Barry Cryer

November 14th 2008
Quaglino’s, London

Barry has successfully combined two careers in show business - as a writer and a performer. Since The Frost report, Cryer has provided material for a list of people that reads like a who's who of British and American comedy.

While working with Danny la Rue in the 60’s, Barry first met David Frost who invited him to join the writing roster on the BBC program, The Frost Report – an amazing group of writers who included what was to become the whole of Monty Python, Marty Feldman, David Nobbs (author of Reginald Perrin series and a future writing partner) and many more.

He moved with Frost to ITV and wrote and appeared in The Frost Programme, Frost on Sunday, etc.. until he returned to the BBC as one of the original Two Ronnies writers.

As a writer Barry has written for practically every top comedian - past and present - in the country, including Morecambe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth, Tommy Cooper, Kenny Everett, Stanley Baxter, Dick Emery, Dave Allen, Frankie Howard, Les Dawson, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Mike Yarwood, Billy Connolly, Russ Abbot, Bobby Davro, Jasper Carrott, and many others.

As a performer he has appeared on practically every panel game on television and radio including Countdown, That’s Showbusiness, Blankety Blank, Punch Lines, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. ISIHAC started in 1972 and has since had over 30 series broadcast.

In 1990 Barry teamed up with old friend, the late Willie Rushton in their own show, Two Old Farts in the Night, and in 1998, Barry wrote his autobiography, You Won't Believe This But..., which has also been broadcast on Radio 4. Over the past few years, Barry has regularly performed his own one-man show, That Reminds Me to sell out audiences nationwide.

In 1995, Barry joined an illustrious list by becoming a “victim” on This Is Your Life, and in November 2001 he was awarded an OBE.

A great showman and hilarious speaker, Barry will delight us with the many talents and insights garnered from a unique career in the entertainment industry, and we very much look forward to you joining us.