About the show
The cameo performances were originally designed as a 'vignette', a short programme in its own right. The short 'filler' programmes in our original concept were designed to be watched more than once, which is why each item will have a running time of between 2mins and 5 mins so that it could be repeated, as one might do with a favourite sound track or song.
Comic & Dramatic Monologues
Extraordinary performances unseen for 40 years
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Barry Cryer . . .
Barry: Born 1935, died 2022.
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Maureen Lipman . . .
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Julie Walters . . .
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Cilla Black . . .
Cilla: Born 1943, died 2015.
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Leonard Rossiter . . .
Leonard: Born 1926, died 1984.
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Richard O'Callaghan . . .
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Alec McCowen . . .
Alec: Born 1925, died 2017.
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Ronald Lacey . . .
Ron: Born 1935, died 1991.
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Diane Langton . . .
Dianne: Born 1947, died 2025.
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Harold Innocent . . .
Harold: Born 1933, died 1993.
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The legendary Arthur Askey . . .
Arthur: Born 1900, died 1982.
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The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog
Billy Bennett
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When the Monologues were originally commissioned by Channel 4 they wanted each monologue to be used mostly when the transmission controllers needed to synchronise schedules coming up to the hour.
These were produced at a time when the latest idea (in 1983) was for other programming to be of variable lengths. But, this new philosophy did not last long and the more standard programme length resumed which viewing audiences have been more familiar with all along. So, they were edited into a mini-series titled The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog (in itself a parody of another monologue called The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God by Billy Bennett). |
The original thinking behind the show was that the monologues would be used rather like listening to music today using a 'shuffle' play-list, i.e. by random selection. Designed by Bright Thoughts to be entertaining and fun, to be appreciated especially by those who enjoy more spoken word, and who get more from each piece the more times they hear it.
To set the scene, Barry Cryer is our master of ceremonies at a dinner hosted at a posh London address. People at the dinner are our household-name artists, famous actors who each get up to perform a monologue to their contemporaries (as their audience) as if one might do after a good feast when the after-dinner speeches are made, or as one might have enjoyed in the Victorian and Edwardian era when gathered around the piano in the parlour.
It seems today a number of our Celebrity Cast List 'dinner guests' are very sadly no longer with us. We have some very rare footage captured in these shows, some wonderful actors from 1982/83 and performances which have never been seen by most of today's audiences.
To set the scene, Barry Cryer is our master of ceremonies at a dinner hosted at a posh London address. People at the dinner are our household-name artists, famous actors who each get up to perform a monologue to their contemporaries (as their audience) as if one might do after a good feast when the after-dinner speeches are made, or as one might have enjoyed in the Victorian and Edwardian era when gathered around the piano in the parlour.
It seems today a number of our Celebrity Cast List 'dinner guests' are very sadly no longer with us. We have some very rare footage captured in these shows, some wonderful actors from 1982/83 and performances which have never been seen by most of today's audiences.
Neil Anthony, Producer
The late Arthur Askey, a star well before the war, knew that he was ill when he went to record his famous Bee Song for THE GREEN TIE ON THE LITTLE YELLOW DOG (Channel 4, 8.15 p.m.). But, says co-producer Bryan Izzard, he kept it a secret: 'We were all amazed when he went into hospital couple of days later,' he said. 'All that stuff you read about Arthur being jolly and happy is absolutely true. He was also a perfectionist. He worked hard to make sure that he was first-class.' The show turned out to be his final television performance. He died last November 1982. - Daily Express, 23 July 1983
Meet the guests ...
Three generations of comedic talent
all the rage when music hall was everything and no one had heard of Logie Baird or Yogi Bear. Comic, tragic, jingoistic, moralistic or filled with pathos, each was a gem, splendid done." - Evening News, July 1983
