I grew up
listening to Clement Freud on the radio. I was Primary 5 when I first heard him as a panelist on Nicolas Parsons' Just A Minute. It was 11 'o clock at night, or was it 10..? Those were the days when the BBC had simply not condescended to us by providing regional programming on the World Service, when one could tune in to radio plays or entire dramas, and even poetry readings over lunch. These wonderful things are all gone, now, on the ostensible charges of being too elitist.
There was a slot for radio comedy at 10 or 11 'o clock at night. It was then when I was first introduced to British comedy (referred affectionately to as BritCom). As a child, I didn't understand very many of the shows immediately, but they proved to be the humble beginnings of a very long love affair. There were several iconic shows which I could not do without - Just A Minute, of course, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (chaired by the dear, dear late Humphrey Lyttelton) and predecessor to all things absurdist and Pythonesque, the seminal Goon Show by Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Neddy Seacombe. I always slept on time - just so that I could listen to them, and if I missed them, there was always a second broadcast at five in the morning to catch. Internet archiving, alas, had never quite caught on yet. I was a rabid fan.
To what purpose have I written all this? Sir Clement's passing counts as one amongst many of the very last nails that have found their way into the coffin of first-generation BritCom. As an anglophone, I find it tragic when the significance of such events is lost upon all but the faithful few, us faithful few, who have had our lives brightened up by the great work of great men such as Sir Clement.
I suppose, however, that all good things, and good people, must meet their ends.
Clement Freud was a charming individual, a gem of intellect, and an absolute master of deadpan wit. He was a gentleman.
He will be missed.
Obits:
Time 1, 2, | Independent | Guardian | BBC (Stephen Fry) | Daily Mail | Telegraph | A wonderful one by Neil Gaiman
There was a slot for radio comedy at 10 or 11 'o clock at night. It was then when I was first introduced to British comedy (referred affectionately to as BritCom). As a child, I didn't understand very many of the shows immediately, but they proved to be the humble beginnings of a very long love affair. There were several iconic shows which I could not do without - Just A Minute, of course, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (chaired by the dear, dear late Humphrey Lyttelton) and predecessor to all things absurdist and Pythonesque, the seminal Goon Show by Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Neddy Seacombe. I always slept on time - just so that I could listen to them, and if I missed them, there was always a second broadcast at five in the morning to catch. Internet archiving, alas, had never quite caught on yet. I was a rabid fan.
To what purpose have I written all this? Sir Clement's passing counts as one amongst many of the very last nails that have found their way into the coffin of first-generation BritCom. As an anglophone, I find it tragic when the significance of such events is lost upon all but the faithful few, us faithful few, who have had our lives brightened up by the great work of great men such as Sir Clement.
I suppose, however, that all good things, and good people, must meet their ends.
Clement Freud was a charming individual, a gem of intellect, and an absolute master of deadpan wit. He was a gentleman.
He will be missed.
Obits:
Time 1, 2, | Independent | Guardian | BBC (Stephen Fry) | Daily Mail | Telegraph | A wonderful one by Neil Gaiman