Stanley Baxter - Upstage Downstage, Upstairs Downstairs

[@marycassell612]

Stanley Baxter is an absolute genius. They should put his shows back on TV.

[@rodneydixon1259]

Stanley Baxter is comedy Royalty and deserves far more recognition by the media and public;I agree that he should be given a knighthood especially when so many that have received it have got by the right promotion,not always by their talent.God Bless you Mr.Baxter and a heartfelt "Thankyou" from an Australian admirer.

[@tullochgorum6323]

I've just realised - it's 2024 and he's still alive, aged 98. Shameful that he was never honoured - one of the true greats, and brought joy to millions. I've never understood why he didn't enter the cannon like the Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise - he was every bit as good and a huge draw in his day.

[@robertguildford]

Knighthoods can be turned down. An individual is always asked if they will accept before awarded

[@glamdolly30]

@@robertguildford I wouldn't be surprised if he'd declined a knighthood, Stanley Baxter is known to be a very private man.

[@jimhunt4875]

I remember The stanley Baxter show back in the 70s. Coming up 57 now and they dont make it like he did, absolutely wonderful entertainment. By the way my Grandsons name is Stanley, so its obvious his name and which i have always called him Baxter. Great TV memories

[@Dan5819]

I'm so surprised I didn't find this until now. This is hysterical!

[@brober]

This sketch was filmed on the original Upstairs Downstairs set.

[@edward311]

Every time a new Stanley Baxter Picture Show was coming in the television scheduling I literally jumped for joy because I knew I was in for a massive treat of entertainment. The man is not only a brilliant comic he is a supreme character actor. His performances here and in his movies are astounding. The great artistry, inventiveness, writing, costumes, make up and technical achievements in these shows is second to none. I love watching them still to this day and am amazed he has not been awarded a knighthood for his contribution to the arts.

[@sansoucci5394]

How true !even more so when you consider some of those that have been....

[@kevinsimpson8686]

Yeah. I have been saying for thirty years Stanley Baxter should have been knighted a long time ago. A total comic genius and probably the most gifted of anyone past or present. God bless this man. I’m English but Scottish comedy is the worlds best. Makes me want to eat a dozen shortbread biscuits and toss a caber or two!

[@julianwaugh8221]

Just brilliant !

[@adampetersen4795]

I've watched this skit a 100 times now. "This is Rock..,...Hudson. "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@theresapierce3934]

I used to look forward to The Stanley Baxter show at Christmas as a kid. He was one of the greats.

[@rosstheboss-q2f]

That Rock Hudson reference was very niche at the time. How good Stanley Baxter was!

[@MrDavey2010]

Huge talent. Terrific script. High production values. We’ll never see the like again.

[@colinmurdoch965]

Priceless Comedy At It's Best And Never To See The Likes Again.....Sadly.

[@Steve20127]

The production values on these shows were absolutely top. A lot of care and love went into them. They couldn't be made today, sadly; there isn't the talent.

[@johnking5174]

+Steve20127 Stanley used the real sets from Upstairs Downstairs for this sketch. Both shows were made and recorded in London Weekend Television Studios on London's Southbank.

[@TawdryTempest]

I was wondering how they got everything to look so accurate. This parody is spot on!

[@syhooverman5418]

Couldnt agree more. I remember reading somewhere that he finished because Michael Grade said the shows were too expensive to make as the multitalented Stan insisted on playing ALL the characters in his sketches.

[@johnking5174]

The Stanley Baxter specials were made by London Weekend Television for the ITV network, the same company made Upstairs Downstairs, so it was very easy for Stanley to use the actual sets of Upstairs Downstairs as they used the same studio complex to make both shows, possibly even the same studio, you can see these are the real sets used by the series. I think this sketch was filmed in between Series 3 and 4 of Upstairs Downstairs in 1973 or 1974.

[@missgreeneyes56]

Absolutely brilliant. I've got the whole series of "Upstairs Downstairs" on video and it's so close to the real thing. Stanley Baxter is phenomenol. His Dame Edith Evans and Sir John Guilgud are astoundingly real.

[@juliewillard1367]

I have the whole box set. This is marvellous!

[@MrGary66]

Stanley Baxter is a legend - and this spoof of Upstairs Downstairs is a pure joy - this man shoud be a SIR

[@gordontaylor5373]

I hope he lives long enough to become a knight!

[@geoffreyblackmer]

My god, the voices are incredible!

[@martinplatt5928]

Brilliant......one of the funniest comedians to grace our TV screens.

[@TawdryTempest]

I don't even get a lot of the references (and haven't finished the original) but there is so much funny here it doesn't matter. Hilarious!

[@darylwilliams9849]

He's got them all down to a tee.Mrs Bridges is brilliant!!

[@howard1707]

Stanley Baxter; a true genius

[@McSynth]

I had the pleasure of interviewing him many moons ago. Despite me being very young and gauche, he was patient and accommodating. Lovely man.

[@davidpanton3192]

Stanley Baxter was a close friend of Gordon Jackson (Hudson) and his family. I notice that Baxter's take-off of Hudson was quite gentle!

[@gordontaylor5373]

I think Stanley Baxter knew Gordon Jackson in the Army during the war. He does a brilliant take - off of Hudson here!

[@stuartkenny7430]

@@gordontaylor5373 Baxter and Jackson went to the same school together. Hillhead High School in Glasgow. 😃

[@LizzieRose-hl6hx]

They were also both very good friends of Kenneth Williams.

[@leonardmartingeraghty5079]

Stanley was excellent,so funny.I can watch this over and over.Love the joke about old Queen Hudson,priceless !!!

[@janejohnstone5795]

Fantastic....acting...watching in August, 2022...those were the days...

[@alexkerr1683]

Stanley is a scottish icon that should be treasured for ever

[@gordontaylor5373]

He's already 94 - we won't have him in the world for much longer. Scotland will mourn forever when he dies.

[@gordontaylor5373]

Absolutely marvellous stuff from Stanley Baxter! He does Rose almost better than Jean Marsh did!

[@EuphemiaGrubb]

Oh My God! This so highlights the PISH that we are expected to watch on the tv today. Those were true halcyon days when we took geniuses like Stanley Baxter for granted! So glad I gave up the telly a year ago!

[@wenglishsal]

In my own humble opinion, a very UNDERRATED actor by most people, I PERSONALLY THINK HE IS A GENIUS... I used to love Stanley's 'Noel Coward' impersonation and he did so many too, I think he did a spoof on 'A Prison Camp/ sort of /Great Escape' type thingy, but what a super talent.. Should be seen by more people, for sure.. thanks for posting this gem @dmoak66, and giving me some chuckles.. hee hee Best regards and wishes from Wales .. :0)x

[@eileenferrari1816]

I am in fits of laughter he was Genius so funny we will never get this again they don’t make them like they use too .thank you for all the laughs .👍😘😂

[@juliewillard1367]

He was marvellous. I used to sit with my parents every Sat to watch Stanley Baxter. Great memories.

[@akarpowicz]

A Work Of Genius!! Thanks

[@judys6663]

I love him , I love him , love him my childhood . watching with my dad the best times xxx

[@mariesahota1478]

The voices ARE BANG on

[@minekara6407]

I truly love this.... very funny. Stanley has been overlooked for a gong...... really don't know why.

[@brianshiels]

There will never be another , amazing entertainer. Used to look forward to his performances in Pantomime at the Kings Theatre in Edinburgh when i was a child.

[@Sereena111]

This is classic, wonderful. Anybody who has more Stanley Baxter stuff, please put it on KZbin, its so funny and he was so clever.

[@seahamm]

Absolutely brilliant

[@Modeltnick]

Sailing on the Lusitania! How funny is that!

[@llynfach]

This is as clever as anything in the comedy world I have ever see. Arise, Sir Stanley.

[@Pyrethryn]

I'm just finishing up the original series, and this Mrs. Bridges is DEAD ON. I mean, they are all fantastic takes, but I close my eyes and it straight up sounds like Mrs. Bridges.

[@LUISACA-db5vn]

We always watched stanley baxter he was so funny thankyou its so great 2 c it again

[@ianpeddle6818]

As a kid and teen I loved his specials because they were so well done so stylish he became the characters. His Barbra Streisand “Don’t Rain in my Parade” is phenomenally

[@leprechaunstud582]

This is absolutely brilliant! I love UD, and this parody is hilarious and clever.

[@muscleboi4use]

LOVE this.... shows Downton Abbey really isn't *that* original.... LOL! Stanley Baxter, Les Dawson, Dick Emery... all just marvellous! Thanks for uploading this!

[@caroll3309]

So talented and so underrated i used to love watching his shows when i was a kid

[@rontaylor722]

Amazing talent

[@slyph63]

Stanley Baxter was amazing.

[@keith1255]

Mr Baster, thank you so much, so very much. XX

[@sauronbagginsd8032]

I ADORE Upstairs Downstairs and didn’t know this existed !

[@viviennepopek]

Brilliant!!! Thank you for uploading x (xPSSx)

[@tyreburster]

He does Mrs Bridges better than Mrs Bridges. Wonderful.

[@bb6887]

Perfect rendition. Just as I remember her. Rose was a bit like Ruby, which was amusing as well.

[@EnosEverything]

Stanley's Gielgud is terrific.... Absolutely brilliant material.

[@sylviabishop1586]

Brilliant well done.

[@grolschgal]

Fabulous Hudson and Mrs Bridges here 😍

[@englishLewis1]

I think he is excellent. I was stood next to him at a bus stop in Hampstead on Sunday (4th Feb) he was a lot smaller than I thought. He kept smiling at my friends little girl. Very funny man. Long live Stanley!

[@whenyourout]

Stanley Was amazing, then and now!

[@stephenreeds3672]

That man was superb in everything he did.

[@maureenkirby1207]

Absolute brilliance!

[@frannieo1707]

Back to the days when TV actually entertained.

[@glpilpi6209]

Wonderful , he never compromised on the material and the shows were few and far between because of it.

[@keithspottiswoode5594]

Speechless! ...an absolute joy! ..laugh every time I see this...

[@PhflyDan1]

I used to LOVE Stanley Baxter Show....

[@clivecarser7356]

Oh scallops to you rose !!! Priceless.

[@jessiejames7492]

first time i have come across this...wonderful...such a talent

[@nocount1]

That was a fabulous send-up.

[@MrDavey2010]

Wonderful acting with top production values. Can never be repeated nowadays. Too expensive.

[@TooJubeJM1]

Stanley Baxter is a comic genius.

[@newcamnoddy]

These are rock...Hudson :) always cracks me up

[@ehaworth9]

Six characters, one actor = genius

[@markdurrant4174]

Absolute brilliant 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BW92116]

This is AMAZING.

[@englishlady8863]

Such a talent.

[@geminienigma4421]

This is class 👍👍👍

[@campfreddy3547]

"remember the night that I came to you and told you the old Queen had gawn","Yes I told you not to speak so disrespectful of Mr Hudson"😂😂😂😂.

[@bryanfranks3205]

Absolutely love it!!

[@hudsony777]

Amazing. I loved UD and this is fantastic parody.

[@annzwarych3577]

Amazing!, comedy genius.

[@annastinehammersdottir1290]

He is so good and that it is apparently taped in the real set makes it work. Very funny.

[@johnking5174]

It was the same sets. Upstairs Downstairs and Stanley Baxter were produced by London Weekend Television and they were next door neighbours. Studio 1 was where Stanley was based usually and Studio 2 was Upstairs Downstairs. Handy for him to use their sets on the day they were not using them.

[@redicderldavis]

A true talent..

[@algoyo]

I love Stanley Baxter. He's fucking brilliant. Have you got any more? I loved his Shirley Maclaine in the towering inferno.

[@bryanfranks3205]

Brilliant! Can't stop watching this. Do you think if this had been an ATV production, the Crossroads quip would have been in..I.very much doubt it😅

[@robertbarnier45]

Genius work

[@williamlynd9045]

I love this sketch so much. I have watched it many times and it makes me laugh every time...."yes, and I told you not to speak so disrespectful of Mr 'udson!"...."Sir Geoffrey is very popular with the voters - he has an enormous majority...!". There's only one tiny thing that I would comment on - and I think it was probably difficult to achieve this when producing the very complicated sequences with the various acting doubles - they didn't allow time in the recorded finished product for the live audience to laugh before the next line was delivered (a bit annoying in places), but thankfully the important lines were picked up sufficiently to achieve their impact.

[@Chillmax]

I'm sure I remember this one, I was surprised by the set, it was so authentic, it felt like the real one; was this one of the LWT shows?

[@PJ1996-y5r]

Same Sets 👍🏻

[@glenpovey]

@Khalilullah It is the "Stanley Baxter Moving Picture Show" 1974. This was first shown on tv at Xmas in 1974.

[@2ndbaronet]

absolutely brilliant. as entertaining and clever now, as it was then.

[@pauljackson1029]

I wonder if the 20 dislikers do not know who he is imitating and therefore how brilliant he is at them

[@leoparkes7536]

Probably just serial dislikers, trolling anything they come across 🙄 No reflection on the quality of the comedy!

[@loggats]

loved it, thanks for the upload

[@KathyPaterson-t4s]

Brilliant ❤❤❤

[@johnrider5701]

Big budget s clever writing and top talent something that's sadly lacking from today's ITV schedule s ,

[@susanbetts761]

Completely brilliant!

[@Janeinwales]

He's fantastic, truly the best. I've just bought his 2 DVD sets from Amazon.

[@doubledeckers]

35 years old. It was an incredible achievement considering the technology they had at the time. They were barely able to edit videotape in those days.

[@raygower2527]

Pure genius

[@marshallscott7955]

He's a genius.

[@ruivog]

This is true comedy masterclass.

[@TheTayfurbest]

Superb

[@darrelljohnjohnson8699]

Why hasn’t this man got his OBE? His talent is beyond incredible ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

[@drmattathias]

I read an interview with Stanley where he said he was offered an OBE and turned it down.

[@johnking5174]

I assume this was filmed on 22nd August 1974, because was made as part of Stanley's Moving Picture Show which was filmed in the London Studios on 22nd August 1974 (the opening clip from it has the LWT board and filming details on it) so this is obviously when this sketch was made. Stanley filmed his show in the large Studio 1 at London Weekend Television. Upstairs Downstairs filmed next door in the medium sized Studio 2, so it would have been easy for Stanley's team to film in the real set of Upstairs Downstairs. Interesting note - I know that Upstairs Downstairs were filming episode 11 of Series Four "Missing Believed Killed" on 23rd August 1974, so the sets would be up and ready for Stanley to use the day before.

[@glamdolly30]

The Stanley Baxter TV shows were extravaganzas, hilariously funny, inventive and lavish - a feast for the eyes. The man himself is simply a legend and at 95 (at time of writing in December 2021), a national treasure. He was born in 1926, which makes him the same age as HM Queen Elizabeth. This was uploaded nearly 15 years ago, I know - but I have to ask, do you have the whole show? I would love to see it!

[@jokermaan1]

I believe he only did one show a year and that is possibly why they are so good. SB was a comic genius, whose attention to detail was remarkable and he was backed by the great production values of ITV. Perfect writing and acting.

[@mammasbabas]

He is more than brilliant. why can t we get his shows in North America?

[@allenmx]

Brilliant Mrs B - spot on!

[@usblueflyer]

THIS IS HILARIOUS!!