1991: BENNY HILL on his COMEDY SUCCESS | Omnibus | Comedy Icons | BBC Archive

Benny Hill, a British comedy superstar for over four decades with shows on both the BBC (1955-1968) and ITV (1969-1989), takes us through his life and art in an Omnibus special from 1991.
He recalls his relationship with his parents, his writing process, how he got started in television, his approach to impersonations and his delight at stateside success.
Clip taken from Omnibus - Benny Hill: Clown Imperial, originally broadcast on BBC One, Friday 20 December 1991.
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[@TallSilentGuy]

Just seeing Benny being himself on camera was a real treat.

[@humbleopinion1499]

Best comment yet. Delightful to see the real person talking so casually about his life and times. Such a clever comedian.

[@itsahellofaname]

Two months after this, he had a heart attack. Two months after that, he was dead. He looks so well in this video!

[@valuetraveler2026]

yep enjoy life as much as you can while you can!

[@michellefalleur960]

​@@valuetraveler2026 -- too true

[@Johnnyrocks34]

Wow! Thx for info! He died young. Sad.

[@Tom_Mroz]

Gives all new meaning to this interview. So valuable.

[@Johnnyrocks34]

He looked very healthy and in great shape. Seemed very happy!

[@shopmobgm]

Benny was such a lovely warm and friendly man and I miss him dearly. I had the honour and privilege of working with him many years ago. I stayed in contact with him right up until his death. He really did mean what he said regarding money meaning nothing to him. He would regularly be sent cash cheques in the post for his work, but he would simply put them behind the clock on his mantle piece. When there was no more room behind the clock, he would go to the bank and pay them in. When Benny died, there were a large amount of these cheques in his flat that had never been paid into the bank.

[@bfyrth]

Yes, he was a damn fine fellow

[@Fip999]

So lovely to hear 🙏🏻

[@erviram5494]

From Albania lots of love and respect for benny and his team ❤

[@Zontar82]

his style of comedy was soo good that he didn't need any words, that's why he was famous all over the world

[@bladder1010]

From Canada, this is true. Wonderful comedian.❤

[@scottishwildcat]

I don't know what Benny Hill Shows you watched, but nearly all of his comedy was verbal. There were usually just a couple of silent sketches in each show.

[@goodiesguy]

@@scottishwildcat Probably the American (well mostly for America) half-hour edits. They basically were like putting his shows on Shuffle, but most it was the silent stuff, until they ran out of that and ended up using almost everything. But you are right, his original hour long (well 52 minutes) specials that we got here in NZ/AUS/UK generally only contained maybe one silent sketch, maybe two at most, not counting the closing chase.

[@GKsGS400]

Mr. Bean also. Universal comedy.

[@user-uk9sb4qi6h]

From Poalnd, so true.

[@ColinBarrett001]

A wonderful man and a brilliant comic. Sadly missed. He would have been 100 this year.

[@freddysquirenaranjo4859]

21 January

[@daviddd99]

Indeed....though at the end he went 'off the boil'. However, for many years from the late 60s he was truly innovative - technically and artistic (especially his Fanny Craddock and Johnny and his take-off of Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'

[@michellefalleur960]

​@@daviddd99 - Yes, oh I Loved them !! Absolutely brilliant !

[@wmbrown6]

@@daviddd99 - So far "off the boil" did Dennis Kirkland take "TBHS," we never got to see how Benny would have taken on the mid-'80's practice of colorizing old black-and-white films, the way he had with his spoofs of cut-up and warped-sound '30's movies or the way images and credits were cut off CinemaScope films as shown on TV. Stuff like his Burton/Taylor parody showed that, at his best, he was up there with Carol Burnett's celebrated vintage film spoofs. A lot of his later '80's show were about as wooden as Bob Hope robotically and mechanically delivering his monologues from obviously written-up cue cards in his '80's specials.

[@daviddd99]

​@@wmbrown6Direct opinions, but sadly on the target. I've never delved into to what extent he went off the boil due to, perhaps, laziness, or external factors such as Kirkland, Thames management etc. It's not as if he needed the money - he was quite frugal

[@Treguard1987]

Growing up in the 70s/80s in the UK, I still remember how excited we'd all get as a family whenever a new Benny Hill show was on TV that night.

[@ColinBarrett001]

We were the same, and so were millions more.

[@BobAt101]

We where the same in Liverpool, he was excellent.

[@clavichord]

That'd be illegal now....

[@chriss7930]

Same, I was young but can remember my gran passing her self with laughter on Sunday evenings

[@chriss7930]

​@clavichord that's how wet society has got !!

[@maidenthe80sla]

I am from the US and Benny Hill was a favorite in the household back in the 70s & 80s. As a kid, I have never consistently laughed so hard in my life like I did while watching each episode. The wheel chair races, the constant pattering on the head of his side kick Jackie Wright to name a few, and all the pretty girls.

[@robwebnoid5763]

Yup & one of those pretty girls is Jane Leeves, who later became a famous actor herself.

[@wmbrown6]

Jackie Wright's oft-unintelligible Irish brogue was a highlight, as well as his "impersonations" where no matter whom he played, he always sounded like Jackie Wright. I figured one factor in Benny catching on in the States was, among some audiences, a feeling of disenfranchisement over the 1970 cancellations of Jackie Gleason and Red Skelton, and Carol Burnett ending her show in 1978.

[@TowGunner]

Yep, tapping the head of the lil bald gent always cracked me up. Great memories.

[@crominion6045]

Same. Grew up in Arizona in the '70s and '80s and Benny was a regular on our tv set during those years. A legend.

[@robertesensee3494]

Our family LOVED that show. I still to this day pat my mom on the head like Benny did to Jackie every time I see her!

[@nudisco300]

A lovely man who sent me a hand signed and written photograph when I wrote to him as a 10 year old fan!

[@Shogunwario]

They need statues of this man put up, the joy he brought to millions.

[@michellefalleur960]

Yes, Why don't they ? They did with Eric Morecambe, and he didn't even write his own material ( !)

[@palliaskamen5722]

​@@michellefalleur960he wrote a lot of it

[@michellefalleur960]

@@palliaskamen5722 .. well I never knew that before, I always heard it was all written for them , oh well.

[@clouddog2393]

Hear , Hear !!!

[@user-sm2yp5vl7q]

They'd pull them down as they're go after his memory for the same thing as glitter and savile but benny was innocent

[@geegoudge9965]

Benny was a comic genius in his own right. Had us in stitches as kids. 😂❤

[@anythingbootneck]

He still has me stitches today.

[@Picnicl]

'In his own right'? Superfluous words surely as in whose other right might have people been thinking in connection with him?

[@TheChappers]

Fluent in six languages. Charlie chaplain had bundles of videos on him - he adored his work. Sad that he died alone and wasn’t found for a few days after. A true comic genius.

[@BruceLee-fd7uw]

Who was fluent in 6 languages.

[@kevphillips02]

He was fluent in 6 languages

[@chadbridges4304]

I knew he was fluent French. I put that down to fanbase.

[@jjforcebreaker]

What a lad. They don't make them like they used to anymore.

[@mikkifarmer9626]

R.I.P to British comedy icon Benny Hill. Every Sunday night at 11:30 PM, I would be glued to the TV set watching his antics.

[@Jack_Warner]

I'll just add this, one of my favourite sketches was when Benny goes into a pub, The George and the Dragon. Rita Webb, is the barmaid, and Benny asks, "Is George in?"

[@chadbridges4304]

Yh class I remember

[@Mackeson3]

Rita Webb was a hell of a sport, she was the butt of many a joke at her expense.

[@michellefalleur960]

@@Mackeson3 Love Rita Webb, used to see her out doing her shopping in the Portobello lane, she was so lovely and normal

[@joeviking61]

😂

[@StephenH-ms9og]

Comedy genius and a gentleman. Great memories. RIP Benny.

[@Dee-no3xm]

I used to see Bennyhill at our nursing home he was a true gentleman..lovely man

[@mrlotusmic]

Four months after the original broadcast Benny passed away April 1992.

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

He also died the day after Frankie Howerd passed away, but both deaths were reported by the news simultaneously. Two British comedy behemoths gone within 24 hours of each other.

[@SurvivingTheApocalypse]

@@DiRtYLaWs2007there was even a quote from Benny in Frankie’s obituary in the papers, his press secretary didn’t know he was dead and gave it to the press when they called.

[@MarkJoseph-vv4pj]

Unbelievable. I have never seen him out of character doing an interview. Incredibly talented comedian and modest person. Thanks for posting. RIP Benny.

[@wurly164]

The world is much better off, having Benny Hill in our lives

[@NoosaHeads]

In his own way, he was a comic genius too. For Charlie Chaplin to have all of Benny Hill's videos, says it all.

[@Digmen1]

Ive never seen an interview with Benny before. I loved his shows so much

[@turnerthemanc]

what a gem that was. He seemed so well for someone who only had less than a year left.

[@MadderMel]

Some people say it's very sad the way he lived and died , but in a way he didn't really care for fame or money , he just loved his comedy ! In many ways he was an ordinary person , just like me and you !

[@davethejonny8002]

What a down to earth normal fella. Bravo Sir.

[@stevem4005]

Dear Benny Hill, such a lovely man. Thank you for all the laughter.

[@narinoamor]

He seems such a lovely man! He brought so much joy to the world! It’s shame he doesn’t get the recognition and respect he deserves. Thanks for all the memories and laughs Benny! He absolutely loved in Colombia! He shows emptied the streets.

[@martinalarcon3108]

He is a wonderful 😮😢man , he is a wonderful man as he would say in one of his sketches 😮

[@Nina5144]

Oh I’m sure he knew how much he was loved - his series’ were very popular with high viewing figures.

[@petergedd9330]

What kind of recognition are you thinking of? Just about everyone loved him, his shows are still on TV probably all around the globe.

[@maximem1033]

A remarkable interview by one of greatest comedian of the 20th century ❤

[@mikebutler3263]

Nice to hear Benny talking.

[@katsuyaki7605]

I had been in southern England for about six months when I found out that Benny Hill had passed away, and it just crushed me. I thought he had already passed away, and if I had known that he was still alive when I first got there, I would definitely have tried to meet him. What a lost opportunity. Rest in peace, Mr. Hill.

[@vincent6670]

He doesn't have to say a word just the sight of him I burst out laughing😂😅

[@sugarbertie1143]

His facial expression and his cheeky smile said it all! He was an absolute diamond of comedy. God rest him.

[@miketurner1608]

Remember us lads saying next day did you see the benny hill show ?and laughing at it all over again. Great bloke 😅

[@sugarbertie1143]

Exactly the same amongst my friends mate. He was ALWAYS the topic of discussion the following day, his saucy comedy was legendary. God how I miss him.

[@philipatoz]

It's truly inconceivable that Benny would be 100 if still alive today! His sketches would have me literally in tears of laughter! Benny and the Pythons were my first exposures to British humor. And while both were very silly, Benny leaned more toward the wet-the-pants silliness.

[@JavierGonzalez-oe1qq]

What a charming, affable, honest, lovable man. Yes I grew up watching The Benny Hill Show in San Francisco back in the 70's..naughty humor even by San Francisco standards, late night of course, safe harbor, that sort of thing. What an influence he's had on me. I love this guy. I hope to see this man in Heaven.

[@StephenLyons-tl8ie]

Bless him. May he always rest in peace.

[@BastianBlock]

That little clip changed my whole perception of Benny Hill as a "private" Person. Very insightful.

[@kachdragonfly]

Benny Hill was huge in Australia. We loved him.

[@BigAmp]

What a delightful man; went way before his time, he still had so much more to give.

[@simonbletsoe7059]

Happy 100th, Benny. So much joy and laughter. RIP, mate.

[@melcrose]

The "He's cheaper.." was him defined. Out of nowhere, something you should have seen coming but didn't, he telling it side-eyed as he looks down and away.. flawless delivery.

[@fnln544]

My grandmother adored watching Benny Hill. No doubt Benny is bringing laughter to Heaven. Great his work is still available today!

[@Jack_Warner]

I had this on tape for years. It was a complete documentary about Benny. About 50 minutes long.

[@2511dhall]

It is on KZbin

[@andyhowpog]

Omnibus: Benny Hill- Clown Imperial. I converted onto DVD from VHS- great documentary.

[@masterdanthrax]

Same - I seem to remember it wasn’t long before he passed!

[@Alfredromeothatsme]

Brilliant entertainer and master wordsmith with a natural comedic bent. Decades in the business with never a bad word spoken of him. The legend that is Benny Hill!

[@Traillblazer]

Legend.

[@rogerpritchard]

He came into our front room every week and made us all laugh. Yes it was silly but everyone laughed together. Thankyou Benny.

[@tasercs]

People can debate endlessly about Benny's style of humour. But they are debating today, with hindsight. Back in the 70's, the humour was unique, it was groundbreaking and it was funny. The fact is, he came into our living rooms during a long-lost time when the whole family came together, and you were guaranteed to laugh together. Everyone that experienced that can remember how nice that was. Just imagine the joy and laughter he brought to millions of people worldwide in his lifetime. A truly amazing legacy.

[@SunShine-dk6rk]

Grew up watching "The Benny Hill Show" as a youngster of the 70s we loved his show, Top of the Pops, Play School, Magpie, nice times, Thanks to the uploader,best wishes to eveyone ❤❤❤.

[@Bootrosgali]

What a nice man ❤

[@HistoryIsOursChannel]

Miss you Benny, You we’re one of the BEST 💯👍

[@jimdoran7723]

My mother loved The Benny Hill Show, she'd laugh hysterically. She was really enjoying herself! Good memories!

[@georgereynolds3422]

I first saw Benny Hill on T.V. here in the States in the late seventies/early eighties in half hour versions of his show, edited so that his age seemed to change because the bits were taken from different episodes. I loved them, then and now. The dvd sets are the best way to view the master at work. R.I.P. Mr. Hill...you've made so many people so very happy.( Insert Fred Scuttle salute here!)

[@AIDANC1999]

Never delved much into Benny Hill far past listening to Ernie the fastest milkman. What a brilliant down to earth bloke, really enjoyed watching that interview.

[@westfield90]

God bless him. Bringing laughter to the world is the greatest legacy anyone can leave

[@robertduncan6361]

A truly great comedian, it's about time Teddington put up a statue of Benny Hill.....after all Benny Hill put up with Teddington for long enough 😂.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

Two Ton Ted might have to move aside at last..

[@pendragon4905]

Love this man! Eccentric, solitary and brilliant. He was treated disgracefully by ITV. The company for which he made a fortune! He brought joy to millions and fortunately we can still enjoy his genius today.

[@robertcolacino7310]

First guy in my neighborhood to get Benny Hill absolutely genius and had such a laugh every Benny Hill episode, I loved Benny Hill and the old bald man hahaha thanks Benny

[@andrewlorenz3139]

I went to a funeral last week. A joyous celebration of a life well lived. Ernie was played during the reflection. So appropriate and a great reflection of the way Dave lived his life and of Benny Hill. Had not heard it for years but the lyrics came back like it was yesterday. RIP both of you.

[@hilaryepstein6013]

A nice centenary (almost) tribute to one of the great comedians of my childhood.

[@DenkyManner]

That was really interesting, I've never seen him talk like this before. Regardless of what i think of what he made it's nice to see a glimpse of his process He died the next year.

[@darren5595]

What a shame there’s not legends on tv like him anymore to pc 😢

[@MargaretUK]

True, a lot of what he did would not be allowed nowadays 🙄

[@LeShark75]

Benny Hill has always been my favourite comedian. Like a lot of people I grew up with the show through the 1980's and Benny's humour made a major impression on my overall sense of humour and how I tell a joke to this very day. Where I used to work many years ago a woman in the office said "You like Benny Hill? You're a pervert!" I said "Stick around!" Lol. One of Benny's gags that folds me in half every time I see it is in the hospital sketch, when he does the reaction test on the nurses knee and she kicks him in the nuts. He's not even said anything and it kills me Lol. Good times, thanks Benny!

[@russthebiker]

As professor Cherry ,in the Italian job,he captured the British psyche, still quoted today on building sites to ŕacous laughter

[@michellefalleur960]

...".. pity people aren't as nice as flowers.." 🌸 💐🌹 🌺 .. " take your flowers and get on the bus .." !

[@michellefalleur960]

He was called professor Peach , in that film

[@johnathanryan2117]

Brilliant fella , not many can cover all the disciplines from Music Hall to Blockbuster Film like Benny did. Sadly missed.

[@barteknowak9555]

one of the greatest ever!

[@bsmith6646]

Ahh seemed like a very decent chap. I do remember as a kid when his passing was on the news. Only then realised how famous he was globally as there were tributes from all over the world, including from Michael Jackson and seem to remember Robert DeNiro gave a tribute. His show was wonderful. Yeah it's dated but he's a ledge. The Halitosis Kid was one I always remember 😂

[@robinh633]

What came through in this was, what a nice guy. Someone you could imagine yourself spending an evening talking with and come away feeling better for it.

[@MultiVic1982]

Benny is such a legend, his work is eternal...

[@foxyjazzbopper]

Ah… the late great Benny Hill👍🙏

[@MarkStevens8899]

Loved Benny's cheeky songs and his little gang , Bob Todd, Rita Webb, little Jackie Wright and Henry McGee

[@martinalarcon3108]

Still today sometimes I sing , please don’t blame my doggie 🐶 is not fault at all someone let a wt umbrella standing in the door 😮

[@themillwall442]

I loved Benny Hill. We used to piss ourselves laughing watching him. My old man who was his age absolutely loved him. Great memories. Rubber balloons indeed

[@pteg80]

It'll be his 100th birthday in a few days. I have fond memories of watching him with my dad when I was a kid. My dad loved comedy, but most of the stuff he watched went over my head. Not Benny, though. All ages could find something to laugh at from his work.

[@iamtryingtoassistyou]

Living people have birthdays. It will be the 100th anniversary of his birth.

[@2_thumbs_up_baby]

Lovely to see this. Very natural interview. I was just going to say he's probably picking up his naughty mags at the newsagents and then the lady handed them to him 😅

[@ronniedoorzon1576]

I'm from Holland and he was also very loved here because we dutch love the British sense of humor.

[@pulsatingsausageboy2076]

I loved Benny Hill. They had him on very late in America and my brother and I used to have to sneak to watch him. We’d lie on the floor of our bedroom like six inches away from the tv with the volume down low so they couldn’t hear that we were watching tv.

[@markbehr88]

Love Benny ❤

[@johnmartin7158]

Totally. I miss him a lot.

[@goodiesguy]

I wish the BBC would make available his surviving BBC specials (apart from the Lost Years DVD) as those years contained some of his most innovative and original material, and would certainly raise his stature in the public eye.

[@marquonuk]

Absolutely. There's some of his B/W BBC stuff here on KZbin, but I would gladly pay for DVDs of all of it. The shows were, how do I put it, tamer? No, that makes it sound like they're not worth watching, and they really are! He made less use of pretty girls as backdrops in that era, and had some great comedy actors working with him, like Bella Emberg, who we associate more with Russ Abbott, and Patricia Hayes, who also appeared with Tony Hancock as semi-regular Mrs Cravat. The sketches were just as inventive as his 1970s stuff, and were where he first tried putting himself on screen as multiple characters simultaneously, for example, such as in his Juke Box Jury skit. :-)

[@wmbrown6]

I've oft wondered if it was his final departure from the BBC in 1969 for Thames that triggered them to accept John Cleese's proposal to have him and Graham Chapman joined by Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam for what went on the air in the fall as "Monty Python's Flying Circus" - especially since those four wrapped up the second (and as matters developed, final) series of "Do Not Adjust Your Set" for Thames at the time. Besides what was noted about "the Beeb," in retailiation, destroying the videotape masters of his last three shows for them.

[@wmbrown6]

@@marquonuk - His very first show for Thames, on Nov. 19, 1969, had a sketch, "The Russian Zone," about a honeymooning couple whose suite was divided into American and Russian zones, a morality play on how Cold War tensions could ruin even a simple honeymoon - something I would've expected "Monty Python" to do. The night that show was taped, the BBC aired the second "Python" episode with the "Marriage Counsellor" sketch which was everything Benny would later be accused of being.

[@bluecollarguy67]

There are very, very few people whom I greatly admire, but Benny Hill is definitely one of them. My other two people are Carl Sagan and Orson Welles.

[@brandywell44]

This is wonderful, the real human side of Benny Hill

[@pmafterdark]

Grew up watching Benny as a kid. Still love and miss him dearly.

[@stephenmandes5797]

I was in HS and would come home from work at around 11 PM ….just in time for Benny Hill in the U.S. on PBS (Thames TV). My parents would hear me laughing.

[@MaoPangStudio]

This is delightful, absolute legend

[@22reg.]

A comic genius much missed but never forgotten ❤️

[@americarsqueensland1667]

So nice to see this interview with Benny late in his life. He was a brilliant comedian.

[@corneliuscornia3189]

A man who enjoys good food and wines got to love him 😂😂🥂

[@paullacey748]

Nice to see an old star narrating his own life. Yes his humour was of its time but we are all of our time. I liked him.

[@johntaylor6345]

Whatever people think of Benny Hill, he was very clever and hilarious. He was a brilliant wordsmith just like Les Dawson was. Sad how he died. He's right. You can only wear one shirt at a time etc.

[@dangaAgadanga]

I remember the original broadcast. I’m astonished that these clips are the entirety of his interview, worth 12 minutes, while the other 40 minutes would have been clips of his show (and clips of other notable guests talking about him)

[@goodiesguy]

Yep, I've got 3 different copies of this special (original BBC Omnibus, the VHS release as 'The World's Favourite Clown' and an extended French cut), but this is pretty much his entire interview. The only thing missing is him talking in french to a few reporters and to his french voice dubber Roger Carel.

[@hanspecans]

Realizing now that Jared Harris is the perfect person to play Benny Hill in a biopic.

[@milfordcivic6755]

WLVI 56 out of Boston used to show Benny Hill at 11pm when I was a kid in the 80s. It was past my bedtime, but I could still hear my father laughing while watching it from the living room.

[@kevinprowse406]

I love Benny Hill. Used to watch him with my dad as a kid. Good memories.

[@johnmartin7158]

Me too. I miss the old days of TV and music as well. I’m 66 now.

[@LieutenantGarber]

Never seen this, great stuff. Always exoected him to be a bit 'wacky' but nothing of the sort, a humble and warm man

[@heiltd1286]

He was a Francophile. The culture of France he respected immensely and it influenced his artistry.

[@effess8698]

Happy 100th birthday, Benny. I'm slightly disappointed to see that as he wanders around the shops and so on, he isn't being constantly chased by half a dozen girls wearing stockings and suspenders (while Yakety Sax plays in the background, of course).

[@Nadia1989]

Saturday nights the whole family got together to watch Benny Hill, Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes on cable tv.

[@alpha-male1959]

Man!! The world could use some Benny today Miss his comedy so much

[@smallberries]

A friend or mine worked as a cameraman on his show. He said Benny was very, very serious about all his gags. A perfectionist. Not very light hearted about anything.

[@johnmartin7158]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Softmatic]

Am I the only one who expected him to pat the old man's head at 2:06?

[@Monty_NSW]

I'm blessed to be of an age where his genius was released and celebrated

[@ricric9521]

My brothers and I would laugh so fn hard when we watched Benny Hill. We always looked forward to watching it. Thanks Benny

[@martinalarcon3108]

Me and my brother 😮too stay until 1130 or 12 PM to watch sometimes a little topless action , made our night 😮😢

[@dj-kq4fz]

Always naughty, never crass, the king of the double entendre. Long live Benny Hill.

[@jamesgale2147]

There only ever was one Benny Hill, and one Benny Hill there will only ever be.

[@billcarsonalias]

As an American, I feel the people of the UK never give him enough credit as one of their great comics. Hill is up there with Monty Python in my opinion. I would watch him in the late 70's and early 80's on American TV.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

Most people have never heard of him now.