Here's a Funny Thing recorded at the Fortune Theatre

A YouTube clip discovered with a significant section of the original TV production in 1982 is missing from this VHS recording shared on YouTube.  However, it does help illustrate the main construction and how we adapted the show for a TV audience.

Here's a Funny Thing

Performed
by
​John Bardon

Written
​by
R.W. Shakespeare
Channel for Change?

One of the first stars of the fourth TV Channel may appear to be the late Max Miller.

Miller, the flashy-suited, loud-mouthed, fast-talking comic with a reputation for rudery died in the 50s and is due for 're-discovery' by a generation which never knew him as Britains highest-paid comedy star.

He left behind very little visual record of his style, but actor John Bardon has recently been re-creating it on the London stage in a one-man show called Here's A Funny Thing.

This show has been immortalised for showing on Channel Four shortly after it opens in November and Miller's material is unlikely to suffer by comparison to the work of today's stand-up comics.

Here's A Funny Thing - the title refers to one of the Miller's catchphrases - has been produced for television by the Bright Thoughts Company, one of the many independent production companies springing up in expectation of a big new market on Channel Four.
Albert Watson, Evening Post, 10 March 1982

TV Times Magazine

Blue Max
'There'll never be another,' said Max Miller of himself.  ​As an actor pays a TV tribute, Alan Kennaugh examines the magic of the 'Cheeky Chappie'
Two page TV Times feature article 20 - 26 November 1982.  To read the full article, get in touch.

About the show

With the original stage production also starring John Bardon, we collaborated with the writer and stage director to truncate an evenings viewing at the theatre into a one hour TV show.

We developed a certain style for producing the 'one-man-shows' for Channel 4 so that, not only did they bring an hour of entertainment about a specific person or character, but they also included biographical data and often some documentary elements to augment the performance and which otherwise would not be part of a live theatre show.  

Where possible we tried to include 'added value' in terms of additional things to what would be seen in a stage show.  The two types of performance would therefore not be mutually exclusive but be complementary to each other.

​Our production style was never to simply point cameras at a stage in order to capture a live performance, it was always to also help interpret the play and its main character.
There are several reasons for producing this type of show for Channel 4.  Firstly, a great way to watch a virtuoso performance of an accomplished actor, in this case John Bardon.  This type of opportunity generally wasn't available on the BBC or ITV Channels.

​Another reason is that it made good economic sense.  This does not mean that it was a cheap show to produce, more that hiring a theatre was more cost-efficient than hiring a TV studio.  There's not a large cast to book and the basic components of the show already exist by the fact of it already being a successful touring show which only has to be adjusted and tailored for a TV audience.

​At the time of recording, TV cameras were becoming more lightweight and other OB equipment modernising, less bulky and required less crew to operate, and therefore this in itself was more cost-efficient than booking the full 'weight' of the traditional standard studio crew (as would otherwise be the case at that time).

​Sadly, John is no longer with us, but this show is a great celebration of his work as an actor, not only because he was exceptional - with a naughty twinkle in the eye - but also because he had a passion for the play, the work and life of Max Miller the Cheeky Chappie, and also because John was the main driving force for this show to be produced for Channel 4.

Whilst we may remember John for his role in Eastenders, he was a well established actor long before taking on that part.  We believe it would be worthwhile remastering this rare footage of this show in its entirety.   We also believe there are new audiences to entertain who will enjoy John performing as Max whilst also learning more about the life and times of Max Miller!
Neil Anthony, Producer

Notes:

As mentioned above, this YouTube clip has been done from someone's VHS tape recording of the transmitted show and is incomplete.  As producer of the production, I cannot vouch for their editing nor the reason for it being incomplete.
However, if there is a demand to republish this show, we are prepared to consider the logistics of digitally remastering the production in its entirety and making the show available on DVD and possibly to stream.  

​If you may be interested and/or feel you would be prepared to support such an initiative, we would be pleased to hear from you to gauge some sense of popularity both to this show based on the life and career on Max Miller, and also this type of performance in the 2020s.   So, do please let us know >>