Denis Norden passes

[DavidB-AU]

TV host and comedy writer Denis Norden has died aged 96.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45569460

[Horsetan]

I thought he was already dead!

[SRman]

That's sad. I liked his humour.

[NorthBrit]

'It'll be alright on the night.'

 

R I P

[dvdlcs]

Yes, always looked forward to the new Alright on the Night each year, often premièred around Christmas. The Griff Rhys Jones presented programmes were a pale imitation unfortunately.

 

He also did a similar show, Denis Nordens Laughter File. I think the distinction was that "Alright on the Night" was outtakes from recorded shows, where you could always cut and try again, whereas "Laughter File" was for things going wrong on live shows, where the 'cut' option was not available.

 

[Yes, he did so much more than those two shows, but that is what I remember him for.]

 

Sad news, but seems like he lived to a good age and was working until relatively recently. RIP.

[brianusa]

Great pity.  We need someone like him to resurrect comedy!

 

Brian.

[John_Hughes]

I loved him on My Music especially; I remember with fondness his definition of Virginals as 'pianos that have never been played.'

 

R I P Denis, you'll be sadly missed.

[RJS1977]

Yes, always looked forward to the new Alright on the Night each year, often premièred around Christmas. The Griff Rhys Jones presented programmes were a pale imitation unfortunately.

 

He also did a similar show, Denis Nordens Laughter File. I think the distinction was that "Alright on the Night" was outtakes from recorded shows, where you could always cut and try again, whereas "Laughter File" was for things going wrong on live shows, where the 'cut' option was not available.

 

[Yes, he did so much more than those two shows, but that is what I remember him for.]

 

Sad news, but seems like he lived to a good age and was working until relatively recently. RIP.

 

I think Laughter File was for deliberate set-ups (cast clowning around, pranking each other etc) whereas Alright was accidental slip-ups.

[Joseph_Pestell]

I think it is a pity that the TV News has centred around his hosting of "It'll be alright on the night". Sure, his presentation style was perfect for that show but he is surely more important for his contribution in writing comedy (often with the equally brilliant Frank Muir).

[RJS1977]

I remember reading a review of one of Rory Bremner's stage shows where Rory accidentally did one of his impersonations in the wrong voice. He then produced a clipboard and a pair of glasses from somewhere and ad-libbed an impersonation of Denis Norden!

[RJS1977]

"The papers say brown and white shoes are the height of fashion."

"Yes, Ron, but not one brown shoe and one white shoe. Don't you have another pair of shoes you could wear?"

"Yes, Eth... but they're just like this pair..."

[exet1095]

Can we avoid euphemisms in thread titles please. Sad news about Dennis Nordern, but as a man who saw the inside of Bergen Belsen in 1945, he preferred direct speaking. He certainly would have denied passing anything. (And he was a close friend of my grandfather.)

[Horsetan]