The Dick Emery Hour

The last of Dick Emery's variety shows on ITV had less musical and dance numbers. There is star guest Lynda Carter showing she is a wonder woman as she warbles a tune.

It was the first time I have seen Lynda Carter sing but I did not have much desire to see Dick Emery singing 'A Very Good Year.' He should stick to his comedy sketches and the songs were just padding.

It opens with a Car Wash sketch that might not had been out of place in The Benny Hill show with a woman in scanty underwear.

That kind of glamour was evident again as Francoise Pascal. Then better known as the sexpot in the comedy series Mind Your Language, appears in a sketch called In Bed with D'Artagnan's Wife.

Richard Todd guest stars in wartime set The Great Wooden Colditz Escape from Stalag Fifteen Story. Unfortunately it was just overlong like some of the other sketches.

Some of Emery's better known characters do show up but like an appetizer, it is all too brief.

No wonder Dick Emery legged it back to the BBC. However failing health and a new decade meant that Emery was literally on his last legs.

It's difficult complaining of social mores in times gone by, society has changed, sadly, neither Dick, nor his contemporaries are here to reflect it.

This compilation of songs and sketches works well, despite the time lapse. I enjoyed the 'old geezer' singing a famous nostalgic song; now is the time for nostalgia, I also enjoyed seeing Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), who has a good voice. The best sketch was the park bench one - where a mortified Emery is subjected to various indignities before determining, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

We don't have videos of Laurel and Hardy onstage during their London visit, nor Max Miller at his peak. But this hour of the BBC's Dick Emery, dangerously defecting to ITV, is an iconic piece. And you know what?

As one participant might have said: It wasn't that awful....