Laurie Rowley
Encyclopedia
Laurence Peter Rowley, better known as Laurie Rowley (30 July 1941 – 16 August 2009) was an English
comedy writer from Leeds
, Yorkshire
. He is most famous for a sketch writer, working on shows such as The Two Ronnies
and Not the Nine O'Clock News
, for which he wrote the "Darts" sketch, which satirised
the heavy drinking habits of darts
players at the time.
caller and a shopkeeper. He turned to comedy in the 1970s, first by winning caption competitions in the satirical magazine Punch
. He later attempted to become a cartoonist
but was not successful. Rowley then became a comedy writer, first sending in sketches to the BBC Radio 2
comedy series The News Huddlines
in 1976, and later to the BBC television sketch series The Two Ronnies.
Rowley later went on to write for another BBC sketch series, Not the Nine O'Clock News. Amongst the sketches he wrote were the "Darts" sketch, which is a satirical sketch mocking darts players of the period who were regularly seen drinking alcoholic beverages heavily on television. The sketch had an impact on the game itself, because it caused it fall in popularity, with people believing it to be a game for drunks. As a result, professional darts organisations put in rules banning the drinking of alcohol during a match.
Rowley then went onto write sketches for other shows and people, including Alas Smith and Jones
, Hale and Pace
, Scotch and Wry
, Spitting Image
, Naked Video
, A Kick Up the Eighties
and Clive Anderson Talks Back. He also wrote longer pieces, including an Airplane!
-like drama for Five called Hospital! in 1997, a follow-up in 2001 called Hotel!, and a sitcom starring Joanna Lumley
called Dr Willoughby
in 1999.
His work won Rowley several awards. In 1987 he won a Sony Radio Academy Award
for his series of plays entitled Hoodwinks. He also won the Rose d'Or
in 1989 for his work on Hale and Pace.
At the time of his death, Rowley was working on a semi-serious book about the history of ancient Egypt
, a radio play and speeches. He died of a heart attack whilst getting ready for a meal. Rowley was married to Joyce Rowley, but they later divorced. He had a son, Les and a daughter, Johanne.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
comedy writer from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. He is most famous for a sketch writer, working on shows such as The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies is a British sketch show that aired on BBC1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.-Origins:...
and Not the Nine O'Clock News
Not the Nine O'Clock News
Not the Nine O'Clock News is a television comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC 2 from 1979 to 1982.Originally shown as a comedy "alternative" to the BBC Nine O'Clock News on BBC 1, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy...
, for which he wrote the "Darts" sketch, which satirised
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
the heavy drinking habits of darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
players at the time.
Biography
Born in Leeds, Rowley was educated at the St Augustine's Catholic school as a child. After leaving school he had jobs as a shower fitter, a manager of a 10-pin bowling alley, a magician, a bingoBingo (Non-US)
Bingo or housey-housey or housie is a gambling game that began in Italy in the 1500s. The game is believed to have migrated to France, Great Britain, and other parts of Europe in the 1700s...
caller and a shopkeeper. He turned to comedy in the 1970s, first by winning caption competitions in the satirical magazine Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
. He later attempted to become a cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
but was not successful. Rowley then became a comedy writer, first sending in sketches to the BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
comedy series The News Huddlines
The News Huddlines
The News Huddlines was a long-running BBC Radio 2 topical comedy sketch show starring Roy Hudd that ran for fifty one series from 1975 until 2001. Each episode lasted for half an hour and consisted of topical sketches, songs and one-liners.-Performers:...
in 1976, and later to the BBC television sketch series The Two Ronnies.
Rowley later went on to write for another BBC sketch series, Not the Nine O'Clock News. Amongst the sketches he wrote were the "Darts" sketch, which is a satirical sketch mocking darts players of the period who were regularly seen drinking alcoholic beverages heavily on television. The sketch had an impact on the game itself, because it caused it fall in popularity, with people believing it to be a game for drunks. As a result, professional darts organisations put in rules banning the drinking of alcohol during a match.
Rowley then went onto write sketches for other shows and people, including Alas Smith and Jones
Alas Smith and Jones
Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1984 to 1998...
, Hale and Pace
Hale and Pace
Hale and Pace are an English comedy duo who have starred in several TV sketch series.-Early career:Gareth Hale and Norman Pace met at Avery Hill teacher training college in Eltham South East London. They discovered much in common, particularly humour, and began playing clubs in a comedy band. One...
, Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry was a Scottish comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC One Scotland and starred Rikki Fulton. After two series, in 1978 and 1979, the programme continued as a regular part of the channel's Hogmanay celebrations between 1980 and 1992...
, Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
, Naked Video
Naked Video
Naked Video was a BBC Scotland comedy series, broadcast between 1986 and 1991 on BBC2, the series was created by Colin Gilbert who also created A Kick Up the Eighties and Naked Radio.-Naked Radio:...
, A Kick Up the Eighties
A Kick Up the Eighties
A Kick Up the Eighties was a 1981-1984 BBC Scotland sketch show starring Robbie Coltrane, Tracey Ullman, Richard Stilgoe, Miriam Margolyes, Rik Mayall, Ron Bain and Roger Sloman....
and Clive Anderson Talks Back. He also wrote longer pieces, including an Airplane!
Airplane!
Airplane! is a 1980 American satirical comedy film directed and written by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker and released by Paramount Pictures...
-like drama for Five called Hospital! in 1997, a follow-up in 2001 called Hotel!, and a sitcom starring Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive...
called Dr Willoughby
Dr Willoughby
Dr Willoughby is a British sitcom broadcast on ITV from 14 November - 13 December 1999.The show was set on the set of a fictional soap opera, also called Dr Willoughby and followed the often over dramatic storylines and the personal lives of the cast and crew.Joanna Lumley plays Donna Sinclair, who...
in 1999.
His work won Rowley several awards. In 1987 he won a Sony Radio Academy Award
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
for his series of plays entitled Hoodwinks. He also won the Rose d'Or
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
in 1989 for his work on Hale and Pace.
At the time of his death, Rowley was working on a semi-serious book about the history of ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, a radio play and speeches. He died of a heart attack whilst getting ready for a meal. Rowley was married to Joyce Rowley, but they later divorced. He had a son, Les and a daughter, Johanne.