WHEN CLASSIC COMEDY GOES HORRIBLY WRONG

For more than seven decades TV has provided us with no end of classic comedy. Unforgettable comedians and memorable comic characters. And, let’s face it we all need a good laugh!

But sometimes the joke can be on them. And occasionally, the laughter stops altogether. 

From stumped stand-ups to Gods of Comedy upstaged, from panel shows to live comedy TV, we’ve got horribly wrong moments from all your favourite classic comedy shows and stars including Monty Python, Vic & Bob, Peter Kay and Russel Howard. 

Other highlights include the moment Sean Lock seriously injured comedian Bill Bailey with a flying prop handbag. Comedy favourite Joe Pasquale loses his head in front of a packed audience at London’s prestigious Palladium Theatre. Panelist Jessica Knappett takes a tumble on Taskmaster and Christopher Biggins takes things too far urging viewers to shove a lemon where the sun don’t shine on teatime telly! 

Plus, there’s a rare gem from the vaults featuring then stand-up Michael Gove whose jokes fall flat on a forgotten Channel 4 classic comedy. Pamela Stephenson totally misjudges her audience turning the air blue at a televised Woman of the Year event. And there are vintage laughs on The Arthur Haynes Show when a young Wendy Richard loses it over a winkle! 

Contributors include: Ivo Graham, Lesley Joseph, Anita Harris and character actor Dan Renton Skinner.

Rating 390,000 5.9% share. 25% up on slot average. Beating BBC2, ITV and Ch4 at various points throughout the 3 hour show.

Consolidated rating 522,700 and a 6.49% share.