William Cook

A pair of aces

William Cook talks to the creators of some of TV’s funniest and best-loved comedy programmes

issue 10 January 2009

William Cook talks to the creators of some of TV’s funniest and best-loved comedy programmes

As our economy disappears down the plughole, along with the reputations of most of our bankers and politicians, the one consolation is that entertainers like Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross suddenly seem terribly passé. When you’re broke, there’s nothing entertaining about other people’s affluence — or decadence — and, even if you can make ends meet, failure is always far funnier than success.

The two men who understand this better than anyone are sitting side by side on the same sofa, in the august but comfy drawing room of a grand old house near Hampton Court. This house belongs to Ray Galton, but Alan Simpson seems equally at home here — as well he might, since the two of them have been writing partners for over 50 years.

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