The history of British comedy is packed full with original, eccentric mavericks who changed the course of the genre but in the case of Harry Hill, he not only changed comedy but also his whole career. His background in medicine and early career as a doctor following graduating from the University of London is well documented. Yet perhaps what is less well known is his lifelong passion for comedy which always ran in parallel with his medical practice. Frequently attending comedy haunts during the late 1980’s and early nineties, Harry has forever been a champion of live comedy. Seeing the likes of Jo Brand around this time encouraged Harry to follow his passion.
Making his debut at the famous Edinburgh Fringe in 1992, Harry experienced the highs of entertainment when he won the inaugural award for best newcomer. However, he quickly understood the fickle nature of the industry when he returned a year later and received an underwhelming reception. It here he learned a valuable lesson in comedy that unfortunately there’s no formula for success and irrespective of your status, the audience will forever remain the judge and jury. Therefore Harry has a refreshingly grounded approach to Edinburgh as it continues to evolve with the changing times.
The early nineties brought great changes in comedy, most notably for Radio 4. From the 1070’s, the Radio 4 sketch series Week Ending had given opportunities to some of the UK’s greatest writing talent. The series was unique in that it was the only show to accept material from the public and people could physically drop material in to Broadcasting House where it would be sifted through by producers. This radical process gave birth to some of Britain’s biggest comedy minds including Lee and Herring, Mel and Sue and David Baddiel. To be associated with such a forward thinking show was something that Harry grabbed with both hands and this spurred him onto the next chapter of his career.
In 1993, due to such success, Harry landed his own Radio 4 vehicle Harry Hill’s Fruit Corner. With cameos from the legendary Ronnie Corbett, the show gained a cult following and provided a testing ground for up and coming comedy talent including Al Murray. As a performer, Corbett was notoriously passionate about new generations of talent and forever championed the talents of new performers he liked. A regular supporter of the Edinburgh Fringe, he would often attend shows of up and coming comics and there was always a buzz when Ronnie was at a gig. Therefore for him to guest in Harry’s show meant a great deal and was the start of a friendship which would last for the next quarter of a century.
The success of Harry Hill’s Fruit Corner spawned a BBC2 show Harry Hill’s Fruit Fancies. For a comic, the absolute zenith of the industry has always been to secure your own TV show and this resonatesd greatly with Harry. Despite having a cult radio show, his passion lay in the visual medium and therefore on receiving the offer of his own television vehicle, he knew he would thrive. As a comedian, Harry has always thought in the visual medium so his work was always going to be perfect for TV. In 1994 Harry Hill’s Fruit Fancies came to BBC2 and offered a platform to comedy newcomers such as Al Murray. It was clear that Harry was a rising star in the annals of British comedy but he was still awaiting a vehicle which would propel him into the mainstream.
Yet this was all about to change in 1997 when Harry secured his own self-titled Channel Four series which took the art of surrealism to the next level. The Harry Hill Show combined his unique approach to stand up with elements of madcap comedy alongside Stoofer The Cat, a parade of badgers and the legendary Burt Kwock. Having grown up with Bill Cotton’s big budget BBC comedy variety format, Harry forever longed for his own self titled extravaganza. Produced by the legendary Robin Nash; the former ringleader of Top Of The Pops, the show provided the ultimate schooling experience for the former doctor. After years of performing, Harry had finally reached his goal of having a successful TV vehicle and was at last allowed to think big. Channel Four has developed a seemingly unrivalled reputation for offering a platform to those comedians who perhaps don’t fall into the mainstream and it was here that Harry really honed his TV persona.
Harry Hill was now a firm staple of the comedy elite and in 2001 ITV lured him away from Channel Four to front a show which arguably defined his career. Harry Hill’s TV Burp took an irreverent, often bizarre glimpse at the week’s TV events with a splattering of sarcasm. Alongside a team of writers including David Quantick, Brenda Gillhooly, Paul Hawksbee and many more, Harry lampooned some of Britain’s most cherished shows and found the funny in the most unlikely TV moments. For this, he and such writers put in the hours and watched an unprecedented amount of television, arguing and debating on just about everything from tragedies in Albert Square to bizarre characters on Come Dine With Me. However, despite the jostling, it was obvious that it was all coming from a place of love and indeed you could even argue that this was Harry’s love letter to British television. For over a decade Harry Hill’s TV Burp reigned supreme over the TV schedules but in 2012 the show belched for the last time but created a whole new fashion for television to look inwards on itself.
One of the most accomplished performers in the world of comedy, it’s virtually impossible to accurately celebrate Harry Hill’s vast achievements in just one episode. Yet the striking thing when talking to him is his sheer humility and earthly character which he brings to all of his work. Just at home in a theatre as he is in a studio, Hill is a rare breed with a strong sense of reverence for those around him. It was a real privilege to welcome the great Harry Hill to Beyond The Title and I feel with his contribution, the podcast has now been legitimised!
Beyond The Title