One of my favourite comics. Saw him live in one of his trademark farces in the West End in September 2001. Memorable for a number of reasons, a deserted London, a near empty theatre and sitting next to an American who lost himself in the humour of the event.
Excellent comic, sad loss.
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I saw him partner John Spencer in a pro celebrity snooker match against Ray Reardon and Peter Aliss during a time filler at the Benson & Hedges Masters in the seventies. He was hilarious and brought the house down, a very funny man.
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I remember growing up with him and Hattie Jacques on the TV.
RIP.
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Best get ready to record the tribute program / one off episode of Sykes! which will no doubt get aired by the Beeb.
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i recently watched a copy of THE PLANK , it was great to find the film locations on google earth, most of it filmed around kingstone upon thames, they did a remake of it in the 80s, a huge cast list.....RIP ERIC, I SAID RIP ERIC
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>> i recently watched a copy of THE PLANK
Indeed!
Superb 'silent' comedy.
What was the one he did as an undertaker, removing the coffin from the block of flats (with a broken lift)?
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>> >> i recently watched a copy of THE PLANK
>>
>> Indeed!
>> Superb 'silent' comedy.
>> What was the one he did as an undertaker, removing the coffin from the block
>> of flats (with a broken lift)?
Ms H is Late.
Here is a copy of "The Plank" rightly reckoned to be the best "silent" slapstick ever
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2RoudtrVv8
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Thanks Zero.
I still remember, with grins, the pallbearers knocking on various doors, and walking in, and then out, to negotiate the stairwells. Brilliance.
*edith*
Quick look at the credits:
James Hunt ... Trucker
Last edited by: Ian (Cape Town) on Wed 4 Jul 12 at 15:58
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He wrote the jokes for Frankie Howard and when he asked Howard if he could have a mention on Howard's billing, he was bluntly refused. I laughed as Sykes. Hardly ever at Howard. Odd, init.
I remember Sykes in a very funny film as a Romany work-shy man and family taken in by the not-streetwise church minister, Sellers. He, having bought his hard luck story. When the family left, so did the lead from the church roof. Later as Sellers was giving a serious sermon, it rained in all over him. The head of churches made Sellers minster for outer space.
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Sadly, never got a Knighthood when all sorts of rag-bags with lesser talents were getting theirs.
A good writer and slapstick man...will be missed by my generation.
Ted
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>> I remember Sykes in a very funny film as a Romany work-shy man and family
>> taken in by the not-streetwise church minister, Sellers. He, having bought his hard luck story.
>> When the family left, so did the lead from the church roof. Later as Sellers
>> was giving a serious sermon, it rained in all over him. The head of churches
>> made Sellers minster for outer space.
Heavens Above - 1963
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The file ended with the gullible Peter Sellers being fired off in a rocket to his new abode.
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the ' big freeze' was a chuckle, real snow by the looks of it ....cant find it on yute hoob tho
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Didn't Eric write scipts for the some of the Goon shows as well?
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eric was a big writer for the goon show...he was the un known goon
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>> Didn't Eric write scipts for the some of the Goon shows as well?
>>
used to share a building in Bayswater with Spike Milliagn, IIRC.
I should know which street - I used to drink at a boozer nearby... off Queensway. Alma Gardens, maybe?
OH! and forget the 'funniest ever moment' with DelBoy falling through the bar - watch Sykes and hattie handcauffed together, eating egg and chips.
Last edited by: Ian (Cape Town) on Wed 4 Jul 12 at 17:56
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>> used to share a building in Bayswater with Spike Milliagn, IIRC.
Also starred together in Curry and Chips
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd_Vjq5MEeQ
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Occurred to me - when I saw him in the West End that he was as deaf as a post - this made his comic timing all the more incredible.......for a couple of hours that night all the cares in the world (and they were big ones) were suspended by true comic artistry - what more do you want. More class in his little finger than that odious twerp we were talking about last week.
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...when I saw him in the West End that he was as deaf as a post...
I heard him say he was completely deaf in one ear, possibly from an early age.
The other one may have gradually come out in sympathy as the years rolled by.
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>>More class in his little finger than that odious twerp we were talking about last week.
>>
Osborne? Milligram? Cameroon? Well................who?
Last edited by: Martin Devon on Wed 4 Jul 12 at 19:36
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An artist, I agree, but he didn't appeal to me. I must confess I like broader humour!
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>> Osborne? Milligram? Cameroon? Well................who?
I think he means one of my favourite comedians, Jimmy Carr.
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Sad to hear Eric died great comedian.
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I always enjoyed listening to him when he was interviewed. He always seemed to be a really genuine guy.
Thinking about it, I even enjoyed watching his shows when I was a nipper!
RIP
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A remarkable, personal and very emotional tribute to him this morning on R4's Broadcasting House by Barry Cryer. Worth a listen.
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Cant be long before he dies, he wrote most of the jokes for those that have already died.
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steady on, you beastly man, he's only 77 ... and very talented. What's more, I'm told he speaks well of you!
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Well done Hacko. My thumb up.
Last edited by: Martin Devon on Sun 8 Jul 12 at 21:26
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Just getting you prepared. And he would think its a funny comment as well!
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Caught him in 'Just a minute' on R4 last week - still going strong.
Last edited by: Focus on Sun 8 Jul 12 at 21:55
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...unlike myself - it was 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue' :)
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>> A remarkable, personal and very emotional tribute to him this morning on R4's Broadcasting House
>> by Barry Cryer. Worth a listen.
Are you pulling our legs, or didn't you listen properly?
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typical Barry Cryer joke: "I only take Viagra to stop me rolling out of bed at night." The best comedians often have been script writers, unlike professional sneerers like Jimmy Carr.
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As well as the official obit, the DT printed this little piece my Marks & Gran, with sidelights on Frankie Howerd and Barry Cryer -
goo.gl/9ag6Y
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"One winter’s night, as Mr and Mrs Sykes settled down to a romantic evening in front of the television to watch Sportsview, the doorbell rang. Eric knew it would be Ray and Alan. Too embarrassed to read their work in front of them, again, he told his wife to say he wasn’t in and would they leave the script. To be on the safe side, he nipped on to his balcony, even though he was dressed in just his pyjamas and dressing gown.
Young Galton and Simpson stepped inside the flat to deposit the script on the coffee table. But just as they were about to leave, Alan noticed that the British Open Table Tennis Championships were starting on the BBC. An aficionado of ping-pong, Alan asked if they could stay and watch. Mrs Sykes didn’t know how to refuse. The programme was so gripping that probably only Mrs Sykes heard the rain suddenly start to lash against the windows"
Priceless.
Last edited by: R.P. on Mon 9 Jul 12 at 10:07
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Priceless! +1
Last edited by: zippy on Mon 9 Jul 12 at 20:53
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Eric Sykes has died. - Robin O'Reliant
