C.V. of an amazing comedy writing career, 1950 - 1986
Bob co-wrote or contributed to the following:
VARIETY BANDBOX (1940s - 1950s) - for radio; starring Derek Roy and Frankie Howerd
RADIO RINSO (1950) - for Radio Luxembourg, recorded at Port Sunlight; starring Max Wall
STARLIGHT HOUR (1950) - for radio; with Vic Oliver, Ronnie Barker, June Whitfield, Kenneth Connor, Dick Bentley, Ronnie Stevens, Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly
LIFE WITH THE LYONS (1951 - 1961) - for radio, T.V. and film; starring Ben Lyon, Bebe Daniels, Richard and Barbara Lyon, Molly Weir and Doris Rogers
FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN (1951) - weekly radio variety show, with guests such as Red Skelton, Orson Welles and Tony Hancock
ARTHUR'S INN (1952) - for radio; starring Arthur Askey
OUR HOUSE (1960) - for T.V.; starring Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Charles Hawtree, Joan Simms and Hilda Baker
DISCORD IN THREE FLATS (1962) - for radio; starring Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courtnidge and Vic Oliver
BEST OF FRIENDS - unable to find any records on this one!
THAT'S MY BOY! (1963) - for T.V.; starring Jimmy Clitherow and Derek Guyler
CRACKERJACK! (Bob wrote for it from 1964 - approx. 1973 as sole writer, but the show ran from 1955 - 1984) - Children's T.V.;with Leslie Crowther, Peter Glaze, Michael Aspel and numerous guests,
including weekly appearances from the big music stars in
the Hit Parade at the time!
HEY PRESTO, IT'S ROLF (1966) - for T.V.; a children's sketch/entertainment show with Rolf Harris
Contributing sketches to FROST OVER ENGLAND which won The Golden Rose of Montreux (1967); with David Frost, John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett
Four months were spent in Australia in 1967, writing for the MAVIS BRANSTON SHOW
KINDLY LEAVE THE STAGE (1968) - music hall sketches; with Billy Dainty
BROADEN YOUR MIND (1968 - 1969) - for T.V.; starring the soon-to-be "Goodies" - Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Garden and Bill Oddie (with additional writers including some of the future "Monty Python" team!)
KEN DODD AND THE DIDDYMEN (1969 - 1970) - sole writer: for T.V.; Children's series with Ken Dodd and his small characters, such as Dicky Mint and Mick the Marmalizer, played by children.
THE DAVE KING SHOW (1969 - 1970) - for T.V.; a sketch/variety show starring Dave King
Sketches for several series of DAVE ALLEN AT LARGE (1970 - 1979) - adult/family T.V.
PARDON MY GENIE (1972 - 1973) - the first series that was both conceived and written by Bob; Children's T.V., with
Roy Barraclough and Hugh Paddick
ROBERT'S ROBOTS (1973 - 1974) - Bob's second series conceived and written by himself; Children's T.V. series, with John Clive and Richard Davies
TRUSCOTT'S LUCK - T.V. series starring Richard Beckinsale
RENTAGHOST (9 series - 1975 - 1984) - Bob's most famous and well-remembered children's show, conceived and written by himself; a T.V. series, annuals and books; with Anthony Jackson, Eddie Brayshaw, Michael Staniforth, Ann Emery, Molly Weir,
Ami McDonald, Linda Marchall (La Plante), Sue Nicholls, Christopher Biggins, Paddie O'Neil and Kenneth Connor
GRANDAD (1979 - 1984) - sole writer: another fondly remembered Children's T.V. series with Clive Dunn's famous alter ego.
GALLOPING GALAXIES (1985 - 1986) - the last of Bob's self-conceived and written series; children's sci-fi comedy;
with Robert Swales, Priscilla Morgan, Niall Buggy
and Kenneth Williams as the voice of the computer.
As well as all of the above, Bob also regularly contributed to many other sketch shows and cabaret performances for comedians and entertainers, such as:
TOMMY COOPER, DICK EMERY, RONNIE BARKER, ROY HUDD, TERRY THOMAS, JUNE WHITFIELD, SHEILA HANCOCK, and even 'The Galloping Gourmet' chef of the 1970's GRAHAM KERR!