Sykes!!!

[Stillhomewardbound]

Eric Sykes was one of the finest architects of comedy. He had a marvellous insight into the construct of a gag or a routine that was utterly unique. One of the first stars he wrote for was Frankie Howerd who would berate him for his lack of confidence. "You've a great talent", he told Sykes, "... But you suspect it because it comes too easily.". Frankie was spot on. Sykes, simply, had comedy in his bone marrow, both as a writer and performer and I was privileged to call myself a fan. Heaven is much the richer for his arrival.

I suspect he brought comedy within wherever he went, as is demonstrated in this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQy_ceTBtjs

ps. marvellous to see him wince at an actor get the feed wrong. Never mind, Higgs Bosun, comedy is the science that will never be cracked.

[Northender]

Eric Sykes was one of the finest architects of comedy. He had a marvellous insight into the construct of a gag or a routine that was utterly unique. One of the first stars he wrote for was Frankie Howerd who would berate him for his lack of confidence. "You've a great talent", he told Sykes, "... But you suspect it because it comes too easily.". Frankie was spot on. Sykes, simply, had comedy in his bone marrow, both as a writer and performer and I was privileged to call myself a fan. Heaven is much the richer for his arrival.

I suspect he brought comedy within wherever he went, as is demonstrated in this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQy_ceTBtjs

ps. marvellous to see him wince at an actor get the feed wrong. Never mind, Higgs Bosun, comedy is the science that will never be cracked.

Ken Dodd pointed out on the 10.00 BBC1 News that Eric's was an essentially kind and gentle form of humour. Would that there was more of it about....

[Lateralthinking1]

Ken Dodd pointed out on the 10.00 BBC1 News that Eric's was an essentially kind and gentle form of humour. Would that there was more of it about....

Yes, I agree. In truth, he was never my favourite comic performer but he did on occasions write for Tony Hancock and the Goons. In fact, he wrote for, and with, almost everybody who was anybody in comedy over a period of several decades.

Comedy styles from the 1950s to the 1970s were wide-ranging and those involved were not without bitterness. There was though very little professional cynicism of the kind we witness today. What we are often given now might be perceived as both more knowing and more real but to my mind it is less down-to-earth. Given all the money and harshness, it might as well be Barclays.

Eric Sykes was like someone you might actually know and like rather than a so-called comedian who would never want to meet you. I am pleased that he lived to a ripe old age and am sorry that he has now gone.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Gentility yes, but while there was an element of slapstick, you had to admire the technique and the well concealed building blocks beneath. In Sykes, his decision that Eric and Hattie would be identical twins, thereby allowing both character's dalliances with outside parties that could be introduced into the plot on an occasional basis.

I was lucky enough to see him interviewed by Dennis Norden about ten years ago at the Barbican, that's when he signed a copy of one of his books for, but my most special memory is being with my dad at a meeting with producer Roger Race ad TV Centre and there was a framed washer against a red velvet background. It was a unique prop from an episode of Sykes when he's finally found a job. You'll know it if you know it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcbWPxXAYa8

[Ferretfancy]

I was lucky enough to be an assistant recordist on a sketch that he and Hattie later recycled, the one in which they ran a bus as if it was an airliner.They were very meticulous as you might expect, but very charming and easy with all of us, and that can be rare in comics, who are often very insecure in their art.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

his movie The Plank was an influential piece in its time ... a real gent and a biig contributor to the fun in our lives ...

[eighthobstruction]

Yes lovely gentle warm subtle comedy....

[Pegleg]

Is it too much to hope that the BBC will give us an "Eric Sykes Night" as a tribute to his comic genius? For now I have contented myself with trawling YouTube for any and all examples of his work.

[Anna]

There's an archived interview from the Guardian (2001) here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2001/aug/21/artsfeatures?intcmp=239