Product Description

In 1962, a new sitcom single-handedly brought the gritty realism of kitchen-sink drama into the arena of comedy. Deliberately casting actors instead of professional comedians, Steptoe and Son offered a brand-new kind of humour, trading on, and becoming an icon of, the political unrest and post-war disillusionment of Sixties Britain. 'Harold Pinter with shorter pauses', as one critic wrote. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the ever-popular comedy series, and provides a perfect occasion for a book dedicated to enhancing fans' understanding of every aspect of this national institution. Fully authorised by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, the book chronicles the life of the programme in a biography format, based around exclusive interviews with the show's creators, as well as surviving members of the cast and crew, and illustrated with never-before-published photos from the BBC archive. Behind-the-scenes secrets, unearthed from official BBC correspondence, reveal how Wilfrid Brambell's old man Steptoe was almost killed off after the first series, and how a swinging Sixties icon was almost drafted in as a hip new 'son' for the programme.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #414491 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

"You dirty old man!"
After being fired by Tony Hancock, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson were on the look-out for another comedy hit. They soon found it - an episode of 'Comedy Playhouse', entitled 'The Offer', broadcast on 5/1/62, and starring Harry H.Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell as rag and bone men Harold and Albert Steptoe.

Harold dreamt of escaping from his father and moving onto bigger, better things. Albeert was a seedy misanthrope determined to keep his son under his thumb.

By June the Steptoes had got their own show. Its hold over the British public was such that in 1964 Labour leader Harold Wilson begged the B.B.C. to delay an episode until after the polls closed in order to ( so he thought ) secure a few more votes.

Corbett and Brambell became stars overnight, the former going on to star in movies such as 'Rattle Of A Simple Man', 'The Bargee' and 'Carry On Screaming', while the latter played Paul McCartney's 'clean' grandfather in 'A Hard Days Night'.

By 1970, colour television had arrived, and the B.B.C. commissioned new episodes. Running until 1974, these were, if anything, funnier than the originals. In 'Steptoe & Son', Galton and Simpson created a comedy classic, one that remains undiminished by the passing of time. It brought working class humour to a mass audience. Without Albert and Harold, its unlikely there ever would have been an Alf Garnett.

Given the proliferation of books praising the accomplishments of other sitcoms, its surprising there hasn't been a 'Steptoe & Son' book before. Robert Ross is something of a controversial figure among comedy fans, with many disliking his irreverent, chatty style. Though the cover credits Galton and Simpson as co-authors, its mainly Ross' work. As well as television, the book comprehensively covers the radio series, movies, Royal Variety shows, commercials, even the U.S. spin-off 'Sanford & Son'. Even if you do not like 'Steptoe' but are interested in '60's television in general, its worth picking up.

I was pleased to see that Ross has resisted the temptation to go into lurid detail about the private lives of the show's stars. Some things should remain private even after death. What a contrast to that disgraceful Channel 4 'muck-umentary' 'When Steptoe Met Son' which couldn't even get right the date of Harry H.Corbett's death!

A good read
Very nicely compiled and with some interesting facts and images this book is worth getting. There is at present very little literature on these two great comic talents which is suprising as they are instantly recognisable to many ages groups. They are true gems in the British comedy world and 100% true English culture shines through via the writers and actors no matter what politically correct jibberish say.
Couldnt wait to start and finish this book, maybe a future biography of Harry H Corbett wouldnt go amiss hey???

Classic Steptoe and Son indeed
These two reprobates are up to their old tricks here once more in these four stories. What can I say? The Wooden Overcoats sees Harold filling the house with coffins hoping for a fortune from becoming funeral directors, and as he says, you could well image Albert being absolutely perfect for the part! In Sunday for Seven Days you find yourself cringing at their cinema antics, that really would be a nightmare to find yourself by those two in a picture house! You never really know who to side with, just as their antics and schemes get you changing allegiance, they change tack once more and leave you stunned at their shameless greed and merciless tactics. Classic comedy as ever.