The Comedy Café - 21/01/2011

Eric Sykes started out entertaining the troops while in the RAF and went on to become one of Britain's best loved comedy legends with the phenomenally successful "Sykes" series. As a performer he starred alongside the likes of Tommy Cooper, Hattie Jacques, Chic Murray and Spike Milligan. But he was also a hugely talented writer and director, going on to produce some of the most famous comedy routines for Morecambe and Wise. His achievements are all the more remarkable as he suffered both hearing and visual disabilities. Janice Forsyth talks to this much loved comedy genius about his extraordinary career. After 20 years on ITV the British Comedy Awards have found a new home in a 3-year deal on Channel 4. With a reputation for risk taking in their comedy scheduling the new host channel plans a number of radical changes to the awards show - but will it be for the better? It was the original comedy benefit concert which inspired generations of other artists to stage similar concerts for social and political causes. So successful was the Secret Policeman's Ball of the '70's in raising awareness on human rights issues it almost became a victim of its own success generating 'benefit fatigue' and a number of confusing changes to the iconic title down the decades. But the brand is still synonymous with the sort of cult comedy event you just won't experience elsewhere - and all for a good cause. As Glasgow University gears up to host it's third Annual Secret Policeman's Ball, compere Billy Kirkwood makes no secret of his desire for this year's event to reflect the anarchic tradition of the original 1970's shows.