Brighton 69
Bristol 138, 162, 163
British Airways 196
British Avenue of Stars 287–8
Brixton Register Office, London 48
Bromley, Kent 3, 45
Brook, Peter 121, 122
Brown, Alan 200
Bryan, Dora 31
Brydon, Rob 272
Buckingham Palace, London 185
Buckstone Club, Suffolk Street, London 2, 3–4, 27, 28, 31, 202, 297, 302
Bull, Peter 160–61
Burgess, Anthony 10–11, 217
Butlins holiday camps 137
By the Sea (silent film) 216–19, 218
Bygraves, Max 220, 221
Café de Paris, London 25
Cairngorms, Scotland 19
Cambridge 252
Cambridge Circus, London 161
Cambridge Footlights 5
Carry On films 22
Carson, Frank 108–9, 168
Casson, Phil 63, 65
Castle, Roy 150
Celebrity Golf (TV series) 168
Chagford, Devon 97, 102
Chambers, Gary 81–2
Channel 4 269
Channel Nine (Australia) 203
Chaplin, Charlie 271
Chapman, Graham 9, 12, 52, 53, 54–5, 86
Charles, HRH The Prince of Wales 177, 178
Charles, Tina 92
Charlton Athletic FC 166
Chatty Dolly (horse) 165
Chaucer, Geoffrey 295
Chetham Strode, W.: The Guinea Pig 39–40
Chez Solange restaurant, London 30
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire 252, 254, 255
Churchill, Sir Winston 262
Cinderella 163, 259
Clarence (TV sitcom) 241, 253
Clarke, Roy 152, 155
Cleese, John 5, 9–12, 51, 53–4, 53, 58, 98, 231, 267, 270
Clement, Dick 150, 192, 193–4
Colditz (TV series) 103–4
Comedy Awards 264–7, 275
Connery, Sir Sean 2, 155
Connor, Kenneth 22
Cooke, Brian 56
Cooney, Ray: Out of Order 214, 257
Cooper, Chris 263
Cooper, Tommy 110, 111, 235, 240
Corbett, Allan (RC’s brother) 15, 16, 22, 167, 252
Corbett, Andrew (RC’s son) 49
Corbett, Anne (née Hart; RC’s wife) 29, 30, 33, 46, 69, 93, 302
first marriage 31
appears on stage with the Crazy Gang 4, 48
courted by RC 4, 31, 32, 79
works with RC 29
in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 31–2
her children 49
gives up her career for RC 32, 49–50
wins egg and spoon race at White City 56–7
and Frost on Sunday 64
and This Is Your Life 65–6, 67
and The Two Ronnies 1, 96, 135
trusting relationship with RC 99, 114
and RC in drag 105
friendship with Joy Barker 140, 173, 199–200
gift from the Prime Minister of Bahrain 158–9
and Rolls Royce purchase 163, 164
and death of RC’s father 167–8
in Australia 195, 196, 202, 205, 213–14
visits Joy at the mill 299
Corbett, Anne (RC’s mother) 14, 16, 21–2, 66, 167, 252–3
Corbett, Emma (RC’s daughter) 49, 105, 174, 199
Corbett, Geordie (RC’s uncle) 20
Corbett, Jen (RC’s sister-in-law) 15
Corbett, Margaret (RC’s sister) 15, 16, 66
Corbett, Ronnie
similarities with RB 35, 37, 38–9, 43–7
born in Edinburgh (4 December 1930) 14
family background 14–15
childhood 15–22, 16
wins talent contest (aged five) 16–17, 165
education 17, 17, 19, 21–2
height issue 3, 10, 17–19, 23–4, 78–9, 102, 238, 296
decision to become a comic actor 21
interest in clothes 2, 18–19
at the Ministry of Agriculture 22–3
deviated septum 23, 24, 143
National Service 23–4, 23
first romantic encounter 24
goes to London (1951) 24
struggles in London for eight years 26–8
works as a barman 1, 2, 27, 28, 202
gets a break 28–9
plays Othello 29–30, 32
first meets RB 1, 2–3, 297
in The Frost Report 5, 8, 9–12, 51–3, 56, 57, 58, 77
relationship with RB 9, 12, 99, 121, 148, 186, 254, 300–301
courts Anne 4, 31, 32, 79
marriage 48
loss of his baby son 49
his daughters 49
in Frost on Sunday 58, 59–60, 60, 62–73, 64, 77
hosts The Corbett Follies 61, 62
only serious argument with RB 3, 63–4
and This Is Your Life 65–6
joins the BBC 74–5
discussions at the Ritz with Frost 5, 79
in The Two Ronnies see The Two Ronnies
Ronnie Corbett in Bed 84, 85–6
moves to Addington 94–5
golfer 96–7, 101, 102, 165, 167–70, 195, 201, 204
and food 100, 131, 163
attitude to being recognized 102
in pantomime 138–9, 155–6, 259–60
at Montreux 142–3
in Sorry 156–9, 253, 259
gift from the Prime Minister of Bahrain 158–9
love of baking 163
interest in cars 163–4
and sport 165–70
death of his father 167–8
occasional evenings with RB 172–3
awarded an OBE 184–8
at the London Palladium 189–93
and taxation 193–5
in Australia 195–6, 198–208, 213–14, 240–41, 257
hepatitis 197–8
breakdown 208–214
on criticism 215–19
told of RB’s decision to retire 235–40
on his mother’s death 252–3
Saints and Sinners chairman 260–61
at RB’s BAFTA tribute show 276, 277
The Two Ronnies Sketchbook 278–84
last Christmas special with RB 285–7, 301
British Avenue of Stars award 287–9
last conversation with RB 289
told of Ron’s death 290
and RB’s memorial service 293–8
visits Joy at the mill 299
on RB’s great talent 299–301
good luck in his life 302
Corbett, Sophie (RC’s daughter) 49, 105, 174, 199
Corbett, William (RC’s father) 14–15, 16, 18, 20, 21–2, 26, 34, 66, 167–8, 185
Corbett Follies, The (TV show) 61–2, 79, 227
Cote d’Azur, Soho, London 49
Cotton, Bill 74–5
Cotton, Henry 167–70, 251
Cotton, Toots 169
Coventry Hippodrome 227
Coward, Noël 21, 25, 70, 125
Cowdrey, Colin 166
Cowdrey, Graham 166
Cowdrey, Jeremy 166
Crawford, Michael 253
Crawford Street, London 53
Crazy Gang, The 4, 48, 105
Crown and Cushion hotel, Chipping Norton 254, 255
Croydon, Surrey 199
Cryer, Barry 6, 9, 29, 53, 54, 55, 61, 72, 86, 108, 229–30, 245, 247, 252, 284
Crystal Palace FC 166, 269
Daily Mail 244, 291
Daily Telegraph 291
Danziger, Rowena 199
Dare, Zena 44
David Paradine Productions 53, 61, 73, 75, 76
Davidson, Ian 61, 82, 112, 156–7, 245, 248
Davis, Sammy, Junior 60, 93
Dawson, Les 40
Day, Robert 30
Dean Mill, Oxfordshire 239–40, 241, 244, 252, 287, 299
Dean Miller As
sociates 244
Dearie, Blossom 85
Debbie (travelling companion) 197
Delfont, Lord Bernard 227
Dickson Wright, Clarissa 268
Digby Wolfe Show, The (television show) 29
Docherty, Tommy 56, 165–6
Dodd, Ken 89
Donegan, Lonnie 165
Donnelly, Sam 279
Doonican, Val 202
Dors, Diana 104
Double Image 44
Drury Lane Theatre, London 32, 33, 34
Dryden, John 295
Dyall, Valentine 25
Dyball, Karen 213
Dyball, Ken 213–14
Eade, Peter 67, 69, 70, 146
Ealing comedies 150
Ealing Studios 150
Eastbourne 140, 164
Eaton Square, London 101
Edinburgh 14, 22, 23, 37, 105, 166, 168, 170, 252, 259
Elizabeth, Queen, the Queen Mother 150, 153
Elizabeth II, Queen 185, 186–7, 189, 227
Elton, Ben 258–9, 272
Emery, Dick 110
Emporium, The, Chipping, Norton, Oxfordshire 254, 257
Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund 227
Evans, Dame Edith 2
Feldman, Marty 53, 55
Felix, Julie 9, 53
Fell, Anthony, MP 32–3
Fell, Tom 167
Feydeau, Georges: The Dressmaker 173–4
Fielding, Harold 189, 209–210, 211
Finlay, Frank 260
Finney, Albert 262
First World War 15
Flanagan, Bud 16
Folkestone race course 165
Fonteyn, Dame Margot 208
Ford, Harrison 251
Foreign Affairs (TV sitcom) 56
Fowler, Harry 28
Fox, Paul 74
Franklin, Jim 99
Fred, The Removals Person 241
Frost, Sir David 221, 267, 276
That Was the Week That Was 5
discussions at the Ritz with RC 5, 79
and The Frost Report 5, 6, 9, 51, 53–4, 56, 57, 63
Frost parties 52, 56–7, 72–3
Golden Rose award for Frost Over England 52, 53
and birth of London Weekend Television 58
and Frost on Sunday 60, 62, 63, 67, 76, 80
rift with London Weekend Television 73
in Australia 203
Frost on Sunday (TV series) 58–73, 66, 76, 77, 79, 80, 237
Frost Over England (TV special) 52, 142
Frost Report, The (TV series) 5, 8, 9–12, 34, 48, 51–3, 56, 57, 58, 63, 77, 98, 276, 302
Fry, Stephen 272
Fun at St Fanny’s (film) 25
Futtock’s End (silent film) 217
Gardner, Ava 171
Garland, Judy 50
Garland, Patrick 173
Garrick, David 295
Gathering Storm, The (film) 262, 263
General Election (1966) 51–2
Gervais, Ricky 288
Gibraltar 30–31
Gielgud, Sir John 2, 37, 125
Gilbert, Fiona 53
Gilbert, Jimmy 5, 6, 53, 77, 80–81, 84–5, 145, 217, 276
Glasgow 105, 142, 259
Gloucester Arms pub, Oxford 43
Glover Turner Robertson School, George Street, Edinburgh 21–2
Going Straight (TV series) 152
Golden Rose award, Montreux Television Festival 52, 53, 142–3
Goom, Brian 220
Grade, Michael 143, 240, 296, 297
Granger, Stewart 170–71
Grant, Cary 138–9
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk 32, 34, 189, 293
Green Man, Shurdington, near Cheltenham 97
Guinea Pig, The (film) 40
Guinness, Sir Alec 264–5
Gwenlan, Gareth 240
Ha, Richard 198
Hall, Sir Peter 41, 45, 235–6, 273, 276
Hamilton Terrace, London 27
Hampstead, London 46
Hardwicke, Sir Cedric 24
Hardwicke, Edward 24, 25
Hark at Barker (TV series) 62, 217
Hayes, Middlesex 179, 183
Haymarket Theatre, London 2
Hearts (Heart of Midlothian FC) 165, 166
Heflin, Van 56
Henry V (film) 36
Hepburn, Audrey 155
Heroes of Comedy (TV programme) 269
Hi-de-Hi! (TV sitcom) 134
Highgate Cemetery, North London 98
Hill, Harry 259
Hindle, Madge 218–19
Hinge and Bracket 127, 128
His Lordship Entertains (TV series) 149, 273
Hitchcock, Alfred 49
Hollywood Boulevard 287
Hong Kong 158, 197
Hong Kong Sheraton 197–8
Hordern, Michael 155
Hornchurch, Essex 24, 167
How, Bishop William Walsham 296–7
Howard, Barry 139
Howard, Rikki 218
Huggett, Brian 166
Hughes, Terry 77, 93, 134–5, 174, 175, 189, 245, 264
Humperdinck, Engelbert 61
Humphris, Ivor 242
Hunt, Jimmy 28
Hurll, Michael 264
Hurran, Dick 227
Husband, Mary 130, 138
Idle, Eric 9, 53, 54, 55, 231
Imrie, Celia 262
Inches, David 262
Inman, John 139
Irma La Douce (musical) 2, 121, 145, 161
Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London 50
ITV 54, 58, 62, 152, 259, 264
fiftieth birthday celebrations (2005) 287–8
Jackson, Paul 264
James (RC’s chauffeur) 289
James Gillespie School for Boys, Edinburgh 17, 17
Janus, Samantha 259
Jason, Sir David 62, 150, 152, 266, 273–4, 276, 277
Jay, Sir Antony 9, 51, 53
John, Sir Elton 94
Johnson, Dame Celia 37
Joker’s Wild (TV series) 108
Jonathan Creek (TV series) 229
Jones, Terry 9, 53, 91, 118
Jones, Tom 61
Journey’s End 42
Kay, Peter 271, 296
Kaye, Danny 24
Keel, Howard 32, 85
Kelly, Sam 192, 200
Kennedy, Paddy 28
Kensington, London 158
Kerr, Geoffrey: Cottage to Let 36
King Henry’s Road, Swiss Cottage 27
King’s Theatre, Edinburgh 21
Kosiaks 192
La Fresnais, Ian 150, 192, 193–4
La Rue, Danny 5, 7, 29, 29, 49, 61, 66, 267, 293, 297
Landen, Dinsdale 31
Lang, Robert 30
Langan’s Brasserie, Mayfair, London 152
Laurel and Hardy 150
Law, John 10, 12, 61
Law, Phyllida 241
Laye, Evelyn 27–8, 39
Le Mesurier, John 194
Leach, Rosemary 54
Legg, Nigel 210
Lehrer, Tom 9
Lemmon, Jack 168
Leonard, Hugh 241
Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa 239
Lester, Dick 155
Lewis, Geoff 165, 198
Life of Brian, The (film) 55
Lingfield race course, Surrey 165
Listen to the Wind 44
Listener 10
Littlehampton, West Sussex 239
Littlewood, Joan 6, 121, 122
Lockhart, James 26
Logan, Jenny 6, 29
Loncraine, Richard 262
London Palladium 24, 73, 74, 139, 152, 153, 162, 187, 189–93, 208, 210, 211, 211, 219, 255, 257, 264, 265
London Weekend Television 58, 59, 63, 71–4, 76
Lonsdale, Frederick 25
Lonsdale, Mabbie 25, 26
Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London 54
Los Angeles 133–4
Lott, Barbara 157
/> Lotterby, Sidney 273, 274
Louvre, Paris 239
Love Machine, The 192
Lulworth Cove, Dorset 233, 234
Luton, Bedfordshire 228
Lynn, Jonathan 9
Lysistrata 160
McCabe, Bob: The Authorized Biography of Ronnie Barker 254–5
McGill, Donald 93, 136, 217
Mackay, Fulton 150, 151, 152
McKellar, David 53, 61–2
McKellar, Kenneth 288
McVinnob 61–2
McVitie and Guest 20
Magnificent Evans, The (TV sitcom) 155
Major, Dimi 130
Malaysia 197
Man Outside, The (film) 56
Manchester 138
Manchester Repertory Company 38–40
Mankowitz, Wolf: The Bespoke Overcoat 45, 46
Manor House Hotel, Moretonhampstead, Devon 97
Margaret, HRH Princess 54
Margate, Kent 189, 293
Marsh, Billy 227
Marshall, David 251
Masefield, John 295
Matthews, Jessie 43, 44
Maugham, Somerset: The Letter 45
Maxwell, Tom 21
Mecca Ballrooms 2
Melbourne 201
Melvyn, Glenn 153–4, 276
Hot Water 153–4
Mendes, Sergio 61
Menzies, John 14
Merman, Ethel 32, 200
Merrall, Mary 25, 26
Merry Wives of Windsor, The (musical) 144–5
Merton, Paul 259
Messel, Oliver 6
Mill Reef (horse) 165
Millichope, Ray 53
Milligan, Spike 98
Milne, A. A. 68
Milne, Alastair 207–8
Mime Theatre Company 40–41, 42
Ministry of Agriculture, Edinburgh 22–3
Miranda (Peter Blackmore) 39
Moir, Jim 240, 272
Molière
The Misanthrope 236
School for Wives 236
Tartuffe 236
Monroe, Marilyn 32
Montreux Television Festival 52, 142–3, 297
Monty Python’s Flying Circus 9
Moore, Patrick 125, 232
Moore, William 157
More, Julian 145
Morecambe, Eric 35, 108, 235, 301
Morecambe and Wise 74, 77
Mortimer, Johnnie 56
Mortimer, Marcus 264
Muir, Frank 59, 71, 85, 265
Muirfield Open Championship 167
Mullins, Dennis (Spike) 61, 62, 82, 184, 219–29, 231, 238, 248
Mullins, Mary 220, 226
Murless, Noel 165
Murphy, Lisa 196
Murray, James 165–6
My House in Umbria (film) 262–3
Narooma, Australia 201
National Theatre, London 212, 236
Navy Lark, The (radio show) 3, 5, 56
Nell, Aunt (RC’s aunt) 18
Nelson, Horatia 94
Nelson, Admiral Lord Horatio 94
Nero, Peter 61
Nesbitt, Robert 227
New, Barbara 218
New Cross, London 34, 49
New Forest 101
New House, Church Lane, Pinner 94, 108
New World 93
New Zealand, Anne tours 32
Newley, Anthony 165
And It's Goodnight from Him . . . Page 27
