00:21:07,129
His facial expressions, you know,
if he got angry,
436
00:21:07,154 --> 00:21:09,619
the way he would just jump up
unexpectedly.
437
00:21:09,644 --> 00:21:12,489
Norman's timing was brilliant,
438
00:21:12,514 --> 00:21:16,848
and that's the hallmark
of any great comedy performance.
439
00:21:18,394 --> 00:21:20,569
I'm supposed to be
Desmond's best friend,
440
00:21:20,594 --> 00:21:24,339
we're supposed to have come up
to Britain together.
441
00:21:24,364 --> 00:21:26,619
You know, there was
this tension between them,
442
00:21:26,644 --> 00:21:30,059
but there's this love
between them, too.
443
00:21:30,084 --> 00:21:33,648
100 proof pure rum!
444
00:21:33,673 --> 00:21:36,898
Guaranteed
to kill all household germs.
445
00:21:38,514 --> 00:21:40,009
Dead!
446
00:21:40,034 --> 00:21:42,179
That's if it don't kill you first!
447
00:21:42,204 --> 00:21:43,929
BOTH LAUGH
448
00:21:43,954 --> 00:21:46,459
The scenes where he and I were
reminiscing in the barbershop,
449
00:21:46,484 --> 00:21:50,648
and we are slightly inebriated...
CHUCKLES
450
00:21:50,673 --> 00:21:53,409
We were reminiscing about our past,
451
00:21:53,434 --> 00:21:57,648
and so there were many, many moments
that I cherish.
452
00:21:57,673 --> 00:22:00,539
We worked beautifully together,
you know.
453
00:22:00,564 --> 00:22:03,179
'But behind the laughter
and success,
454
00:22:03,204 --> 00:22:05,699
'Norman's health was in decline.'
455
00:22:05,724 --> 00:22:08,289
He had emphysema.
456
00:22:08,314 --> 00:22:10,569
I think he thought
he was everlasting.
457
00:22:10,594 --> 00:22:13,699
He thought he could have survived,
458
00:22:13,724 --> 00:22:17,898
thought he had a strong enough body
459
00:22:17,923 --> 00:22:20,489
to cope with this, constitution.
460
00:22:20,514 --> 00:22:23,369
'Norman passed away in 1994,
461
00:22:23,394 --> 00:22:27,089
'and with no Norman,
Desmond's finally closed its doors.'
462
00:22:27,114 --> 00:22:31,289
I think when we lost Norman Beaton,
it was a time when we realised
463
00:22:31,314 --> 00:22:34,089
just the level that he was on.
464
00:22:34,114 --> 00:22:35,728
You can't replace him.
465
00:22:35,753 --> 00:22:37,728
He's a comedy legend.
466
00:22:37,753 --> 00:22:40,289
He just happens to be Black.
467
00:22:42,873 --> 00:22:45,569
'Coming up,
as the '90s comes knocking...'
468
00:22:45,594 --> 00:22:47,978
I like that 291 club, you know.
469
00:22:48,003 --> 00:22:50,459
'..Black comedy gets a big old boost
470
00:22:50,484 --> 00:22:53,209
'with the arrival
of sketch show The Real McCoy.'
471
00:23:02,644 --> 00:23:05,768
'Yeah!
And a new breed of comedy star
472
00:23:05,793 --> 00:23:09,978
'was about to find out the harsh
realities of life at the top.'
473
00:23:10,003 --> 00:23:12,289
I was the golden child.
474
00:23:12,314 --> 00:23:15,209
I had the Midas touch.
Everything I touched turned to gold.
475
00:23:24,783 --> 00:23:27,529
'Welcome back
to Funny, Black And On TV.
476
00:23:27,554 --> 00:23:30,249
'It's time to rewind to the 1990s.'
477
00:23:30,274 --> 00:23:32,449
'In the 1990s,
478
00:23:32,474 --> 00:23:35,529
'British sitcoms were very much
coming from a white perspective,
479
00:23:35,554 --> 00:23:39,329
'but in America, they were enjoying
a Black sitcom boom,
480
00:23:39,354 --> 00:23:42,249
'with shows like Sister, Sister
and A Different World,
481
00:23:42,274 --> 00:23:43,529
'and boy, was it.'
482
00:23:43,554 --> 00:23:46,199
'The US was setting the standard
in all forms of comedy.'
483
00:23:46,224 --> 00:23:48,479
'So when Janet Street-Porter,
head of youth TV,
484
00:23:48,504 --> 00:23:50,888
'brought The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
t0 the BBC,
485
00:23:50,913 --> 00:23:53,329
'young Brits tuned in in droves.'
486
00:23:53,354 --> 00:23:55,758
I went to a recording
for The Fresh Prince,
487
00:23:55,783 --> 00:23:57,999
and it was just hilarious.
488
00:23:58,024 --> 00:24:02,249
MUSIC: 'It's Not Unusual'
by Tom Jones
489
00:24:02,274 --> 00:24:08,499
I just thought Will Smith
was so electric on camera.
490
00:24:10,404 --> 00:24:12,039
# It's not unusual... #
491
00:24:18,104 --> 00:24:20,809
'With the Fresh Prince
generating a whole new appetite
492
00:24:20,834 --> 00:24:22,249
'for Black comedy on TV,
493
00:24:22,274 --> 00:24:25,169
'in London, young stand-up comedians
like Angie Le Mar
494
00:24:25,194 --> 00:24:28,609
'were creating
a hip new Black comedy scene.'
495
00:24:28,634 --> 00:24:31,249
I like that 291 Club, you know.
496
00:24:40,384 --> 00:24:43,529
'With London's
vibrant new Black comedy scene
497
00:24:43,554 --> 00:24:45,609
'starting to catch on nationally,
498
00:24:45,634 --> 00:24:49,039
'it didn't take long before the BBC
appeared to see the potential
499
00:24:49,064 --> 00:24:52,968
'in a sketch show written
by and for a Black audience.'
500
00:24:54,913 --> 00:24:57,079
'So, The Real McCoy
showcased the talents
501
00:24:57,104 --> 00:24:59,039
'of a new generation
of comedy writers,
502
00:24:59,064 --> 00:25:02,479
'who immediately appealed
to young Black Britons.'
503
00:25:12,834 --> 00:25:16,638
The question is,
would I like some tea?
504
00:25:16,663 --> 00:25:18,888
The answer to the question
is simple.
505
00:25:18,913 --> 00:25:20,718
LAUGHTER
506
00:25:21,834 --> 00:25:24,919
The teacup is empty,
the teapot is full.
507
00:25:24,944 --> 00:25:27,838
Therefore, it is time
for me to have some more tea.
508
00:25:29,113 --> 00:25:33,039
The Real McCoy was the Holy Grail...
509
00:25:34,504 --> 00:25:38,718
...of television
for up-and-coming Black comedians.
510
00:25:38,743 --> 00:25:41,809
'Angie Le Mar's beautifully observed
stand-up routines
511
00:25:41,834 --> 00:25:44,169
'had the audience in hysterics.'
512
00:25:46,634 --> 00:25:48,249
LAUGHTER
513
00:25:49,424 --> 00:25:50,968
LAUGHTER
514
00:26:00,274 --> 00:26:02,559
I almost made it on,
and then they changed their mind
515
00:26:02,584 --> 00:26:04,399
and booked someone else
at the last minute.
516
00:26:04,424 --> 00:26:07,758
That was one of my first
real heartbreaks.
517
00:26:07,783 --> 00:26:10,169
'I love the fact
that the show gave a break
518
00:26:10,194 --> 00:26:13,529
'to both male and female
comedians.'
519
00:26:13,554 --> 00:26:15,999
'And one of those leading ladies,
Llewella Gideon,
520
00:26:16,024 --> 00:26:20,088
'gave us her genius comic creation,
Hortense Pretentious,
521
00:26:20,113 --> 00:26:22,449
'one of the show's
most iconic characters.'
522
00:26:22,474 --> 00:26:24,758
APPLAUSE
523
00:26:24,783 --> 00:26:27,399
'Ello.
LAUGHTER
524
00:26:27,424 --> 00:26:30,039
And good afternoon.
525
00:26:30,064 --> 00:26:32,449
My name...
526
00:26:32,474 --> 00:26:35,809
is Hortense Pretentious.
527
00:26:35,834 --> 00:26:39,119
So, Hortense was based on
one of these people that just
528
00:26:39,144 --> 00:26:44,279
like to do the public speaking
and put on their best voice.
529
00:26:47,194 --> 00:26:49,838
"'Ello? How can I help you?"
530
00:26:49,863 --> 00:26:53,559
She was just this little
petite woman on TV,
531
00:26:53,584 --> 00:26:57,279
but so big and rich in character.
532
00:27:02,274 --> 00:27:04,399
LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
533
00:27:12,474 --> 00:27:15,968
Everyone was watching
The Real McCoy. Everybody.
534
00:27:15,993 --> 00:27:18,399
And you are talking about...
535
00:27:18,424 --> 00:27:21,279
our story, unapologetically.
536
00:27:21,304 --> 00:27:24,119
It's intelligent, smart.
537
00:27:24,144 --> 00:27:26,279
I think The Real McCoy
was a ground-breaking moment
538
00:27:26,304 --> 00:27:27,718
for British comedy.
539
00:27:27,743 --> 00:27:30,279
I started on The Real McCoy
at season two,
540
00:27:30,304 --> 00:27:32,479
and I brought Felix Dexter.
541
00:27:32,504 --> 00:27:35,689
Felix was more comfortable
as a stand-up,
542
00:27:35,714 --> 00:27:39,249
but he became
this amazing character.
543
00:27:39,274 --> 00:27:41,199
'Felix Dexter was a master
544
00:27:41,224 --> 00:27:44,399
'at creating
hilarious character comedy.'
545
00:27:48,304 --> 00:27:54,589
When Felix came out with Douglas,
that was just a joy to watch.
546
00:27:59,154 --> 00:28:01,339
He did it with
such impeccable timing
547
00:28:01,364 --> 00:28:03,978
that it just landed beautifully
every single time.
548
00:28:04,003 --> 00:28:06,179
POSH ACCENT:
549
00:28:08,074 --> 00:28:09,619
LAUGHTER
550
00:28:22,304 --> 00:28:26,409
When he plays Nathaniel,
you just think...
551
00:28:28,284 --> 00:28:30,339
He just left you with some greats.
552
00:28:35,364 --> 00:28:37,459
LAUGHTER AND CHEERING
553
00:28:42,034 --> 00:28:43,978
And that was the first time I saw...
554
00:28:45,673 --> 00:28:48,049
...a Caribbean comedian
555
00:28:48,074 --> 00:28:51,459
properly encapsulating
556
00:28:51,484 --> 00:28:53,728
a Nigerian character.
557
00:29:00,753 --> 00:29:02,009
LAUGHTER
558
00:29:02,034 --> 00:29:04,768
He just got it. He done something
with characters
559
00:29:04,793 --> 00:29:07,179
that you just felt,
I know that character.
560
00:29:07,204 --> 00:29:09,489
He could do all of it, and he...
561
00:29:11,204 --> 00:29:12,699
"should have been a star.
562
00:29:12,724 --> 00:29:16,199
'Although he would later feature
in The Fast Show and Citizen Khan,
563
00:29:16,224 --> 00:29:18,279
'tragedy was about to strike down
564
00:29:18,304 --> 00:29:21,369
'one of the country's
most promising Black comedians.'
565
00:29:21,394 --> 00:29:24,648
'In 2013,
when Felix told close friends
566
00:29:24,673 --> 00:29:28,009
'that he had terminal cancer,
they were in disbelief.'
567
00:29:29,753 --> 00:29:33,339
We got a call late, and, erm...
568
00:29:33,364 --> 00:29:35,898
had enough time to go
and say goodbye to him.
569
00:29:35,923 --> 00:29:40,539
And we could sit down and just say,
"Well done."
570
00:29:41,644 --> 00:29:44,649
When he was in the hospice,
I went to see him.
571
00:29:44,674 --> 00:29:46,928
It broke my heart, because I'm like,
572
00:29:46,953 --> 00:29:50,629
this is a guy that should have had
all the opportunities,
573
00:29:50,654 --> 00:29:52,829
because he was that good.
574
00:29:52,854 --> 00:29:55,139
He will go down in history.
575
00:29:55,164 --> 00:29:58,189
Felix Dexter, the comedian
that was loved by everybody.
576
00:30:00,044 --> 00:30:03,059
'Such a tragic loss
to the comedy world.
577
00:30:03,084 --> 00:30:06,499
'Felix certainly was
a remarkable talent.'
578
00:30:08,044 --> 00:30:10,419
'But although The Real McCoy
was no more,
579
00:30:10,444 --> 00:30:15,269
'at the end of the '90s, there was
an explosion of new TV channels.'
580
00:30:15,294 --> 00:30:17,299
'And for rising comedy stars,
581
00:30:17,324 --> 00:30:21,269
'being funny was no longer
their sole ambition.
582
00:30:21,294 --> 00:30:22,778
'They wanted much more.'
583
00:30:22,803 --> 00:30:25,299
'And one 22-year-old
Black British comedian
584
00:30:25,324 --> 00:30:27,099
'was about to start his climb
585
00:30:27,124 --> 00:30:29,858
'to the very summit
of Mount Television.'
586
00:30:43,444 --> 00:30:44,658
I was at a party one time.
587
00:30:44,683 --> 00:30:46,829
This man, squared up the place,
walked in, went...
588
00:30:46,854 --> 00:30:49,139
GRUNTS
589
00:30:49,164 --> 00:30:50,738
Look at me.
GRUNTS
590
00:30:50,763 --> 00:30:52,549
LAUGHTER
591
00:30:54,164 --> 00:30:58,939
You know, I was there,
boogying, I was like, "Hey!"
592
00:31:07,214 --> 00:31:09,369
I knew from the day I saw
Richard Blackwood
593
00:31:09,394 --> 00:31:10,649
that he was gonna be a star.
594
00:31:11,763 --> 00:31:14,139
I was the golden child.
595
00:31:14,164 --> 00:31:17,269
I had the Midas Touch.
Everything I touched turned to gold.
596
00:31:19,244 --> 00:31:22,269
'Channel 4 also fell for
Richard's charm and charisma,
597
00:31:22,294 --> 00:31:25,379
'snapping him up for his own
weekly entertainment show.'
598
00:31:25,404 --> 00:31:27,349
Look how cocky I was.
599
00:31:28,494 --> 00:31:29,738
Let's g0!
600
00:31:31,654 --> 00:31:36,579
What it did for Black comedians
was revolutionary,
601
00:31:36,604 --> 00:31:40,908
because we were so used
to just being on the circuit
602
00:31:40,933 --> 00:31:42,299
and not being recognised.
603
00:31:47,574 --> 00:31:51,099
As a young comedian,
working on that show was fantastic.
604
00:31:54,044 --> 00:31:55,469
Oh, don't!
605
00:32:02,044 --> 00:32:03,729
But you know what it was,
606
00:32:03,754 --> 00:32:06,599
I was cheeky
because we knew each other.
607
00:32:06,624 --> 00:32:10,059
And, you know,
Mel was not a pushover.
608
00:32:10,084 --> 00:32:12,829
If you said something Mel didn't
like, she'd let you know about it.
609
00:32:12,854 --> 00:32:14,379
I saw it, though.
610
00:32:16,574 --> 00:32:18,579
LAUGHTER
611
00:32:18,604 --> 00:32:20,778
I was a young gllY-
612
00:32:20,803 --> 00:32:24,738
She was a young woman.
Both stars in our own right.
613
00:32:24,763 --> 00:32:26,778
But we're Black on TV.
614
00:32:26,803 --> 00:32:29,778
I went to The Richard Blackwood
Show,
615
00:32:29,803 --> 00:32:32,349
and it was just, like,
an amazing moment for me,
616
00:32:32,374 --> 00:32:34,499
just to watch this guy
just killing it,
617
00:32:34,524 --> 00:32:36,349
looking good, being funny.
618
00:32:36,374 --> 00:32:38,189
'And after a two-year run,
619
00:32:38,214 --> 00:32:40,858
'The Richard Blackwood Show
was cancelled.'
620
00:32:45,854 --> 00:32:47,658
They was bringing in Ali G.
621
00:32:47,683 --> 00:32:51,469
What hurt me the most
with the Ali G situation,
622
00:32:51,494 --> 00:32:53,658
as a young Black man,
623
00:32:53,683 --> 00:32:56,908
I was showing that the stereotype
that you put on us -
624
00:32:56,933 --> 00:32:59,738
that we're just bad
and blah-blah-blah - we're not that.
625
00:32:59,763 --> 00:33:02,908
And I remember a paper
put a picture of me and Ali G
626
00:33:02,933 --> 00:33:06,499
on the page, and they said,
"Who's the real Black person?"
627
00:33:06,524 --> 00:33:07,908
Yeah.
628
00:33:19,683 --> 00:33:22,349
'Now, Sacha Baron Cohen
has always claimed Ali G
629
00:33:22,374 --> 00:33:24,908
'was a parody of a white guy
trying to be a Black guy.
630
00:33:24,933 --> 00:33:28,469
'But for Black male comedians,
TV had become a comedy wasteland.
631
00:33:28,494 --> 00:33:31,269
'But one sister was determined
to do it for herself
632
00:33:31,294 --> 00:33:33,269
'to achieve her comedy dreams.'
633
00:33:33,294 --> 00:33:35,939
'Yes, it's a tough task
for any comic
634
00:33:35,964 --> 00:33:37,778
'to make it big
in their own country,
635
00:33:37,803 --> 00:33:40,658
'so it takes a special talent
like our next comic
636
00:33:40,683 --> 00:33:42,738
'to make it big in the States.
637
00:33:42,763 --> 00:33:44,658
'With her British Nigerian
background
638
00:33:44,683 --> 00:33:46,699
'a goldmine for comedy,
639
00:33:46,724 --> 00:33:49,469
'Gina Yashere was a superstar
in the making.'
640
00:33:49,494 --> 00:33:51,738
So, that's right, people,
I went back to Nigeria.
641
00:33:51,763 --> 00:33:55,969
That's right, went back to Africa
to get in touch with my roots.
642
00:33:55,994 --> 00:33:57,688
My roots!
643
00:33:57,713 --> 00:34:00,589
'And boy, did she always have
a killer punchline.'
644
00:34:00,614 --> 00:34:03,109
I discovered that my ROOTS...
645
00:34:03,134 --> 00:34:05,509
are in Bethnal Green!
646
00:34:05,534 --> 00:34:06,709
LAUGHTER
647
00:34:10,773 --> 00:34:12,949
Phenomenal comic.
648
00:34:12,974 --> 00:34:15,788
Not female comic,
she's just a phenomenal comic.
649
00:34:15,813 --> 00:34:19,229
'Gina was born in 1974
in east London,
650
00:34:19,254 --> 00:34:21,029
'and for this former
lift technician,
651
00:34:21,054 --> 00:34:22,788
'the only way was up.'
652
00:34:22,813 --> 00:34:24,429
I was a Nigerian kid
653
00:34:24,454 --> 00:34:27,069
in a predominantly West Indian
neighbourhood,
654
00:34:27,094 --> 00:34:29,279
and we were the butt of the joke
back then.
655
00:34:29,304 --> 00:34:34,998
So I had to, you know,
divert fights by using humour.
656
00:34:35,023 --> 00:34:38,748
'In the late '90s,
Gina was knocking it out of the park
657
00:34:38,773 --> 00:34:42,998
'with regular appearances on shows
such as Blouse And Skirt.'
658
00:34:43,023 --> 00:34:47,429
Blouse And Skirt was the show
that made me Black famous.
659
00:34:47,454 --> 00:34:49,069
SHE LAUGHS
660
00:34:49,094 --> 00:34:52,949
'Lenny Henry asked her to write and
perform her own comedy characters
661
00:34:52,974 --> 00:34:55,998
'on his show,
including the classic Tanya.'
662
00:34:56,023 --> 00:34:57,429
Vexed.
663
00:34:57,454 --> 00:35:00,109
I was like, look, you think
I'm gonna be catching a bus
664
00:35:00,134 --> 00:35:02,029
at seven in the morning
and miss Trisha
665
00:35:02,054 --> 00:35:04,309
so that I can spend a whole day
in a room full of old people
666
00:35:04,334 --> 00:35:06,788
who look like they got dressed
together in Primark?
667
00:35:08,664 --> 00:35:11,389
AUDIENCE JOINS IN: I don't think so.
668
00:35:20,154 --> 00:35:23,389
'Now, Gina might have been
wowing audiences and winning fans,
669
00:35:23,414 --> 00:35:25,998
'but the uncompromising style
of her own stand-up
670
00:35:26,023 --> 00:35:29,149
'had yet to be championed
by a UK broadcaster.
671
00:35:29,174 --> 00:35:31,639
'But Gina still had
very big ambitions.'
672
00:35:31,664 --> 00:35:36,029
They dangled the carrot
of me getting my own show for years.
673
00:35:36,054 --> 00:35:38,918
America's the home
of stand-up comedy,
674
00:35:38,943 --> 00:35:41,559
so my dream, all my life,
had been to go to America.
675
00:35:41,584 --> 00:35:45,069
'And in 2007,
she fulfilled that dream
676
00:35:45,094 --> 00:35:47,868
'and went to America
to try her luck.'
677
00:35:47,893 --> 00:35:50,109
Every Black comedian goes,
"l'm gonna go to America."
678
00:35:50,134 --> 00:35:52,149
And they go for a little while,
and they come back.
679
00:35:52,174 --> 00:35:54,479
So we just thought it was that,
Gina's gonna go to America,
680
00:35:54,504 --> 00:35:55,998
be there for six months, come back.
681
00:35:56,023 --> 00:35:57,788
'Within three months of arriving,
682
00:35:57,813 --> 00:36:00,918
'she landed a gig and a chance
to showcase her talent
683
00:36:00,943 --> 00:36:04,069
'to millions of viewers
on the Def jam comedy tour.'
684
00:36:10,334 --> 00:36:12,709
Yes, I know you're looking at me
funny.
685
00:36:12,734 --> 00:36:16,529
I'm the first British comic
on Def Comedy jam.
686
00:36:16,554 --> 00:36:17,969
Clap it up, clap it "P-
687
00:36:17,994 --> 00:36:22,279
I made this T-shirt with the Union
Jack, but just in black and white,
688
00:36:22,304 --> 00:36:25,429
blackjack, so I made a point of
wearing the T-shirt on the show
689
00:36:25,454 --> 00:36:28,069
and then coming out and going,
"OK, I'm Black and British,
690
00:36:28,094 --> 00:36:30,668
"let's get this out of the way,
and now let's get to the jokes."
691
00:36:30,693 --> 00:36:33,748
You are never gonna see
a Black woman in the movies
692
00:36:33,773 --> 00:36:36,029
where you have to make love
in the shower.
693
00:36:36,054 --> 00:36:37,949
Right?
694
00:36:37,974 --> 00:36:41,709
Cos that would not look romantic
with a Black woman in it.
695
00:36:43,963 --> 00:36:48,509
Because she would be in that shower
with her Safeway grocery bag.
696
00:36:48,534 --> 00:36:50,998
I did that, it's a shared experience
697
00:36:51,023 --> 00:36:53,199
with Black women,
wherever we are in the world.
698
00:36:53,224 --> 00:36:56,269
That routine would kill
in front of a British audience
699
00:36:56,294 --> 00:36:59,109
and definitely
in front of an American audience,
700
00:36:59,134 --> 00:37:03,349
where these women will forego food
to make sure their hair looks right.
701
00:37:03,374 --> 00:37:06,439
'Today, Gina's a rising star
in the USA
702
00:37:06,464 --> 00:37:09,319
'and has written and starred
in her own NBC sitcom,
703
00:37:09,344 --> 00:37:11,469
'Bob Hearts Abishola.'
704
00:37:12,733 --> 00:37:16,989
'Gina not only created the show, and
a great new character for herself,
705
00:37:17,014 --> 00:37:20,599
'but she became instrumental
in the making of the show.'
706
00:37:21,903 --> 00:37:26,109
It's the first Nigerian family
on a sitcom
707
00:37:26,134 --> 00:37:27,989
in the history
of American television.
708
00:37:28,014 --> 00:37:29,828
I mean, it's pretty amazing.
709
00:37:29,853 --> 00:37:32,029
Since you are no longer interested
in Chukwuemeka,
710
00:37:32,054 --> 00:37:34,239
what would you think if I set him up
with somebody else?
711
00:37:37,294 --> 00:37:38,349
Yes, you are right.
712
00:37:38,374 --> 00:37:41,239
Well, maybe there's a woman out
there who can see past those flaws.
713
00:37:41,264 --> 00:37:43,628
Someone with a lot of love to give.
714
00:37:43,653 --> 00:37:47,239
And enough frequent-flyer miles
to take him to Aruba.
715
00:37:47,264 --> 00:37:50,319
I'm a creator, executive producer,
716
00:37:50,344 --> 00:37:53,349
writer, and actor.
SHE LAUGHS
717
00:37:56,733 --> 00:38:00,109
She is massively underestimated
in terms of the strides she has made
718
00:38:00,134 --> 00:38:04,269
for Black British comics,
not just domestically, but globally.
719
00:38:05,853 --> 00:38:09,858
'Coming up, sketch show legend
Little Miss Jocelyn.'
720
00:38:14,424 --> 00:38:16,919
'And the new generation
of young comedians
721
00:38:16,944 --> 00:38:20,329
'changing the face
of British comedy.'
722
00:38:20,354 --> 00:38:23,679
Michaela Coel... is a genius.
723
00:38:30,354 --> 00:38:33,999
'Welcome back to
Funny, Black And On TV.'
724
00:38:34,024 --> 00:38:36,199
'Time to focus on the 2000s,
725
00:38:36,224 --> 00:38:39,119
'the decade that Leona Lewis
conquered the charts.
726
00:38:39,144 --> 00:38:42,199
'Yeah, Brad and Jen divorced.'
727
00:38:42,224 --> 00:38:45,968
'Yes, and in 2012,
the City of London
728
00:38:45,993 --> 00:38:48,888
'proudly hosted the Olympic Games.
729
00:38:48,913 --> 00:38:52,638
'And in 2002, a trio of fabulously
funny Black women
730
00:38:52,663 --> 00:38:56,449
'became 3 Non-Blondes
on new channel BBC Three.'
731
00:38:56,474 --> 00:38:58,638
'Two years later,
its break-out star,
732
00:38:58,663 --> 00:39:00,449
'Jocelyn Jee Esien,
733
00:39:00,474 --> 00:39:03,838
'went on to make history
as the first Black British woman
734
00:39:03,863 --> 00:39:07,069
'to get her own solo sketch show.
735
00:39:07,094 --> 00:39:09,888
'From the top, the quirky titles
736
00:39:09,913 --> 00:39:12,609
'shows that the show
is gonna be just perfect
737
00:39:12,634 --> 00:39:15,638
'for jocelyn's
hilarious comedy characters,
738
00:39:15,663 --> 00:39:18,039
'like traffic warden jiffy.'
739
00:39:19,834 --> 00:39:23,838
But it's too late. My pen
has made contact with the paper.
740
00:39:23,863 --> 00:39:27,039
If you make any attempt
741
00:39:27,064 --> 00:39:29,758
to penetrate your car,
I will conjunctivate you.
742
00:39:29,783 --> 00:39:34,999
She was just very good at portraying
your worst nightmare.
743
00:39:35,024 --> 00:39:38,359
Do not rush me, because
what I'm about to do takes time.
744
00:39:38,384 --> 00:39:40,169
Not everybody understands
745
00:39:40,194 --> 00:39:43,559
what perfection this job demands
and requires.
746
00:39:44,704 --> 00:39:46,919
Maybe I'm not ready
to give you your ticket yet,
747
00:39:46,944 --> 00:39:49,838
because I have not finished
talking to you.
748
00:39:49,863 --> 00:39:51,359
You know, she created phrases
749
00:39:51,384 --> 00:39:53,968
that people would be saying
on the street or in schools.
750
00:39:53,993 --> 00:39:57,999
This may take a l-o-o-ong time.
751
00:40:08,224 --> 00:40:10,359
Jocelyn has this character
called Fiona.
752
00:40:10,384 --> 00:40:11,718
LAUGHS
753
00:40:11,743 --> 00:40:13,169
So...
754
00:40:13,194 --> 00:40:15,559
She didn't want people to know
that she was Black.
755
00:40:28,584 --> 00:40:31,609
Look, I've been working here
for seven years now,
756
00:40:31,634 --> 00:40:34,809
and no-one, absolutely no-one
knows I'm "Black".
757
00:40:45,474 --> 00:40:49,119
Now, um, I don't know what pirate
radio station you've come from,
758
00:40:49,144 --> 00:40:52,888
or whom you mugged to get in here...
759
00:40:52,913 --> 00:40:54,399
What are you going on about?
760
00:40:54,424 --> 00:40:59,039
I don't want you asking me
for recipes for rice and peas.
761
00:40:59,064 --> 00:41:02,319
She plays on the stereotypes
so well.
762
00:41:02,344 --> 00:41:05,249
Black is referred to as urban,
you know,
763
00:41:05,274 --> 00:41:07,399
if you're gonna say the "B" word,
say "urban".
764
00:41:07,424 --> 00:41:08,638
You know.
765
00:41:08,663 --> 00:41:10,999
It's still done today,
you know what I'm saying?
766
00:41:11,024 --> 00:41:13,968
Let's get some "urban" acts.
HE LAUGHS
767
00:41:13,993 --> 00:41:17,399
Little Miss Jocelyn,
she was doing that alone.
768
00:41:17,424 --> 00:41:19,609
She was doing all those characters.
769
00:41:19,634 --> 00:41:23,838
She's definitely got a genius,
like, gene, 100%.
770
00:41:23,863 --> 00:41:28,279
Madame Jocelyn,
if I can call her that, is a queen.
771
00:41:31,474 --> 00:41:33,119
'In 2020,
772
00:41:33,144 --> 00:41:35,319
'star of BBC Three sketch show,
Famalam
773
00:41:35,344 --> 00:41:38,638
'Tom Moutchi
is part of the new generation
774
00:41:38,663 --> 00:41:40,609
'of Black British comedy talent.'
775
00:41:40,634 --> 00:41:44,638
'And budding stars
like Judi Love and Michael Dapaah
776
00:41:44,663 --> 00:41:48,199
'are using social media
to build their audiences.'
777
00:42:00,834 --> 00:42:04,999
'And they're taking their lead
from the new prince of comedy.'
778
00:42:05,024 --> 00:42:07,718
Mo Gilligan. Mo Gilligan.
779
00:42:07,743 --> 00:42:10,718
I love what is happening with Mo.
780
00:42:10,743 --> 00:42:12,479
He did something so real.
781
00:42:12,504 --> 00:42:14,758
He's playing, like,
a white Cockney guy
782
00:42:14,783 --> 00:42:17,679
whose wife, he's like,
"Julie, get us a couple of cans."
783
00:42:17,704 --> 00:42:20,169
This is lovely, it's like Barbados.
784
00:42:20,194 --> 00:42:21,919
It's like Barbados!
785
00:42:21,944 --> 00:42:24,449
You what, love?
786
00:42:24,474 --> 00:42:28,039
I have a lady on my road
who does it every time it's hot.
787
00:42:28,064 --> 00:42:30,088
She walks out of her house,
788
00:42:30,113 --> 00:42:33,529
she literally picks,
she finds Black people
789
00:42:33,554 --> 00:42:36,319
and tells them it's like Barbados.
And I thought it was un...
790
00:42:36,344 --> 00:42:38,529
I thought,
surely she's seen the sketch.
791
00:42:38,554 --> 00:42:41,888
No. This is what she does.
So, that, for me,
792
00:42:41,913 --> 00:42:43,679
it was amazing to see.
793
00:42:43,704 --> 00:42:46,638
'In 2019,
he hosted his own chat show,
794
00:42:46,663 --> 00:42:49,679
'The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan.'
795
00:42:49,704 --> 00:42:51,199
'Later that same year,
796
00:42:51,224 --> 00:42:54,169
'he landed a show that went out
globally on Netflix,
797
00:42:54,194 --> 00:42:56,999
'proving just how far Mo has come
798
00:42:57,024 --> 00:43:00,399
'since making us laugh
on the internet.'
799
00:43:00,424 --> 00:43:03,039
Remember hearing that word
"grounded", just being stressed.
800
00:43:03,064 --> 00:43:06,449
"Oh, my gosh, Mum.
Oh, my gosh, man!"
801
00:43:06,474 --> 00:43:09,399
Do you remember that small rage
you used to get?
802
00:43:09,424 --> 00:43:13,319
That's another thing about Mo,
is his relatability.
803
00:43:13,344 --> 00:43:15,319
Remember saying twisted stuff
about your family?
804
00:43:15,344 --> 00:43:17,888
"L hope Satan takes my mum
tomorrow!"
805
00:43:17,913 --> 00:43:19,638
MOANS AND HUFFS
806
00:43:19,663 --> 00:43:22,279
"And the demons can take my family
away."
807
00:43:22,304 --> 00:43:25,119
He really knows how to get that out.
808
00:43:25,144 --> 00:43:27,758
It's like, we've all done that,
we've all gone in our rooms
809
00:43:27,783 --> 00:43:29,479
and, like, scuffed up pillows,
810
00:43:29,504 --> 00:43:32,449
you know, got angry at our parents
for being grounded.
811
00:43:32,474 --> 00:43:34,919
And he did it,
he showed that it's possible,
812
00:43:34,944 --> 00:43:37,119
and strength to strength
to strength.
813
00:43:37,144 --> 00:43:40,249
He has TV shows on TV shows.
He's BAFTA-nominated, BAFTA-winning.
814
00:43:41,913 --> 00:43:45,039
'And so, a generation of exciting
new young Black performers
815
00:43:45,064 --> 00:43:48,119
'and writers are finding
their own unique voice,
816
00:43:48,144 --> 00:43:51,039
'and none more so
than Michaela CoeL
817
00:43:52,944 --> 00:43:55,919
'In 2015, a fresh new comedy series
818
00:43:55,944 --> 00:43:59,088
'aired on Channel 4 about
a quirky young shop assistant.
819
00:43:59,113 --> 00:44:01,359
'Michaela plays teenager Tracey,
820
00:44:01,384 --> 00:44:04,609
'who brings audiences into
her vibrant council estate life
821
00:44:04,634 --> 00:44:08,199
'using revealing
internal monologues.'
822
00:44:09,384 --> 00:44:11,399
If I had £1,000, I would buy...
823
00:44:11,424 --> 00:44:14,249
Brazilian yaki hair, like Yonce.
824
00:44:14,274 --> 00:44:17,119
'It made the show an instant hit.'
825
00:44:17,144 --> 00:44:18,968
Probably a dustpan and brush
for this place.
826
00:44:18,993 --> 00:44:21,399
I mean, look at it, it's boring.
There's not even crime here.
827
00:44:21,424 --> 00:44:24,449
It's like some fake-arse estate,
it's like bipolar, it's diluted.
828
00:44:27,993 --> 00:44:31,529
She is an amazing comedy writer.
829
00:44:31,554 --> 00:44:33,999
Chewing Gum was incredibly unique.
830
00:44:34,024 --> 00:44:36,809
She spoke of
the very specific experience.
831
00:44:36,834 --> 00:44:40,199
It came from her head.
It's like, "This is not on TV,
832
00:44:40,224 --> 00:44:44,679
"so I'm gonna create it. I'm not on
TV, in terms of my representation,
833
00:44:44,704 --> 00:44:46,359
"so I'm going to create it."
834
00:45:01,224 --> 00:45:04,758
'Chewing Gum catapulted Michaela
to stardom,
835
00:45:04,783 --> 00:45:08,199
'and in this historic moment
in 2016,
836
00:45:08,224 --> 00:45:12,169
'Michaela became one of a few
Black actors ever to win a BAFTA.'
837
00:45:13,834 --> 00:45:16,069
If there's anyone out there
that looks a bit like me,
838
00:45:16,094 --> 00:45:18,279
or just feels
a little bit out of place,
839
00:45:18,304 --> 00:45:20,559
trying to get into performing
and all this kind of stuff,
840
00:45:20,584 --> 00:45:23,319
I'd just say, you are beautiful,
embrace it.
841
00:45:23,344 --> 00:45:26,529
You are intelligent, embrace it.
You are powerful, embrace it.
842
00:45:26,554 --> 00:45:28,479
Thank you.
APPLAUSE
843
00:45:28,504 --> 00:45:33,088
Her writing is so raw, so original,
844
00:45:33,113 --> 00:45:37,529
so true to her own vision
and her own voice.
845
00:45:37,554 --> 00:45:39,119
She's in her own lane.
846
00:45:57,783 --> 00:46:00,249
'Well, folks,
it's been a roller-coaster ride
847
00:46:00,274 --> 00:46:04,039
'through 50 years of the very best
of Black British comedy.'
848
00:46:04,064 --> 00:46:06,838
'British TV's come a long way
since Charlie Williams
849
00:46:06,863 --> 00:46:09,319
'opened the doors
for Black comedians.'
850
00:46:09,344 --> 00:46:12,039
Am I Yorkshire? Eh?
851
00:46:12,064 --> 00:46:14,169
Tha can't buy class, can tha?
852
00:46:15,634 --> 00:46:17,908
'And a 16-year-old Birmingham lad
853
00:46:17,933 --> 00:46:20,988
'who burst right through them
into the hearts of the nation.'
854
00:46:25,444 --> 00:46:29,379
'The unforgettable legends
of sitcom, pushing the boundaries
855
00:46:29,404 --> 00:46:32,658
'and changing the face
of British comedy.'
856
00:46:32,683 --> 00:46:35,549
'Well, Danny, how about
doing this again sometime?'
857
00:46:35,574 --> 00:46:38,658
'See you back here in 50 years.'
'50 years?'
858
00:46:38,683 --> 00:46:42,339
'Hopefully, we won't have to wait
that long to do this again.'
859
00:46:42,364 --> 00:46:44,699
# Well, I talk about it,
Talk about it
860
00:46:44,724 --> 00:46:47,939
# Talk about it, talk about it
861
00:46:50,933 --> 00:46:54,658
# Talk about, talk about,
Talk about moving... #
862
00:47:00,494 --> 00:47:02,339
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