Barry Cryer
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Barry Charles Cryer was born in Leeds in 1935 and educated at Leeds Grammar School and later studied English Literature at Leeds University.After a year, he left the University to pursue a career in comedy and was offered a week's work on the BBC's Good Old Days at the famous Leeds City Varieties Music Hall. Whilst appearing there, he was spotted by a London agent and offered work in variety. This variety work led him to London's Windmill Theatre, a legendary training ground for comedians, and it has since taken him to theatres all round the UK. Highlights of his career include night club shows with Danny La Rue, charity shows at the Players' Theatre, and a collaboration with William Rushton called Two Old Farts In the Night which played to full houses until Rushton's untimely death in 1996.
Barry Cryer's television and radio work has included many panel games, including Radio 4's Just A Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. Barry says that recording an episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue is a "sheer joy" and he attributes its longevity to the fact that "people haven't noticed we haven't yet gone away!"
Barry Cryer is famous as a jokes writer for some of the legends of comedy, including Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Stanley Baxter, Dick Emery, Dave Allen, Les Dawson, Bob Hope, Kenny Everett, Billy Connolly and Jasper Carrot to name a few.
In 1998, Barry wrote his autobiography, You Won't Believe This But..., A later edition appeared in 2009 under the title The Chronicles of Hernia. Other Barry Cryer books include Pigs Can Fly (2003); Butterfly Brain (2009) and Mrs Hudson's Diaries: A View From the Landing at 221B (2012)
Barry Cryer was awarded the OBE in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to comedy drama. He was also awarded a Doctorate of Arts degree from Leeds University in 2013.
He has been married to his wife Terry for more than 50 years, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
Barry Cryer's television and radio work has included many panel games, including Radio 4's Just A Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. Barry says that recording an episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue is a "sheer joy" and he attributes its longevity to the fact that "people haven't noticed we haven't yet gone away!"
Barry Cryer is famous as a jokes writer for some of the legends of comedy, including Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Stanley Baxter, Dick Emery, Dave Allen, Les Dawson, Bob Hope, Kenny Everett, Billy Connolly and Jasper Carrot to name a few.
In 1998, Barry wrote his autobiography, You Won't Believe This But..., A later edition appeared in 2009 under the title The Chronicles of Hernia. Other Barry Cryer books include Pigs Can Fly (2003); Butterfly Brain (2009) and Mrs Hudson's Diaries: A View From the Landing at 221B (2012)
Barry Cryer was awarded the OBE in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to comedy drama. He was also awarded a Doctorate of Arts degree from Leeds University in 2013.
He has been married to his wife Terry for more than 50 years, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
I met Barry Cryer quite by chance in May 2014. I had just come out of London's Gielgud Theatre after seeing a matinee performance of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and there was Barry and his wife standing by one of the exits after they had just seen the same performance. Dad and I got talking to him and he told us about the alternative ending to Blithe Spirit. Barry was extremely friendly, and so interesting to talk to. After chatting to him about other things for a few minutes, Dad took this super photo of us, with Angela Lansbury appearing to watch it being taken!
Barry Charles Cryer was born in Leeds in 1935 and educated at Leeds Grammar School. He later studied English Literature at Leeds University. After a year, he left the University to pursue a career in comedy and was offered a week's work on the BBC's Good Old Days at the famous Leeds City Varieties Music Hall. Whilst appearing there, he was spotted by a London agent and offered work in variety. This variety work led him to London's Windmill Theatre, a legendary training ground for comedians.
Highlights of his career include night club shows with Danny La Rue, charity shows at the Players' Theatre, and a collaboration with Willie Rushton called Two Old Farts In the Night which played to full houses until Rushton's untimely death in 1996.
Barry Cryer as the TV Director in Primitive London (1965)
Barry Cryer in Jokers Wild (1973)
Barry Cryer's television and radio work has included many panel games, including Radio 4's Just A Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. Barry says that recording an episode
recording an episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue is a "sheer joy" and he attributes its longevity to the fact that "people haven't noticed we haven't yet gone away!"
Cryer as Dick Jaws in The Rutles (1978)
Graham Garden & Barry Cryer record
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
The I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue team
Barry Cryer is famous as a jokes
writer of jokers for some of the legends of comedy, including Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Stanley Baxter, Dick Emery, Dave Allen, Les Dawson, Bob Hope, Kenny Everett, Billy Connolly and Jasper Carrot to name a few. He has also hosted many TV series including Jokers Wild (1989-1974); Those Wonderful TV Times (1976-1977) and Cryer's Crackers (1994-1996).
Barry Cryer
In 1998, Barry wrote his autobiography, You Won't Believe This But.... A later edition appeared in 2009 under the title The Chronicles of Hernia. Other Barry Cryer books include Pigs Can Fly (2003); Butterfly Brain (2009) and Mrs Hudson's Diaries: A View From the Landing at 221B (2012) which he co-wrote with his son Bob Cryer.
Barry Cryer was awarded the OBE in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services
services to comedy drama. He was also awarded a Doctorate of Arts degree from Leeds University in 2013.
He has been married to his wife Terry for more than 50 years, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
Barry Cryer D.A
Barry Cryer OBE
