From 21/05/1964

Character comedy supremo Dick Emery spoofs Harley Street doctors and dodgy lonely hearts ads.

With Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald and a ditty from Paddy Roberts.

Script by John Cleese, George Wadmore and Peter Moore.

Like many of his comedic contemporaries, Dick Emery's career began by entertaining fellow servicemen in the Second World War with Ralph Reader's Gang Show. His early radio career included appearances on Variety Bandbox, Workers' Playtime, Educating Archie and deputising for Harry Secombe in The Goon Show.

After landing his first BBC TV series in 1963, Emery at Large arrived on the BBC Light Programme in 1964 with his last series broadcast in 1967. A further series for BBC Radio 2 followed in 1968 called What About Dick Emery!!

Emery hit his peak as a TV comedy superstar during the 1960s and 70s. His Saturday night BBC TV show ran for an impressive 18 series of 166 episodes. Writers for the show included Mel Brooks, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, David Nobbs and even Harold Pinter.

Rated "one of the comedy greats" by David Walliams, Emery's technique was based on creating comedy characters to be used time and time again across each of his series. His style was to be much aped by the likes of Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse and shows like Little Britain. His most memorable characters include desperate spinster Hettie, the elderly Lampwick, the toothy vicar, plus blonde bombshell Mandy and her enduring catchphrase, "Ooh, you are awful... but I like you!"

Dick Emery died in January 1983 aged 67.

Producer: Charles Maxwell

First broadcast on the BBC Radio Light Programme in May 1964.