R2OK!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

...is barmy (fact!) but he's my kind of barmy Razz

and he had me chuckling away this morning listening to his "Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show! Christmas Special" on Radio 4 Extra

"Count Arthur is saved from the seemingly simple task of writing his Christmas cards by a call from the Vicar. An invitation to star in the local pantomime gets Arthur excited about a possible return to the stage."

One of the producers of this is Mark Radcliffe...wonder if it's the Mark Radcliffe?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04vjh7y

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Yes it is.

He was a regular on Radcliffe's R2 show and won a Sony Award for radio Comedy in 2009 and had a BBC2 TV series. I guess Radcliffe, who was very much his champion on radio, pitched the idea of a series to Radio 4 and this is the result.

I agree with you - it's very funny. I guess a lot of blokes of "a certain age" see much of themselves in the character!

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

That is interesting, I didn't know about the Mark Radcliffe connection. Count Arthur is my sort of barmy too, it was a real tonic to hear him again.
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:37 pm Post subject:

Radcliffe was up in Edinburgh one year broadcasting from the Fringe (he may even have been sitting in for Steve Wright in the Afternoon), heard about this Count Arthur Strong so went to see him. Loved him, got him on his own show then on Radio 4 via his producer and production company (the early episodes were recorded in Manchester) and the rest is history.

He's got nothing to do with the TV series though, which starts a new run on BBC One soon.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Ian Robinson · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:03 pm Post subject:

It was brilliant, wasn't it? Loved the walk to the plane - so perfect. Apparently they had no idea it was going to work until the day.

Ratings are on the up too. On BBC 2 it had 900,000 viewers, last week it was 1.3m, this week 1.6m. Word is getting out!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Thank goodness for the barminess of Count Arthur Strong after the despair of the rugby last night... the good Count had me laughing out loud this morning. What a tonic he is.

Arthur and the Pub Quiz

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00grrzy

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

He's back!!!! Laughing

On the TV this time...

This coming Friday at 8-30.

Count Arthur's House of Horrors.

Count Arthur Strong, Series 3 Episode 1 of 7

Arthur - ever the optimist - is always trying out new ideas and drawing Michael and the others into ever madder schemes.

A visit to a Safari Park, an evening in a Haunted House, amnesiac detective work, strange religious organisations, gangsters, putting his old band back together and The Soupover, which is like a sleepover, but with much more soup.

This third series shows new sides to the world of Count Arthur Strong.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08r8dtk