The Double ACT: A History of British Comedy Duos

By Andrew Roberts

The double act has been at the heart of British entertainment for over 150 years, yet there has never been a book detailing how this form of comedy continues to develop. From music hall turns such as Flanagan & Allen, to variety acts who managed to make the transformation to television such as Morecambe & Wise, to more recent performers--Armstrong & Miller, Mitchell & Webb--this book explores the dynamics of this form of entertainment. It encompasses the often neglected field of female double-acts, such as Victoria Wood & Julie Walters and French & Saunders, and the acts associated with alternative comedy and the Edinburgh Fringe, from Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson to Stewart Lee & Richard Herring. There are also chapters on the double-acts created by TV sitcoms--e.g. Tony Hancock & Sidney James, Terry & June, George & Mildred--and on the subtle art of the straight man.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0750984325
• ISBN13: 9780750984324
• Release Date: April 2019
• Publisher: History Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.1"