"As the dark nights start to envelope us properly with its cold temperatures and the ubiquitous advertisements for Christmas presents and the soon to follow, never-ending renditions of Slade and Wizard on the radio. Those of a more mature age may be forgiven for harking back to those halcyon days when Christmas had its classic TV shows like Morecombe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Rising Damp and last but by no means least The Two Ronnies.
"The reason I recall a time gone by is largely due to the fact I have just recently finished Ronnie Barker's 'All I Ever Wrote The Complete Works'. This is as its title states a complete collection of the great mans comedy writings. In the book are, word for word, all the scripts that Ronnie ever wrote. From his early sketches and plays to his unforgettable monologues, songs, poems, silent movies and his sitcoms.
"Mr Barker comes across in this book as a very quiet family man who hid within him what was to be a talent for being both a prolific writer and comedy genius. From his early days as an actor to his first tentative steps in British television and film are all recounted here wrapped around some of the best comedy writing this country had ever seen.
"Whilst working on the Frost Show with some of the best British satirists of the 60s, he plucked the courage to write a few sketches for the show. Using the pseudonym Gerald Wiley in case others rejected his work, he was soon surprised to find that they in fact loved it. This spurred on the man who brought us the likes of the Fork Handle sketch, an all time classic that continues to be voted in anyone's top 10 never mind top one hundred sketches.
"Gone have the likes of the Phantom Raspberry Blower or Charlie Farley and Piggy Malone from our screens. But most defiantly not gone is the memory, of such timeless comedy classics that were the inspiration of this quiet, unassuming man. Noted equally for his writing ability and his ability to slip into both a wide range of characters and voices, this man had talent in abundance. So why not find a quiet corner and slip between the pages of this very entertaining book? It will not only bring back memories of a bygone age of British television but also will be a valuable resource for anyone who doesn't want to wear the dresses but so wishes to follow in Ronnie Barker's footsteps."
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