How Do You View?

How Do You View? was the first comedy series on British television.[1][2] The programme was based on an on-screen persona of Terry-Thomas as "a glamorous, mischievous and discreetly cash-strapped man-about-town", introducing a series of sketches in which he also appeared,[3] alongside Peter Butterworth as his chauffeur; Janet Brown (Butterworth's real life wife); Avril Angers; H.C. Walton as the family retainer, Moulting, Sam Kydd, and Diana Dors, as 'Cuddles', in the six episodes of series four.[4] The programme was broadcast live and often included Terry-Thomas walking through control rooms and corridors of the BBC's Lime Grove and Alexandra Palace studios.[4][5]

The series is described by the author and historian Mark Lewisohn as being "inventive ... truly televisual and not just a radio programme in costume".[6]

Series history

• Series one: 26 October – 21 December 1949
• Series two: 5 April – 17 May 1950
• Series three: 8 November 1950 – 28 February 1951
• Series four: 19 September – 28 November 1951
• Series five: 2 April – 11 June 1952
• Special: 9 September 1953[6]

Notes and references

1. McCann 2009, p. 51.
2. Ross 2002, p. 52.
3. McCann 2009, p. 55.
4. Ross 2002, p. 54.
5. McCann 2009, p. 59.
6. Lewisohn 1998, p. 333.

Bibliography

• Lewisohn, Mark (1998). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-5633-6977-6.
• McCann, Graham (2009). Bounder! The Biography of Terry-Thomas. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1-84513-441-9.
• Ross, Robert (2002). The Complete Terry-Thomas. London: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 978-1-903111-29-1.