I interviewed Harry H Corbett in the 70's, and this is what he had to say about Steptoe and Son.
"Ok - let's talk about it. As you know it began as a one-off programme
called 'The offer,' which was part of the Comedy Playhouse series. Every writer has within themselves something which they like to write, but which is useless from the point of view of development. Marvellous ideas, but ideas which will only go that once."
"Comedy Playhouse gave the excuses for these vignettes, but I am afraid that modern television now dictates that everything is turned into a series. You therefore no longer see the weird and the wonderful creations that writers have."
"Despite all I have said about one-off ideas, Steptoe was the exception to the rule, and after 6 months of deliberations, the writers Galton & Simpson were persuaded to write a series. Wilfred and myself were delighted to continue in our original roles."
"The writers - what can I say about them - two brilliant men. Galton and Simpson are what I would call fully rounded and finished men. They do not write from their youth or their youthful knowledge alone. They have bought themselves a Rolls Royce and had that period, they can write about bucket shops and investments, they know about wine. It has been possible for them to fit into an advancing society."
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21-02-2007, 11:20 PM
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