Watch BBC Lost Sitcoms
- 12
- 1969
- 1 Season
The BBC Lost Sitcoms is a comedy series that aired on BBC Four. This show was a tribute to some of the finest comedies of the 1960s that are lost to the archives. The show was produced by BBC Studios and broadcasted in 2016. This was a one-off series that retraced the steps of the classic sitcoms of the 1960s that are now extinct. The program was created with the primary objective of recreating the classic sitcoms for the modern audience.
The show featured the remake of three comedy classics - Hancock's Half Hour, Till Death Us Do Part, and Steptoe and Son. Each episode ran for about 30 minutes and, throughout the entire series, the studio audience was treated to the best of what humor from this era had to offer.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode was an absolute joy, capturing the essence of the original series with ease. The show was set in a television studio, where a crew was setting up to record an episode of the classic sitcom. However, things started to go awry when the actors refused to read the original script.
The reworked script was a clever and believable take on a modern-day broadcaster trying to refresh an old classic. The show retained the feel of the original series, and the audience was delighted with the witty exchanges between Tony Hancock's character and the characters of the studio crew.
The Till Death Us Do Part episode followed the same storyline but was set in the 21st century. The modern Alf Garnett was played by Simon Day who portrayed his character as a working-class pensioner who was dealing with the current political climate.
Despite its modern setting, the show maintained the classic elements of the original series, with the humor not lost in translation. The show did not shy away from the difficult subject matters that made the original show so successful, with the team trying to capture the nuance without causing any offense.
The Steptoe and Son episode presented an interesting take on the classic sitcom. The original series was based around the business of rag and bone men, but the modern audience may not necessarily relate to that profession. Therefore, the reworked version of the show focused on the father and son relationship and the challenges that come with it.
The modern-day Harold and Albert relied on eBay instead of scavenging through trash for scraps. The show was able to capture the essence of the original series through the witty exchanges between the two main actors.
The show was a thoroughly enjoyable watch for anyone who has a connection to classic sitcoms of the 1960s. The remakes were a refreshing take on the source material that did not feel like a cheap imitation. The show was successful in retaining the essence of the original series without becoming a parody of itself.
In conclusion, the BBC Lost Sitcoms was a delightful series that allowed the modern audience to go back in time and appreciate the humor of classic sitcoms. The reworked versions of the classic comedies were a testament to the source material's brilliance and success. The program was well-received by the audience, and it was a welcome tribute to the classic sitcoms that exist only in memories.