Unseen Frankie Howerd material to be screened

Twenty years after his death, Channel 4 are to air unseen material for the first time.

“Frankie was a pioneer who cleared a path for some of today’s biggest comedians. His career was a roller coaster over four decades and yet he never managed to go out of fashion.” – Mat Steiner , Gogglebox Entertainment’s joint Managing Director.

The 90-minute documentary will look back at the legendary career of Frankie Howerd and feature professional and personal archive film and audio which has never been broadcast. There will also be contributions from friends and colleagues of the late comedian and actor.

The Unseen Frankie Howerd will air later in the year and is being made by Gogglebox Entertainment. It will follow in the same vein of previous documentaries looking at past comedians, such as The Untold Tommy Cooper.

Howerd starred in a variety of film and television programmes such as BBC sitcom Up Pompeii! set in Roman times, the 1960s hospital farce Carry on Doctor and serveral stand-up and sketch series for both the BBC and ITV companies including Central, Yorkshire TV, ATV and Thames Television with shows such as The Frankie Howerd Show, The Frankie Howerd Hour and Frankie Howerd on Campus.

The camp comedian who hid his sexuality from the public was big showbiz pals with the likes of Cilla Black who noted as well as being nervous about being ‘outed’ he also suffered from stage nerves. He died aged 75 in 1992. His home became a shrine to the performer who millions of fans still adore.