"The Benny Hill Show" (1969) TV series 1969-1989

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

John Robins

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19

Release Date:

January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A skit based show with Benny Hill, often containing smutty humour.

Plot Keywords:

Buxom | Sketch Comedy | British | Eccentric | Actor Playing Multiple Roles

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Benny Hill	...	Host / ... (59 episodes, 1969-1989)
Henry McGee	...	Himself / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1989)
Jackie Wright	...	Himself / ... (44 episodes, 1969-1985)
Bob Todd	...	Himself / ... (42 episodes, 1970-1989)
The Ladybirds	...	Vocal Backing / ... (42 episodes, 1969-1989)
Sue Upton	...	Various Roles / ... (28 episodes, 1977-1989)

(more)

Series Directed by
Dennis Kirkland		(25 episodes, 1979-1989)
John Robins		(14 episodes, 1969-1974)
Mark Stuart		(11 episodes, 1974-1985)
Keith Beckett		(5 episodes, 1972-1985)
Ronald Fouracre		(4 episodes, 1975-1979)
David Bell		(2 episodes, 1971)
Benny Hill		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Writing credits
Benny Hill		(59 episodes, 1969-1989)

Series Produced by
Dennis Kirkland	....	producer (25 episodes, 1979-1989)
Nigel Cook	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 1980-1985)
John Robins	....	producer (14 episodes, 1969-1974)
Mark Stuart	....	producer (11 episodes, 1974-1985)
Philip Jones	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 1969-1985)
Keith Beckett	....	producer (5 episodes, 1972-1985)
William P. Cartlidge	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
David Bell	....	producer (2 episodes, 1971)
Ronald Fouracre	....	producer (2 episodes, 1975-1978)
John Howard Davies	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Cinematography by
Ted Adcock		(16 episodes, 1977-1985)
Dick Bayley		(9 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ray Sieman		(5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Chic Anstiss		(3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Roy Pointer		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jim Howlett		(3 episodes, 1982-1985)
Alan Jonas		(3 episodes, 1986)
Peter Lang		(2 episodes, 1971-1972)

Series Film Editing by
John Wright		(11 episodes, 1984-1989)
John Plummer		(10 episodes, 1971-1982)
Archie Ludski		(7 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ray Ball		(5 episodes, 1978-1989)
Beryl Wilkins		(4 episodes, 1976-1981)
Dan Carter		(3 episodes, 1973-1983)
Roy Hayden		(3 episodes, 1977)

Series Casting by
Pat Hayley		(13 episodes, 1984-1989)
Shirley Teece		(10 episodes, 1980-1983)

Series Production Design by
Tony Borer		(15 episodes, 1970-1977)
Bill Laslett		(6 episodes, 1980-1985)
Darrell Lass		(5 episodes, 1972-1975)
Jan Chaney		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Harry Clark		(4 episodes, 1969-1970)
David Marshall		(4 episodes, 1975-1985)
Robin Parker		(4 episodes, 1978-1985)
Bill Palmer		(3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Mike Hall		(3 episodes, 1975-1985)
David Richens		(3 episodes, 1981)
Ian Russell		(3 episodes, 1989)
Norman Garwood		(2 episodes, 1971-1976)
Neville Green		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Robin Tarsnane		(2 episodes, 1979)
Anthony Cartledge		(2 episodes, 1984)
Alison Wratten		(2 episodes, 1988)

Series Costume Design by
Frances Bolwell		(17 episodes, 1972-1989)
Pam Doolan		(7 episodes, 1981-1983)
Allard Tobin		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Louise Walker		(4 episodes, 1980-1983)
Jean Kelly		(3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Derek Needs		(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Graham Williams		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Christine Morrell	....	makeup artist (9 episodes, 1975-1978)
Gilly Wakeford	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1982-1988)
Dianne Millar	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1978-1986)
Lesley Sanders	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1980-1983)
Pearl Rashbass	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1985-1989)
Carol Green	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1981)
Ann Briggs	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1989)

Series Production Management
Nigel Spong	....	unit supervisor: outside broadcast (1 episode, 1978)

Series Art Department
Mike Webb	....	graphic designer (14 episodes, 1978-1985)
Lester Halhed	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1983-1989)
Geoff Alexander	....	graphic designer (3 episodes, 1982-1984)
John Stamp	....	graphic designer (2 episodes, 1982)
Andy Armstrong	....	props (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Clive Hall	....	sound / dubbing mixer (18 episodes, 1980-1989)
Richard Churchill	....	sound / sound effects (16 episodes, 1978-1989)
Julian Ford	....	sound / sound effects / ... (11 episodes, 1978-1982)
Dick Bradford	....	sound / sound effects (4 episodes, 1977-1981)
Paul Gartrell	....	sound (4 episodes, 1980-1985)
Stuart Gain	....	sound / sound effects (4 episodes, 1981-1984)
Bruce Englefield	....	sound (3 episodes, 1977)
Basil Rootes	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1971-1972)

Series Special Effects by
Peter Boffin	....	vision mixer (10 episodes, 1979-1986)
Martin Perrett	....	vision mixer (7 episodes, 1978-1989)
Nick Bigsby	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunt double (1 episode, 1971)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Adrian J. Fearnley	....	senior camera operator (10 episodes, 1981-1989)
Allan James	....	vision controller (8 episodes, 1979-1989)
Bill Marley	....	vision controller (6 episodes, 1978-1988)
Roy Easton	....	senior camera operator (5 episodes, 1978-1986)
Peter Howell	....	senior camera operator (5 episodes, 1980-1988)
Allen Harradine	....	lighting technician / lighting director (5 episodes, 1981-1984)
Andy Andrews	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1984-1988)
Peter Bower	....	lighting director / vision controller (4 episodes, 1978-1989)
Bob Simmons	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1978-1986)
Albert Almond	....	senior camera operator (4 episodes, 1979-1989)
Malcolm Harrison	....	lighting technician (3 episodes, 1977-1979)
Chas Watts	....	senior camera operator (3 episodes, 1980-1984)
Ian Jones	....	vision controller (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Bob Mason	....	vision controller (3 episodes, 1985-1989)
David Motture	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1977-1986)
Brian Kerr	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1980-1982)
Keith Reed	....	lighting technician (2 episodes, 1980)
Richard Waiting	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1981-1986)
Ian Coram	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1985-1988)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Keith Rosson	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1988)
Vernon White	....	wardrobe set supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Colin Bocking	....	editor: video tape (7 episodes, 1980-1988)
Camilla Keenan	....	editor: video tape (6 episodes, 1978-1982)
Dave Lewinton	....	editor: video tape (5 episodes, 1978-1989)
Peter Phillips	....	vision mixer (5 episodes, 1979-1989)
Thomas Kavanagh	....	editor: video tape (5 episodes, 1984-1989)
Roger Holmes	....	editor: video tape (4 episodes, 1983-1989)
Grant Goodwin	....	editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1981-1985)
Terry Badham	....	editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1986-1989)
Fred Turner	....	editor: video tape (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Ronnie Aldrich	....	musical director (56 episodes, 1969-1989)
Ted Taylor	....	music associate / musical associate (47 episodes, 1969-1989)
Boots Randolph	....	composer: theme "Yakety Sax" (44 episodes, 1969-1989)
Joyce Sharpen	....	music executive (27 episodes, 1978-1989)
Syd Lucas	....	music associate / musical associate (12 episodes, 1970-1973)
Albert Elms	....	musical director (3 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Other crew
Auriol Lee	....	stage manager (25 episodes, 1979-1989)
Fizz Waters	....	floor manager (13 episodes, 1979-1988)
Libby Roberts	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels (13 episodes, 1984-1989)
Bruce Englefield	....	studio supervisor / operational supervisor (12 episodes, 1978-1988)
Eamonn Duffy	....	location manager (10 episodes, 1984-1989)
Bernard Allum	....	title designer (9 episodes, 1978-1981)
Linda Finch	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels / choreographer (7 episodes, 1980-1983)
John White-Jones	....	studio supervisor (7 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Lopes	....	floor manager (6 episodes, 1979-1982)
Debbie Newman	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1986-1989)
René Bloomstein	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1970-1978)
Angela Carter	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Johnny Greenland	....	choreographer (4 episodes, 1971-1973)
Iris Frederick	....	booking executive (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Angie Piper	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Eric Pavitt	....	location manager / location supervisor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Mike Mulloy	....	stand-in: Benny Hill (4 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michele Green	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1980)
David Downing	....	floor manager (3 episodes, 1981)
Gill Horwood	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1981)
Gerry Levy	....	location manager (3 episodes, 1981)
Bridget Moore	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1981)
Maria Finnis	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1984-1988)
Peter Ernster	....	studio supervisor (3 episodes, 1986-1989)
Keith Lund	....	location manager (3 episodes, 1986)
Dennis Kirkland	....	program associate (2 episodes, 1973)
Arlene Phillips	....	choreographer: "Love Machine" (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dee Dee Wilde	....	choreographer / choreographer: Pan's People (2 episodes, 1979)
Michele Green	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1980)
Julie Hervieu	....	choreographer: Hill's Angels (2 episodes, 1981)
Angie Billington	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983)
Brian Kerr	....	studio supervisor (2 episodes, 1984)
Ann Tivendale	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1988)
Aidan Boulter	....	floor manager (2 episodes, 1989)

Production Companies

• Thames Television

Distributors

• A&E Home Video (2004-) (USA) (DVD)
• AZUL Televisión (1999-2002) (Argentina) (TV)
• Canal 11 Buenos Aires (1980-1988) (Argentina) (TV)
• D.L. Taffner Syndication Sales (1979-1989) (USA) (TV)
• Fox Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• France 3 (FR 3) (1992) (France) (TV) (edited version) (dubbed version)
• France Regions 3 (FR3) (1975) (France) (TV) (dubbed version) (edited version)
• Fremantle Media (2001-) (worldwide) (TV)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Independent Television (ITV)
• RTL 9 (2005) (France) (TV) (dubbed version) (recut version)
• Televisión Federal (Telefe) (1989-1994) (Argentina) (TV)
• Uni/Polydor (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Thames Studios, Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK  taping location

Runtime:

60 min (58 episodes) | France:35 min (edited version) (dubbed version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1970-1971) (3 episodes) | Color (1969-1970 and 1971-1989)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | USA:TV-PG | UK:12 (some epiosodes) | UK:PG | Singapore:PG (some episodes) | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16

Company:

Thames Television

Trivia:

The 24 September 1975 edition was originally scheduled to air on 26 May 1975, but a week-long technicians' strike which knocked the ITV (Independent Television) network off the air at the time, led to the episode's being postponed to the later date.

Quotes:

Housewife: No, I'm wearing black for my poor, departed husband.
Milkman: Oh... how long's he been gone?
Housewife: Ten minutes. He won't be back till 1.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Age of Aquarius

Benny Hill - the funniest man ever

Ladies and Gentlemen - The Benny Hill Show. You don't need much to be funny - just some jokes that are funny. Benny Hill is just like that. He makes it all look so easy, but is impossible to imitate because he's simply be the funniest man ever to have lived on Earth. Basically Benny has only few jokes that he repeats and makes it all again with little variation. That doesn't mean that he repeats himself, because he rather guarantees a good laugh when the audience exactly knows what is going to happen. And when it happens, they laugh.

The archetype jokes are a mistake, accidental insult and the chase. In a mistake Benny thinks something is something that really isn't it. For example something is heavier than it appears or Benny takes man for a woman. Accidental insult happens when Benny does something that causes harm for someone. For example he touches woman's breast when he's looking for some similar object. The chase is a cliché, but you'll always wait for it. You'll know the chase will soon be on, when the funny 'chase tune' starts to play.

The Show is however much more fun than my diagnosis of it. Go and see it!