Marching On Together

A public vote decided a top 30 then a panel of 9 made up of Comedians, Writers and actors pick the order for the top 30.

The top 10 are

1) Stan Laurel

2) Victoria Wood

3) Billy Connolly

4) Peter Sellers

5) Eric Morecambe

6) Ricky Gervais

7) Steve Coogan

8) Spike Milligan

9) Peter Kay

10) Ken Dodd.

Tbh i wanted Sir Billy to win but since they took everything into account (acting, writing, etc) i can understand why he didnt.

Stan Laurel died 50 odd years ago and is still remembered and admired, pretty amazing that.

Anyone think of any who should be in the top 10?

No Tommy Cooper in the top 10?

Nor is the Quite Brilliant Bob Hope.

YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 10:38 pm No Tommy Cooper in the top 10?

Should be in the top ten Adam

1 Stan Laurel
2. Victoria Wood
3. Billy Connolly
4. Peter Sellers
5. Eric Morecambe
6=. Steve Coogan
6=. Ricky Gervais
8. Spike Milligan
9. Peter Kay
10. Ken Dodd
11. Caroline Aherne
12. John Cleese
13. Tommy Cooper
14=. Jennifer Suanders
14=. Dawn French
16. Ronnie Barker
17. Lee Mack
18. Sacha Baron Cohen
19. Lenny Henry
20. Rowan Atkinson
21. Dave Allen
22. Jo Brand
23. Lee Evans
24. Eddie Izzard
25. Stewart Lee
26. Bill Bailey
27. Micky Flanagan
28. Michael McIntyre
29. Rik Mayall
30. Kathy Burke

Skewed by a lot of more recent names. Lee Mack, Micky Flanagan?!

Monkhouse? Dawson? Chaplin? Plenty of names from before my time missing too I’m sure.

Kathy Burke is a comedian? ...Comic actor but never seen her do stand up, maybe she has I don't know. If you have comic actors then Martin Clunes is missing,

Anyway

Ronnie Barker
Simon Evans
Stewart Lee
Eddie Izzard
Bob Monkhouse
Alan Davis
Ricky Gervais
Max Miller
Jeremy Hardy
John Finnemore

would be top ten off the top of my head

American

Bill Hicks
Woody Allen
Steve Martin
Groucho Marx
Brett Butler
Steve Wright
Richard Pryor
Jack Benny
Lenny Bruce
Lou Costello

I can never understand the hype around Victoria Wood. I find her unfunny, and frankly irritating.

How can there be no mention of Peter Cook? Or Tony Hancock? Or Norman Wisdom? Or Kenneth Williams? Or Alexei Sale?

No mention either of Jermaine Jenas , the ultimate comedian .

SaraM wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2019 9:03 am I can never understand the hype around Victoria Wood. I find her unfunny, and frankly irritating.

Agree Sara, don't find her funny whatsoever

billie1 wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2019 9:07 am No mention either of Jermaine Jenas , the ultimate comedian .

Ronnie Barker was up there with the best

Dave Allen was exceptionally funny too

My approximate top ten, slanted by fond association at different times in my life, with no attempt to be objective:

Peter Cook
Rik Mayall
Stewart Lee
Eric Morecombe
John Cleese
Ade Edmonson
Spike Milligan
Alexei Sayle
Ronnie Barker
Jeremy Hardy

Honourable mentions to Bill Bailey, Dave Allen, Billy Connolly, Rowan Atkinson, Kenneth Williams, Dylan Moran, Frank Skinner, Kenny Everett, Jasper Carrott, Eric Sykes, Hugh Laurie, Rob Newman, Marty Feldman, Ken Dodd, Arthur Askey.

Yes, they are all men.

SaraM wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2019 9:55 am My approximate top ten, slanted by fond association at different times in my life, with no attempt to be objective:

Peter Cook
Rik Mayall
Stewart Lee
Eric Morecombe
John Cleese
Ade Edmonson
Spike Milligan
Alexei Sayle
Ronnie Barker
Jeremy Hardy

Honourable mentions to Bill Bailey, Dave Allen, Billy Connolly, Rowan Atkinson, Kenneth Williams, Dylan Moran, Frank Skinner, Kenny Everett, Jasper Carrott, Eric Sykes, Hugh Laurie, Rob Newman, Marty Feldman, Ken Dodd, Arthur Askey.

Yes, they are all men.

No John Finnemore? thought you were a radio 4 girl

faaip wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2019 10:02 am No John Finnemore? thought you were a radio 4 girl

Yes, of course, that's the trouble with this listing business, you can't think of everyone!

I don't see why Gervais is in there, I have seen funnier war zones...!!!

hector wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2019 11:17 am I don't see why Gervais is in there, I have seen funnier war zones...!!!

Another one who doesn't make me laugh

And if we are talking about writing too what about Barry Cryer?

It’s a bit like music for me, depends what mood I’m in and what life is throwing at me at any given time.

For my money Ronnie Barker, Ken Dodd and Tommy Cooper are mesmerisingly funny. I’m surprised there’s no mention of Freddie Starr, another very very funny man. And the dry humour of Larry David just cracks me up (I was a binge watcher of Curb Your Enthusiasm).

The two funniest sketches I’ve ever seen are the much loved Fork Handles (Two Ronnies of course), and Larry David’s auntie obituary in ‘Curb’. If you haven’t seen the latter it’s well worth a watch, I’m sure it will be on YouTube.

Beloved aunt:

https://youtu.be/3Q5ZFYFatvI