The Benny Hill Show

Benny Hill was a much-loved cheeky comedian famous for his naughty grin and his eye for the ladies. Every episode of the Benny Hill show featured Benny being chased by dozens of scantily-clad women in fast-forward with the well-known accompanying soundtrack.

Most of the jokes on the Benny Hill show were risqué , sexist or rude but for some reason Benny Hill was considered family viewing by most.

Trivia: One of the Benny Hill girls went on to play Daphne in the comedy series Frasier.

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Michael Johnson

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Do You Remember The Benny Hill Show?

Roxxy on 2011-05-01 18:40:20

Benny has been unfairly slighted over the years as relying upon sexist or risque comedy, but I beg to differ that MOST of his humour was of this vein. In fact, only about a third of the content of his shows was saucy- the bulk of it was actually pretty harmless, revolving around puns, play on words, and the downright idiosyncratic (similar to the non-obscene material that features in the 'Viz' comic). The other point to add, is that when he surrounded himself with lots of girls, he intended the joke to be on HIM a lot of the time (i.e. the idea that all these gorgeous women would be attracted to a tubby, homely little guy like him). Benny was a great comedian, as well as being one of the kindest and most humane of men who devoted his off-screen hours working for charities and needy causes. It made me furious to see the likes of Ben Elton getting all snotty and moralistic about him when he passed away in '92- Elton and his ilk have made sick gags that would have made Benny turn in his grave. I hate alternative comedy.... Favourite Benny clips I remember were the feared Western outlaw The Halitosis Kid, and Australan detective 'Digger Blue'. Also the TV debate about euthanasia which, when the camera pans backwards, you see is actually meant to be about 'Youth In Asia', and the signwriter who's mate tells his foreman that he's gone for a pee. The chap then turns up with a huge plastic letter 'P' under his arm! Benny was an army driver durng the war, and after being bemobbed got a job in a coalyard in between beginning his career as a comedian. An interviewer once asked him if he ever found such work a bit demeaning- "Not at all!" chirped back Benny, "I'd always wanted to be a Cole Porter!" Rest in peace Benny, you were one of the greats.