A Great British Institution

It was sad last week to learn of the sudden death of David Frost. There is no point in me adding to what many others have already written. He first came to our attention on TW3 (That was the week that was) in the early 1960s. The show was produced by the much missed Ned Sherrin and to say it was ahead of its time would be to do it a disservice. The stars who came to prominence on TW3 were impressive indeed. Roy Kinnear, Willie Rushton and Frankie Howerd all cut their teeth on TW3 with their performances. It was the scriptwriters though who made the more impressive list. John Betjeman, John Bird, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Peter Cook, Roald Dahl, Frank Muir, Dennis Norden, Bill Oddie and Richard Ingrams all contributed to the brillance of this iconic show. Yes, Ned Sherrin had a good eye for a performer and an even better one for a good writer. Not a bad set of lists, I think you'll agree. Just imagine, the embryo of Monty Python, the future editor of Private Eye and one half of Pete and Dud all being brought in by Ned Sherrin. Ned was a very versatile man and remains one of the finest wits I have ever witnessed. A few years ago, I was given the Oxford Book of Humorous Quotations which was compiled by Ned. It has to be one of the most read books in my library. Imagine if you will, my delight, when the Spectator previewed the latest edition this week with a selection of some of the new quotes which have since emerged. It would be churlish not to share some of them with you so here goes: "According to legend, Telford is so dull that the by-pass was built before the town" (Victor Lewis-Smith). "Good God! I have never drunk a vintage that started with the number two before!" (Nicholas Soames). "If voting changed anything, they'd abolish it" (Ken Livingstone). "My first rule of consumerism is never to buy anything you can't make your children carry" (Bill Bryson). "I always invest in companies an idiot could run because one day one will" (Warren Buffet). "Modest about our national pride - and inordinately proud of our national modesty" (Ian Hislop). "If I am doing nothing, I like to be doing nothing to some purpose. That is what leisure means" (Alan Bennett). I could go on but that will suffice. If the British are only good at one thing, then humour would be a decent contender. Faced with our politicians this is little wonder. Doubtless, our current crop of Cameron, Clegg and Milliband will add to that list between now and 2015.