Comedy Playhouse began on 15 December 1961. The series was initially a vehicle for the talents of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who - freed from writing for a specific comedian - wrote 10 short comedy plays that could each be developed into a future sitcom.
One episode, 'The Offer', provided the pilot of what became Steptoe and Son. From 1963, with Steptoe taking much of Galton and Simpson's time, other writers were drafted in. Comedy Playhouse ran until 1974 and originated several other notable sitcoms, including Till Death Us Do Part, All Gas and Gaiters, The Liver Birds, Not in Front of the Children, Up Pompeii, Happy Ever After, Are You Being Served? and Last of the Summer Wine.
Not every Comedy Playhouse episode became a full series, including the first episode, 'Clicquot et Fils'. This starred Eric Sykes as an undertaker in a small French town in 1926, with Warren Mitchell as his assistant. The strong supporting cast - including Joan Hickson, Frank Thornton and Charles Lloyd Pack - demonstrated Galton and Simpson's intention to cast the right actors for the part.
The Comedy Playhouse idea as a testing ground for new and experimental comedy continued with Comedy Special, which spawned Citizen Smith. In 2012 the 大象传媒 plans to air a fresh season of sitcom pilots, with the aim of nurturing the enduring comedy hits of tomorrow.
December anniversaries
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Ireland: A Television History
2 December 1980 -
Start of The 大象传媒 Television Shakespeare
3 December 1978 -
The World About Us
3 December 1967 -
Edward VIII Abdication speech
11 December 1936 -
1984 Broadcast
12 December 1954 -
bbc.co.uk is launched
12 December 1997 -
Jackanory first broadcast
13 December 1965 -
Comedy Playhouse
15 December 1961 -
Culloden
15 December 1964 -
The Likely Lads
16 December 1964 -
大象传媒 World Service launches
19 December 1932 -
Zoo Quest, first on-screen appearance by David Attenborough
21 December 1954 -
Just a Minute first transmitted
22 December 1967 -
A Close Shave
24 December 1995 -
First Empire Address by King George V
25 December 1932 -
Morecambe and Wise Christmas Shows
25 December -
Only Fools and Horses 1996 Christmas Specials
25 December 1996 -
大象传媒 Reith Lectures
26 December 1948 -
Alice in Wonderland
28 December 1966 -
Big Ben chimes broadcast at New Year for the first time
31 December 1923