Product Description

We were trying to create more than a show. We were trying to create an event, and that event was a moment for the whole family, to sit and relax together, to laugh and smile together, without embarrassment. For millions of people, during the seventies and eighties "The Two Ronnies" were Saturday night. On 1st April 1971, "The Two Ronnies" aired for the first time on the BBC. It quickly became one of the most successful and long running television comedy shows ever on British television and its stars - Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett - national treasures. For the first time ever, Ronnie Corbett takes us behind the scenes and into the world of "The Two Ronnies". He tells the real story of the legendary duo that bought us "Piggy Malone and Charley Farley", "The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town", "Magnus Magnusson and Charlie Smithers", "Humphrey and Godfrey", "The Allotment", "But First the News" and not forgetting the elaborate and hilarious "Musical Segment". But this isn't just a book about the much-loved characters of "The Two Ronnies" sketch show. It is a story of a partnership and a friendship so close that throughout the years that Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker worked together, there was never a cross word between them. This is an honest, funny and touching account of one of our best-loved comedy double acts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33661 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

About the Author
Ronnie Corbett OBE has worked in the film industry since the 1950's. He rose to prominence in the 1960's with his regular appearance on The Frost Report where he met Ronnie Barker. Together, they formed The Two Ronnies which went on to run for sixteen years. Ronnie Corbett has two daughters and lives in Croydon.

Customer Reviews

F.U.N.E.M?
(I am sure there are some people out there who will get the reference above.)
I was deeply privileged to be allowed to read the manuscript for this wonderful autobiography due to my job in publishing. From the moment I heard about this book at a conference months and months ago, I was just itching to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed in any way!

I have fond memories of my childhood, visiting my grandparent's home and sitting by the fire in my pyjamas and dressing gown watching episodes of 'The Two Ronnies'.

Both Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett were icons to me, not just because of their performances as comedy geniuses, but also because of their warmth and genuine personalities which shone through their bespectacled faces.

In 2005, I was heartbroken to hear the news of Ronnie Barker's death as though a member of my own family had passed away. (My grandfather also passed away that year and I will always have the two men intrinsically linked in my mind.)

Ronnie Corbett's deeply affectionate biography is an insightful, emotional and genuinely funny portrait of two of the most remarkable men in British comedy. Beautifully constructed, the story takes us from their humble beginnings through the remarkable coincidences of their early lives before they even met, onto the success of their time on 'The Frost Report' which eventually led to one of the longest running comedy series in television history, the eponymously titled 'The Two Ronnies'.

For anyone who has had an affection for these two fine gentlemen of comedy, you cannot be unmoved by the chapters concerning Ronnie Barker's illness and eventual passing. I had tears in my eyes as Mr Corbett tells us of the memorial service and the tributes from their peers and friends.

This wonderfully frank volume is essential reading for any fan of British comedy and anyone who would like to know more about the comedy geniuses who are Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker.

This beautifully presented hardback book is illustrated with photographs, both black & white and colour.

Wonderful memories
You can't be in your thirties and above and not have a special place for the Two Ronnies in your heart. This is a perfect book for a trip down memory lane and some fascinating insights in to the process that went in to making the show, and how it fitted in to the rest of the two stars' lives.
The book is frequently very funny with some key scripts given in full, and Corbett manages to slip in a few typical meandering stories. It helps that you can't read it without hearing his distinctive Scottish voice.
If I had a criticism it would be that there is the occasional use of a bad pun here and there, and it could have done with some tighter editing as some of the sentences are a bit clumsy (not unlike this one!) It's not particularly deep and could be seen as just a sequence of anecdotes, but I don't think the hard-hitting psychoanalysis is required here - look elsewhere if you want that.
I read this in the space of a couple of 90-minute train journeys. It's a magnificent way of remembering a great double act and a fitting tribute to Ronnie Barker, a much-missed comic actor.

a gentle and charming read
Having read the Bob Mccabe biography of Ronnie Barker, it seemed only fair to check out Mr Corbett's bio also.

The pace of RC's book is much slower, gentler than that of the RB book, but it still provides a rich and colourful description of his early family life, his break into the world of media, his signing with David Frost, working with Cleese, Palin and others and obviously his teaming up with the marvellous Ronnie Barker.

As you would expect, there are anecdotal passages featuring other celebrities (and a useful index to boot) but mostly its Ronnie simply sharing his thoughts, decisions and experiences at various junctions in his life. At times, Ronnie seems compelled to take the narrative off into his famous meandering sequences (like those on the big chair in the Two Ronnies) but he soon makes his way back to the point, none the worse for wear!

I was surprised how much detail Ronnie spoke of his friend Barker, happily retelling some of the stories I'd already seen in RB's biograpy although adding his own unique perspective. It felt like Ronnie was still very happy to share the limelight with his friend even in his own biography. The friendship and devotion of this unique partnership and their obvious devotion to their art shines through. I found Ronnie's description of the death of his friend poignant and touching but without becoming gloomy or overly sentimental.

My only disappointment was that Ronnie didnt touch on his most recent exploits (his appearance in Extras for example) but this may have been after the book was written.

All in all, the book is an fun, interesting and enjoyable read for those wanting to know more about Mr Corbett and expecially the workings of the Two Ronnies. But it's also a very fine and warm tribute to Ronnie Barker and the affection still felt by RC for RB is lovely to read.