大象传媒

The story behind Channel 4's longest running sitcom, Desmond's - the OTHER Peckham based comedy which featured Norman Beaton as Desmond, the owner of a West Indian Barber shop and Carmen Munroe who played his wife, Shirley.

Series in which Paul Jackson celebrates innovative TV programmes, whilst using them as a window on a particular period in our cultural and social history.

The 71 episode series ran from 1989 until 1994 upon the untimely early death of its star character, 'Desmond', played by Norman Beaton.

Paul speaks to the show's creator, Trix Worrell, who got the idea for setting a comedy in a West Indian Barber's shop whilst he was on a bus travelling through Peckham on the way to meet comedy producer, Humprey Barclay.

Both of them share their memories of the creation of Desmond's with Paul Jackson, along with the series' first producer, Charlie Hanson and script editor Paulette Randall. Ram John Holder, one of the show's stars, 'Porkpie' tells Paul how accurately the sit com portrayed the West Indian community and how it was a welcome change to be in a black sit com which was both funny and enjoyed by all sections of the audience.

The then commissioner for Channel 4, Farrukh Dhondy, gives his thoughts on the success of Desmond's and contributors question how much futher forward British television is today in its commission of comedies featuring members from the UK's diverse communities.

Producer: Sarah Taylor

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in May 2013.