Channel 4 to screen The Unseen Frankie Howerd

Twenty years after his death Channel 4 are to take a fresh look at the popular comedian in a one-off documentary special.

In The Unseen Frankie Howerd the broadcaster promise never-before-seen footage of the Up Pompeii star will be broadcast.

Alongside the clips from classic shows, the programme will unveil professional and personal archive film and audio that has never been transmitted on television before. From pilot productions that never went to air the first time round to home movie footage and never seen on television material from his live stand up show form part of the look at the man who became famous for catchphrases such as ‘titter ye not’ and ‘yes missus’.

Francis Alick Howerd was born in March 1917, finding prominence as a performer in the mid-1940s on BBC Radio.  He hosted his own comedy and variety series’, appeared on chat shows, guest comedy routine spots on entertainment series and starred in a number of comedy films. He is best remembered however for his sitcom role of Lurcio in Roman period comedy Up Pompeii. Howerd died in 1992 aged 75.

A range of contributors have been interviewed for the 90-minute documentary including some of the comedian’s most famous fans as well as the people who were closest to him, such as his former agent and co-workers.

Channel 4 previously aired a celebration of the performer in Heroes of Comedy back in 1995.

The Unseen Frankie Howerd airs in December.