The Original Godfather

Legendary writer and TV presenter Denis Norden chats to Paul Jackson about the legacy of his radio comedy partnership with Frank Muir.

The history of British sitcom is peppered with outstanding writing teams, not least Galton & Simpson, Clement & La Frenais, French & Saunders, Curtis & Elton and Aherne & Cash. But the very first - the veritable Godfathers of broadcast comedy - were Denis Norden and Frank Muir.

Born within two years of each other (Frank in 1920, Denis two years later), they shared similar RAF backgrounds and entertainment apprenticeships. After the Second World War, Muir landed a job with the BBC, writing for fellow ex-airman Jimmy Edwards and Norden joined a variety agency, writing for as many as 163 comedians.

Finally in 1947 they were brought together over lunch by Charles Maxwell (other reports claim it was fellow scriptwriter Ted Kavanagh) in the hope that they might hit it off. Thus started a 40 (plus) year partnership which kicked off with Take It From Here (1947-58) – still to be heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Their partnership continued into the early 1990s via My Word! (1956-1990) and My Music (1967-1991). Both series are still repeated in Australia and USA.

In between they wrote for countless stars from Bernard Braden and Peter Sellers to Benny Hill and Bob Monkhouse.

Paul Jackson explores their legacy with Denis himself, and hears from their long suffering secretary, Brenda Talbot and fellow writers Dick Vosburgh, Eric Sykes, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson and Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais.

Frank Muir passed away in 1998 and Denis Norden in 2018.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.