Ronnie Corbett
Encyclopedia
Ronald Balfour "Ronnie" Corbett, OBE
(born 4 December 1930) is a Scottish
actor and comedian
of Scottish and English parentage who had a long association with Ronnie Barker
in the British television comedy series The Two Ronnies
. He achieved prominence in David Frost
's 1960s satirical comedy programme, The Frost Report
and later starred in the sitcoms Sorry!
and No - That's Me Over Here!
in 1930, the son of London-born Annie Elizabeth (Main) and William Balfour Corbett, master baker
. He has a brother about six years younger, and a sister about ten years younger than himself. Corbett was educated at the Royal High School
in the city, but did not attend university. After leaving school, he decided he wanted to be an actor while performing in amateur theatricals at a church youth club. However, his first job was with the Ministry of Agriculture
. He then did National Service
with the RAF, during which he was the shortest commissioned officer in the British Forces. After National Service he moved to London to act, and started his career by playing schoolboy roles in films. At 5 in 1 in (1.55 m) tall, Corbett was suited to playing younger than his years. References to his height frequently crop up in his self-deprecating humour.
He has worked in film, television, and on stage since the 1950s. In his first stage co-starring appearance he was billed as Ronald Corbett at Cromer, North Norfolk, in "Take it easy" in 1956, co-starring with Graham Stark
. He appeared in Crackerjack as a regular in its early days, one episode with Winifred Atwell
. He had a walk-on in an early episode of the 1960s series The Saint
(credited as 'Ronald Corbett') and appeared in films including Rockets Galore! (1957), Casino Royale
(1967), Some Will, Some Won't
(1970) and the film version of the farce
No Sex Please, We're British
(1973).
Corbett starred in the first London production of the musical The Boys from Syracuse
(as Dromio of Syracuse) in 1963 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
, alongside Bob Monkhouse
. In 1965 he was in cabaret at Winston's, Danny La Rue
's Mayfair
nightclub
. David Frost
saw him and asked him to appear in The Frost Report
. Corbett was in the West End
, playing Will Scarlett in Lionel Bart
's Robin Hood musical Twang!
. It failed, leaving Corbett free to accept.
. The writers and cast were mostly Oxbridge
graduates from the Footlights
tradition. Corbett said he and Barker were drawn together as two Grammar school boys who had not gone to university. The show was a mixture of satirical monologues, sketches and music. Corbett and Barker were beginning to be thought of as a pair.
They appeared with John Cleese
in one of the most repeated comedy sketches in British television, the Class sketch
, in which Corbett got the pay-off line
: "I get a pain in the back of my neck."
Continuing under Frost, Corbett starred in No - That's Me Over Here!, a sitcom written by Frost Report writers Barry Cryer
, Graham Chapman
and Eric Idle
(ITV
1967-1970). Cryer and Chapman wrote two follow-ups: Now Look Here (BBC
1971-1973) and The Prince of Denmark (BBC 1974). Corbett also appeared in Frost on Sunday (ITV 1968) and hosted The Corbett Follies (ITV 1969).
television comedy show with Ronnie Barker, The Two Ronnies
, lasted from 1971 to 1987. Barker and Corbett performed sketches and musical numbers. Corbett presented a monologue. Sitting in a large easy chair (emphasising his small size), and usually wearing a Lyle & Scott
golfing V-neck sweater, he would tell a simple joke over several minutes, often allowing himself to appear to lose his train of thought.
. Before this, he had a similar role in Now Look Here
. In 1996, he appeared on the première of the short-lived BBC
game show, Full Swing
, hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck
. In 1997, Corbett played Reggie Sea Lions in the film Fierce Creatures
, which also starred his former comedy teammate John Cleese.
He also hosted the game show Small Talk
and has played minor parts occasionally since its end – notably Griselda in a television production of Cinderella
in 2000, and reviving his armchair monologue routines for a weekly appearance in a stand-up show hosted by Ben Elton
.
In 2003 he appeared in advertisements for the Sky+
digital television
service alongside Alice Cooper
. The premise was a running gag about their being happy housemates. In December 2004, Corbett appeared on the BBC
news quiz, Have I Got News For You
.
In 2005 Corbett teamed up again with Ronnie Barker for The Two Ronnies Sketchbook
, comedy sketches from their original series with original linking material. Also in 2005 Corbett appeared with comedian Peter Kay
, in the spoof music video
for the number 1 single Is This the Way to Amarillo?
, mimed to the song by Tony Christie
. Corbett is remembered for accidentally falling over in the video, however he found the fall funny when played back, and it was kept in the final version.
He performed in Children's Party at the Palace
as Mr Tibbs, the Queen's butler.
In 2006, he played a hyper-realised version of himself in Extras
, caught taking drugs at the BAFTA Awards. He also starred as himself in Little Britain Abroad, in which Bubbles DeVere
tried successfully to seduce him. He opened the centre in Cromer
, North Norfolk, to Henry Blogg, "the greatest lifeboatman of all time" . He opened Cromer's high school swimming pool in the 1970s.
Corbett was the "castaway" in the BBC Radio 4
show, Desert Island Discs
on 21 October 2007. He featured as a Slitheen in a Sarah Jane Adventures episode for Red Nose Day 2009.
He had a television interview about his life on 7 November 2009 for Piers Morgan's Life Stories
. On 14 November 2009 he hosted Strictly Come Dancing
alongside Tess Daly
and Claudia Winkleman
. Regular host Bruce Forsyth
had flu
.
In February 2010 he was in the John Landis
thriller comedy, Burke and Hare
. In August 2010 he was a panelist in the BBC 1 comedy show Would I Lie to You?
.
In August 2010 he was the star of the Good Food HD programme, Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club
, with Rob Brydon
, and Rob's good friend Steve Speirs. The show's premise was, the main guest of the programme has to choose a meal as if it were their last, and Ronnie would cook it for him/her and his other guest, whilst they chatted about the guest's past and their current/future projects. In December of the same year he starred in a one off special: The One Ronnie
.
In 2010 - 2011 he starred in two series of the BBC4 radio sitcom When The Dog Dies. The series reunited Corbett with Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent, the writers of Sorry!
.
He has lived in Shirley
, Croydon
, London, for many years. He also has a home in Gullane
, East Lothian
, in Scotland. He is a beekeeper and keeps hives at his home in Gullane.
Corbett is a golf
er and appears in celebrity and pro-am events; in 2009 he made a documentary with Colin Montgomerie
in which they played at Gleneagles
. He is also a past president of the Lord's Taverners
(1982 and 1987).
He also supports his local football club, Crystal Palace
as well as his hometown club Heart of Midlothian
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 4 December 1930) is a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
actor and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
of Scottish and English parentage who had a long association with Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
in the British television comedy series 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:...
. He achieved prominence in David Frost
David Frost
Sir David Frost is a British broadcaster.David Frost may also refer to:*David Frost , South African golfer*David Frost , classical record producer*David Frost *Dave Frost, baseball pitcher...
's 1960s satirical comedy programme, The Frost Report
The Frost Report
The Frost Report was a satirical television show hosted by David Frost. It ran for 29 episodes from 1966 to 1967. It is most notable for introducing John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett to television and also launching the careers of several comedians and performers.The main cast were...
and later starred in the sitcoms Sorry!
Sorry! (TV series)
Sorry! was a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1981 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1988. Starring Ronnie Corbett, it was written by Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent, both of whom had previously written for The Two Ronnies, of whom Corbett was one half....
and No - That's Me Over Here!
Early life and career
Corbett was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1930, the son of London-born Annie Elizabeth (Main) and William Balfour Corbett, master baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
. He has a brother about six years younger, and a sister about ten years younger than himself. Corbett was educated at the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
in the city, but did not attend university. After leaving school, he decided he wanted to be an actor while performing in amateur theatricals at a church youth club. However, his first job was with the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
. He then did National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the RAF, during which he was the shortest commissioned officer in the British Forces. After National Service he moved to London to act, and started his career by playing schoolboy roles in films. At 5 in 1 in (1.55 m) tall, Corbett was suited to playing younger than his years. References to his height frequently crop up in his self-deprecating humour.
He has worked in film, television, and on stage since the 1950s. In his first stage co-starring appearance he was billed as Ronald Corbett at Cromer, North Norfolk, in "Take it easy" in 1956, co-starring with Graham Stark
Graham Stark
Graham Stark is an English comedian, actor, writer and director.Stark was born in Wallasey on the Wirral in Cheshire, England. He first came to prominence on BBC Radio, making his debut in Happy Go Lucky and going on to Ray's A Laugh, Educating Archie and substitute on The Goon Show...
. He appeared in Crackerjack as a regular in its early days, one episode with Winifred Atwell
Winifred Atwell
Una Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or April 1910 or 1914There is some uncertainty over her date and year of birth. Many sources suggest 27 February 1914, but there is a strong suggestion that her birthday was 27 April. Most sources give her year of birth as...
. He had a walk-on in an early episode of the 1960s series The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
(credited as 'Ronald Corbett') and appeared in films including Rockets Galore! (1957), Casino Royale
Casino Royale (1967 film)
Casino Royale is a 1967 comedy spy film originally produced by Columbia Pictures starring an ensemble cast of directors and actors. It is set as a satire of the James Bond film series and the spy genre, and is loosely based on Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel.The film stars David Niven as the...
(1967), Some Will, Some Won't
Some Will, Some Won't
Some Will, Some Won't was a 1970 British comedy film directed by Duncan Wood. It was a remake of Laughter in Paradise. It starred an ensemble British cast, including Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett, Dennis Price, Leslie Phillips and Arthur Lowe....
(1970) and the film version of the farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
No Sex Please, We're British
No Sex Please, We're British
No Sex Please, We're British is a British comedic play written by Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott, first staged in London's West End in 1971. It was unanimously panned by critics, but still ran for nearly a decade to packed audiences...
(1973).
Corbett starred in the first London production of the musical The Boys from Syracuse
The Boys from Syracuse
The Boys from Syracuse is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, based on William Shakespeare's play, The Comedy of Errors, as adapted by librettist George Abbott. The score includes swing and other contemporary rhythms of the 1930s. The show was the first musical...
(as Dromio of Syracuse) in 1963 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, alongside Bob Monkhouse
Bob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
. In 1965 he was in cabaret at Winston's, Danny La Rue
Danny La Rue
Danny La Rue, OBE was an Irish-born British entertainer known for his singing and drag impersonations.-Early life:...
's Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. David Frost
David Frost
Sir David Frost is a British broadcaster.David Frost may also refer to:*David Frost , South African golfer*David Frost , classical record producer*David Frost *Dave Frost, baseball pitcher...
saw him and asked him to appear in The Frost Report
The Frost Report
The Frost Report was a satirical television show hosted by David Frost. It ran for 29 episodes from 1966 to 1967. It is most notable for introducing John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett to television and also launching the careers of several comedians and performers.The main cast were...
. Corbett was in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
, playing Will Scarlett in Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart was a writer and composer of British pop music and musicals, best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for Oliver!-Early life:...
's Robin Hood musical Twang!
Twang!
Twang!! is a musical written by Lionel Bart, based on the character of the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. It is most famous for its disastrous box-office failure. It opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End on the 20th December 1965 and closed on 29th January 1966 after just 43...
. It failed, leaving Corbett free to accept.
Rise to fame
It was in The Frost Report (1966–1967) that Corbett first worked with Ronnie BarkerRonnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
. The writers and cast were mostly Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
graduates from the Footlights
Footlights
Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, commonly referred to simply as the Footlights, is an amateur theatrical club in Cambridge, England, founded in 1883 and run by the students of Cambridge University....
tradition. Corbett said he and Barker were drawn together as two Grammar school boys who had not gone to university. The show was a mixture of satirical monologues, sketches and music. Corbett and Barker were beginning to be thought of as a pair.
They appeared with John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
in one of the most repeated comedy sketches in British television, the Class sketch
Class sketch
The Class sketch is a comedy sketch first broadcast in an episode of David Frost's satirical comedy programme The Frost Report on 7 April 1966. It has been described as a "genuinely timeless sketch, ingeniously satirising the British class system" and in 2005 was voted number 40 in Channel Four's...
, in which Corbett got the pay-off line
Punch line
A punch line is the final part of a joke, comedy sketch, or profound statement, usually the word, sentence or exchange of sentences which is intended to be funny or to provoke laughter or thought from listeners...
: "I get a pain in the back of my neck."
Continuing under Frost, Corbett starred in No - That's Me Over Here!, a sitcom written by Frost Report writers Barry Cryer
Barry Cryer
Barry Charles Cryer OBE is a British writer and comedian. Cryer has written for many noted performers, including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory Bremner, George Burns, Jasper Carrott, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Dick Emery, Kenny Everett, Bruce Forsyth, David Frost, Bob Hope, Frankie...
, Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
and Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
(ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
1967-1970). Cryer and Chapman wrote two follow-ups: Now Look Here (BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
1971-1973) and The Prince of Denmark (BBC 1974). Corbett also appeared in Frost on Sunday (ITV 1968) and hosted The Corbett Follies (ITV 1969).
The Two Ronnies
His BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television comedy show with Ronnie Barker, 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:...
, lasted from 1971 to 1987. Barker and Corbett performed sketches and musical numbers. Corbett presented a monologue. Sitting in a large easy chair (emphasising his small size), and usually wearing a Lyle & Scott
Lyle & Scott
Lyle & Scott is a British knitwear brand, formerly known for golfing knitwear. It acquired a younger more fashionable following with young 'casuals' in the 1980s....
golfing V-neck sweater, he would tell a simple joke over several minutes, often allowing himself to appear to lose his train of thought.
Recent life
His best known role away from The Two Ronnies is as Timothy Lumsden in the sitcom Sorry!Sorry! (TV series)
Sorry! was a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1981 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1988. Starring Ronnie Corbett, it was written by Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent, both of whom had previously written for The Two Ronnies, of whom Corbett was one half....
. Before this, he had a similar role in Now Look Here
Now Look Here
Now Look Here was a BBC situation comedy which ran for two series of seven episodes each during 1971 to 1973.It starred Ronnie Corbett, who played a character of the same name...
. In 1996, he appeared on the première of the short-lived BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
game show, Full Swing
Full Swing (game show)
Full Swing was a game show that combined general knowledge questions and the game of Golf which aired on BBC1 for one series from 25 May to 27 July 1996. The programme was hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck. The show was inspired by the BBC's popular Big Break, which was based around snooker...
, hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck
Jimmy Tarbuck
Jimmy Tarbuck OBE or Tarby is an English comedian. Growing up he was a schoolmate of John Lennon.His first television show was It's Tarbuck 65! on ITV in 1964. He has also hosted numerous quiz shows, including Winner Takes All, Full Swing, and Tarby's Frame Game...
. In 1997, Corbett played Reggie Sea Lions in the film Fierce Creatures
Fierce Creatures
Fierce Creatures is a 1997 comedy film. Although not a sequel, it was a follow-up to the wildly popular A Fish Called Wanda, starring the same four actors, John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin...
, which also starred his former comedy teammate John Cleese.
He also hosted the game show Small Talk
Small Talk (UK game show)
Small Talk is a BBC One game show that aired from 24 July 1994 to 18 December 1996 and it was hosted by The Two Ronnies star and Sorry! actor Ronnie Corbett.-Rounds 1 and 2:...
and has played minor parts occasionally since its end – notably Griselda in a television production of Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
in 2000, and reviving his armchair monologue routines for a weekly appearance in a stand-up show hosted by Ben Elton
Ben Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
.
In 2003 he appeared in advertisements for the Sky+
Sky+
Sky+, or Sky Plus, is a personal video recorder service for Sky in the UK. Launched in September 2001, it allows the user to record, pause and instantly rewind live TV. The system performs these functions using an internal hard drive inside the Sky+ set top box...
digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
service alongside Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. The premise was a running gag about their being happy housemates. In December 2004, Corbett appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
news quiz, Have I Got News For You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
.
In 2005 Corbett teamed up again with Ronnie Barker for The Two Ronnies Sketchbook
The Two Ronnies Sketchbook
The Two Ronnies Sketchbook was a collection of classic sketches from the BBC comedy series The Two Ronnies, with newly filmed introductions by the stars, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett...
, comedy sketches from their original series with original linking material. Also in 2005 Corbett appeared with comedian Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
, in the spoof music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the number 1 single Is This the Way to Amarillo?
Is This the Way to Amarillo
In the United States, a version by the writer of the song Neil Sedaka made to number 44 in the Billboard charts in 1977, and the title was shortened to "Amarillo".-Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay version:...
, mimed to the song by Tony Christie
Tony Christie
Tony Christie is an English musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his track, "Is This The Way To Amarillo", a double UK chart success.-Career:Tony Christie has sold over 10 million albums Worldwide...
. Corbett is remembered for accidentally falling over in the video, however he found the fall funny when played back, and it was kept in the final version.
He performed in Children's Party at the Palace
Children's Party at the Palace
The Children's Party at the Palace was an event organized by Peter Orton of Hit Entertainment and David Johnstone of DJI consult, held at Buckingham Palace Garden on 25 June 2006 in honour of the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The event, which had the theme British children's literature, was...
as Mr Tibbs, the Queen's butler.
In 2006, he played a hyper-realised version of himself in Extras
Extras (TV series)
Extras is a British sitcom about extras working on TV and film sets and in theatre. The series was co-produced by the BBC and HBO, and is created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both of whom also star in it...
, caught taking drugs at the BAFTA Awards. He also starred as himself in Little Britain Abroad, in which Bubbles DeVere
Bubbles DeVere
Denise or Mavis DeVere is a fictional character in the second and third series of the BBC television sketch show Little Britain and its US spin-off. She is played by Matt Lucas.-Personality:...
tried successfully to seduce him. He opened the centre in Cromer
Cromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
, North Norfolk, to Henry Blogg, "the greatest lifeboatman of all time" . He opened Cromer's high school swimming pool in the 1970s.
Corbett was the "castaway" in the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
show, Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
on 21 October 2007. He featured as a Slitheen in a Sarah Jane Adventures episode for Red Nose Day 2009.
He had a television interview about his life on 7 November 2009 for Piers Morgan's Life Stories
Piers Morgan's Life Stories
Piers Morgan's Life Stories, also known as Life Stories, is a British television chat show presented by journalist Piers Morgan. Filmed in front of a studio audience, each programme is devoted to one special celebrity guest. The interviews are intimate, in-depth and emotionally-charged as Piers...
. On 14 November 2009 he hosted Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)
The seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing commenced on BBC One on 18 September 2009. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned as presenters together with Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli as judges. Series 5 winner, Alesha Dixon, joined the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips...
alongside Tess Daly
Tess Daly
Helen Elizabeth "Tess" Daly is an English television presenter. She is married to the presenter Vernon Kay.-Early life:Daly was born in Derbyshire to Vivian , who died of emphysema, and Sylvia Daly...
and Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Anne I. Winkleman is an English television presenter, film critic, radio personality and journalist.- Early life and family :...
. Regular host Bruce Forsyth
Bruce Forsyth
Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
had flu
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
.
In February 2010 he was in the John Landis
John Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
thriller comedy, Burke and Hare
Burke and Hare (film)
Burke and Hare is a British black comedy film, loosely based on the Burke and Hare murders. Directed by John Landis, the film stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as William Burke and William Hare respectively. It was Landis's first feature film release in twelve years, the last being 1998's Susan's...
. In August 2010 he was a panelist in the BBC 1 comedy show Would I Lie to You?
Would I Lie To You? (TV series)
Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards...
.
In August 2010 he was the star of the Good Food HD programme, Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club
Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club
Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club is a television pilot that broadcast on the UKTV channel, Good Food in August 2010. It was hosted by Scottish comedian, Ronnie Corbett, who cooked his guest's chosen meal if it were to be their last. Ronnie's guest in the Pilot, was Welsh comedian and star of Gavin and...
, with Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon is a BAFTA-nominated Welsh actor, comedian, radio and television presenter, singer and impressionist...
, and Rob's good friend Steve Speirs. The show's premise was, the main guest of the programme has to choose a meal as if it were their last, and Ronnie would cook it for him/her and his other guest, whilst they chatted about the guest's past and their current/future projects. In December of the same year he starred in a one off special: The One Ronnie
The One Ronnie
The One Ronnie was a one-off comedy television sketch show that aired on BBC One on Christmas Day 2010 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Ronnie Corbett. It featured sketches between Corbett and Lionel Blair, Rob Brydon, James Corden, Jon Culshaw, Harry Enfield, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Miranda Hart,...
.
In 2010 - 2011 he starred in two series of the BBC4 radio sitcom When The Dog Dies. The series reunited Corbett with Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent, the writers of Sorry!
Personal life
Corbett married actress and dancer Anne Hart in 1965; they have two daughters, actresses Emma and Sophie Corbett. Their first child, Andrew, had a heart defect and died, six weeks old, at St Thomas' HospitalSt Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
.
He has lived in Shirley
Shirley, London
Shirley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 10 miles south south-east of Charing Cross.-Description:...
, Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, London, for many years. He also has a home in Gullane
Gullane
Gullane is a town on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian on the east coast of Scotland. There has been a church in the village since the 9th century. The ruins of the Old Church of St...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, in Scotland. He is a beekeeper and keeps hives at his home in Gullane.
Corbett is a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er and appears in celebrity and pro-am events; in 2009 he made a documentary with Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie
Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
in which they played at Gleneagles
Gleneagles Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel is a luxury hotel near Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.- History :The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company and opened in 1924, originally with its own railway station...
. He is also a past president of the Lord's Taverners
Lord's Taverners
The Lord’s Taverners is a thriving club, the official charity for recreational cricket and the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity whose objective is to 'give young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance'.The Lord’s Taverners was founded in 1950 by a...
(1982 and 1987).
He also supports his local football club, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
as well as his hometown club Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
.
Television roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Sheep's Clothing | Valet |
| 1966 to 1967 1968 to 1970 2008 |
The Frost Report The Frost Report The Frost Report was a satirical television show hosted by David Frost. It ran for 29 episodes from 1966 to 1967. It is most notable for introducing John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett to television and also launching the careers of several comedians and performers.The main cast were... Frost on Sunday |
Himself & Various characters |
| 1967 to 1970 | No - That's Me Over Here! | Ronnie |
| 1971 to 1973 1974 |
Now Look Here Now Look Here Now Look Here was a BBC situation comedy which ran for two series of seven episodes each during 1971 to 1973.It starred Ronnie Corbett, who played a character of the same name... The Prince of Denmark Now Look Here Now Look Here was a BBC situation comedy which ran for two series of seven episodes each during 1971 to 1973.It starred Ronnie Corbett, who played a character of the same name... |
Ronnie |
| 1971 to 1987 2005 |
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:... The Two Ronnies Sketchbook The Two Ronnies Sketchbook The Two Ronnies Sketchbook was a collection of classic sketches from the BBC comedy series The Two Ronnies, with newly filmed introductions by the stars, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett... |
Himself & Various characters |
| 1981 to 1982 1985 to 1988 |
Sorry! Sorry! (TV series) Sorry! was a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1981 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1988. Starring Ronnie Corbett, it was written by Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent, both of whom had previously written for The Two Ronnies, of whom Corbett was one half.... |
Timothy Lumsden |
| 1998 | Timbuctoo Timbuctoo Timbuctoo is a series of 25 children's books, written and illustrated by Roger Hargreaves, better known for his Mr. Men series. It was published from 1978–1979. The books tell the stories of a group of animals, each of whom is named after the sound that they make... |
Narrator & All Characters Except Giant Squeak |
| 2000 | Cinderella ITV Panto ITV Panto The ITV Panto was a series of pantomimes originally broadcast on ITV in 1998, 2000, and 2002. All written by Simon Nye, they included an array of celebrities playing the lead roles. There were only four shows recorded; Dick Whittington in 2002 having been the final in the series.The recordings are... |
Griselda (One of the Ugly Sisters) |
| 2004 | The Keith Barret Show The Keith Barret Show The Keith Barret Show is a spoof BBC chat show hosted by Keith Barret who interviews celebrity couples in the hope of finding the secret to a successful marriage . It was devised by Paul Duddridge and co written with Rob Brydon... Series 1 |
Himself With His Wife |
| 2006 | Extras Extras (TV series) Extras is a British sitcom about extras working on TV and film sets and in theatre. The series was co-produced by the BBC and HBO, and is created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both of whom also star in it... Little Britain Abroad Little Britain Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas... |
Himself |
| 2009 | Harry Hill's TV Burp Harry Hill's TV Burp Harry Hill's TV Burp is a British television comedy programme produced by Avalon Television for ITV and hosted by comedian Harry Hill. The show presents a satirical look at the week's television, including extracts from TV shows with added sketches, observational voice-overs, and guest appearances... Sarah Jane Adventures (Comic Relief) The Graham Norton Show The Graham Norton Show The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009... (S05E03) Piers Morgan's Life Stories Piers Morgan's Life Stories Piers Morgan's Life Stories, also known as Life Stories, is a British television chat show presented by journalist Piers Morgan. Filmed in front of a studio audience, each programme is devoted to one special celebrity guest. The interviews are intimate, in-depth and emotionally-charged as Piers... Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom... |
Himself Ambassador "Rani" Ranius/Slitheen |
| 2010 | Ant and Dec's Push The Button Would I Lie to You? Would I Lie To You? (TV series) Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards... The One Ronnie The One Ronnie The One Ronnie was a one-off comedy television sketch show that aired on BBC One on Christmas Day 2010 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Ronnie Corbett. It featured sketches between Corbett and Lionel Blair, Rob Brydon, James Corden, Jon Culshaw, Harry Enfield, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Miranda Hart,... Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club is a television pilot that broadcast on the UKTV channel, Good Food in August 2010. It was hosted by Scottish comedian, Ronnie Corbett, who cooked his guest's chosen meal if it were to be their last. Ronnie's guest in the Pilot, was Welsh comedian and star of Gavin and... |
Voice over Himself Himself and Various characters Himself |
| 2011 | Ronnie Corbett's Comedy Britain | Himself |
Selected filmography
- Fun at St. Fanny's (1956)
- Rockets Galore! (1957)
- Operation SnatchOperation SnatchOperation Snatch is a British comedy film starring Terry-Thomas and George Sanders and directed by Robert Day. The story takes place in Gibraltar, and is based on a local legend: if the resident Barbary Apes were ever to leave, the British Empire would collapse. This wartime comedy has...
(1962) - Casino RoyaleCasino Royale (1967 film)Casino Royale is a 1967 comedy spy film originally produced by Columbia Pictures starring an ensemble cast of directors and actors. It is set as a satire of the James Bond film series and the spy genre, and is loosely based on Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel.The film stars David Niven as the...
(1967) - Some Will, Some Won'tSome Will, Some Won'tSome Will, Some Won't was a 1970 British comedy film directed by Duncan Wood. It was a remake of Laughter in Paradise. It starred an ensemble British cast, including Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett, Dennis Price, Leslie Phillips and Arthur Lowe....
(1970) - The Rise and Rise of Michael RimmerThe Rise and Rise of Michael RimmerThe Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer is a British 1970 cult satire film written by and starring Peter Cook, John Cleese and Graham Chapman, and directed by Kevin Billington .-Synopsis:...
(1970) - No Sex Please, We're BritishNo Sex Please, We're British (film)No Sex Please, We're British is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Ronnie Corbett, Ian Ogilvy, Susan Penhaligon and Arthur Lowe...
(1973) - Fierce CreaturesFierce CreaturesFierce Creatures is a 1997 comedy film. Although not a sequel, it was a follow-up to the wildly popular A Fish Called Wanda, starring the same four actors, John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin...
(1997) - Burke and HareBurke and Hare (film)Burke and Hare is a British black comedy film, loosely based on the Burke and Hare murders. Directed by John Landis, the film stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as William Burke and William Hare respectively. It was Landis's first feature film release in twelve years, the last being 1998's Susan's...
(2010)