Humphrey Barclay
Encyclopedia
Humphrey Barclay is a comedy executive and producer.
, Bill Oddie
, John Cleese
, Graham Chapman
, David Hatch
, Jonathan Lynn
, Jo Kendall
and Miriam Margolyes
. He was offered a job as a BBC
radio producer and soon afterwards put together the team who produced the BBC Home Service
comedy show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
(four series starting 1964). Moving to television, Barclay oversaw Associated-Rediffusion
Do Not Adjust Your Set
(1967–1969).
Following the ITV
franchise changes of 1968, Barclay moved to London Weekend Television
(LWT) for whom he produced the Doctor... series (1969–1977). One episode in that series involved a hotel proprietor and his wife and was written by John Cleese
. Barclay said at the time that he thought there might be a series in the characters, but nothing came of it. Later, Cleese created Fawlty Towers
for the BBC.
Barclay became Head of Comedy at LWT in 1977 and supervised various successful series including A Fine Romance
(1981–1984). Following criticism at the Edinburgh International Television Festival
of what was seen as casual racism
the LWT series Mind Your Language
(1977–1979; 1986), Barclay commissioned No Problem!, transmitted by Channel 4
during 1983-1985, the first original black-made sitcom for British TV (an earlier series featuring a black family, The Fosters
(ITV, 1976–1977), had been a remake of a US show).
Barclay left LWT in 1983 and formed Humphrey Barclay Productions, which produced the media satire Hot Metal
(ITV, 1986–1988) and black sitcom Desmond's
(Channel 4, 1989–1994). In 1996, he returned to LWT as Controller of Comedy and, in 1999, became Head of Comedy Development for Granada
Media International.
Though already in partial retirement, in April 2002, he joined Celador
Productions as Development Executive.
in the Kwahu region of Ghana
. There to attend the funeral of his friend, the actor Christopher (Gyearbuor) Asante. As a chief of the community, he now bears the title of 'nana kwadwo ameyaw gyearbour yiadom I nkosuhene of Kwahu-Tafo.' Barclay is active in helping to raise funds for the community, which currently has unemployment levels running at over 80%. He has teamed up with Ikando
Volunteers to help provide skilled volunteers to the community.
Barclay was already in the line of descent of the Barclays of Mather and Urie, a Scottish lairdship.
Career
His first foray into show business was via Cambridge Footlights revues where he appeared alongside Tim Brooke-TaylorTim Brooke-Taylor
Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
, Bill Oddie
Bill Oddie
William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies....
, John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
, David Hatch
David Hatch
Sir David Hatch was involved in production and management at BBC Radio, where he held many executive positions, including Head of Light Entertainment , Controller of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 and later Managing Director of BBC Radio.- Education :He attended St John's School, Leatherhead and...
, Jonathan Lynn
Jonathan Lynn
Jonathan Lynn is an English actor, comedy writer and director. He is best known for being the co-writer of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Personal life:...
, Jo Kendall
Jo Kendall
Jo Kendall is a British actress.She played Desdemona in a production of Othello at the A.D.C. Theatre, Cambridge in 1962.In August 1963 she appeared in the West End in London, New Zealand and Broadway, in the Cambridge University revue Cambridge Circus directed by Humphrey Barclay, alongside Graham...
and Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes, OBE is an English actress and voice artist. Her earliest roles were in theatre and after several supporting roles in film and television she won a BAFTA Award for her role in The Age of Innocence .-Early life:...
. He was offered a job as a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio producer and soon afterwards put together the team who produced the BBC Home Service
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
comedy show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again was a BBC radio comedy programme which originated from the Cambridge University Footlights revue Cambridge Circus...
(four series starting 1964). Moving to television, Barclay oversaw Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Do Not Adjust Your Set was a children's television series produced originally by Rediffusion, London, then by the fledgling Thames Television for British commercial television channel ITV from 26 December 1967 to 14 May 1969....
(1967–1969).
Following the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
franchise changes of 1968, Barclay moved to London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
(LWT) for whom he produced the Doctor... series (1969–1977). One episode in that series involved a hotel proprietor and his wife and was written by John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
. Barclay said at the time that he thought there might be a series in the characters, but nothing came of it. Later, Cleese created Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
for the BBC.
Barclay became Head of Comedy at LWT in 1977 and supervised various successful series including A Fine Romance
A Fine Romance (TV series)
A Fine Romance was a British situation comedy starring husband-and-wife team Judi Dench and Michael Williams. Dench's sister was played by Susan Penhaligon. It was produced by London Weekend Television and written by Bob Larbey. It was first broadcast on 8 November 1981. It lasted for 26 episodes...
(1981–1984). Following criticism at the Edinburgh International Television Festival
Edinburgh International Television Festival
The Edinburgh International Television Festival, founded in 1976, is held annually over the British August bank holiday weekend at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre....
of what was seen as casual racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
the LWT series Mind Your Language
Mind Your Language
Mind Your Language is a British comedy television series, that premiered on ITV in late 1977. Produced by LWT and directed by Stuart Allen, it is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on the English as a Foreign Language class taught by Mr. Jeremy Brown, portrayed by Barry Evans,...
(1977–1979; 1986), Barclay commissioned No Problem!, transmitted by Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
during 1983-1985, the first original black-made sitcom for British TV (an earlier series featuring a black family, The Fosters
The Fosters
The Fosters is a British sitcom, produced by London Weekend Television which aired on ITV from 9 April 1976, until 9 July 1977.It was created and developed by Jon Watkins, who adapted the American sitcom, Good Times, developed by Norman Lear, and created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans...
(ITV, 1976–1977), had been a remake of a US show).
Barclay left LWT in 1983 and formed Humphrey Barclay Productions, which produced the media satire Hot Metal
Hot Metal
-External links:* at BBC Online Comedy Guide...
(ITV, 1986–1988) and black sitcom Desmond's
Desmond's
Desmond's is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. The first series was shot in 1988, with the first episode broadcast in January 1989...
(Channel 4, 1989–1994). In 1996, he returned to LWT as Controller of Comedy and, in 1999, became Head of Comedy Development for Granada
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
Media International.
Though already in partial retirement, in April 2002, he joined Celador
Celador
Celador is a global light entertainment company originally formed as an independent production company in 1983. It has produced a number of popular light entertainment shows and is probably best known for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and co-producing the film Slumdog Millionaire which collected...
Productions as Development Executive.
Inheritance
In 2000, Barclay was adopted into the royal family of Tafo, a village which is a three-hour drive north-west of AccraAccra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
in the Kwahu region of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. There to attend the funeral of his friend, the actor Christopher (Gyearbuor) Asante. As a chief of the community, he now bears the title of 'nana kwadwo ameyaw gyearbour yiadom I nkosuhene of Kwahu-Tafo.' Barclay is active in helping to raise funds for the community, which currently has unemployment levels running at over 80%. He has teamed up with Ikando
Ikando
Ikando is a registered non-governmental organisation in Ghana that specializes in volunteer & intern recruitment on behalf of organisations in need. It was set up by Laura Daly in 2004. Their objective is to help more people gain positive experiences volunteering...
Volunteers to help provide skilled volunteers to the community.
Barclay was already in the line of descent of the Barclays of Mather and Urie, a Scottish lairdship.