Stanley Baxter - Upstage Downstage, Upstairs Downstairs

[@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.

[@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 !

[@MrDavey2010]

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

[@theresapierce3934]

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

[@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.

[@gordontaylor5373]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@geoffreyblackmer]

My god, the voices are incredible!

[@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.

[@adampetersen4795]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@howard1707]

Stanley Baxter; a true genius

[@darylwilliams9849]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@janejohnstone5795]

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

[@akarpowicz]

A Work Of Genius!! Thanks

[@minekara6407]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@leonardmartingeraghty5079]

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

[@seahamm]

Absolutely brilliant

[@leprechaunstud582]

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

[@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"😂😂😂😂.

[@nickwyatt9498]

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

[@llynfach]

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

[@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!

[@mariesahota1478]

The voices ARE BANG on

[@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.

[@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.

[@Modeltnick]

Sailing on the Lusitania! How funny is that!

[@slyph63]

Stanley Baxter was amazing.

[@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!

[@rontaylor722]

Amazing talent

[@TooJubeJM1]

Stanley Baxter is a comic genius.

[@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

[@judys6663]

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

[@caroll3309]

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

[@glpilpi6209]

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

[@viviennepopek]

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

[@EnosEverything]

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

[@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.

[@stephenreeds3672]

That man was superb in everything he did.

[@sauronbagginsd8032]

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

[@newcamnoddy]

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

[@hudsony777]

Amazing. I loved UD and this is fantastic parody.

[@jessiejames7492]

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

[@sylviabishop1586]

Brilliant well done.

[@whenyourout]

Stanley Was amazing, then and now!

[@marycassell612]

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

[@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.

[@nocount1]

That was a fabulous send-up.

[@BW92116]

This is AMAZING.

[@TheTayfurbest]

Superb

[@StephenLyons-tl8ie]

Brilliant.

[@MrDavey2010]

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

[@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.

[@johnrider5701]

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

[@ehaworth9]

Six characters, one actor = genius

[@clivecarser7356]

Oh scallops to you rose !!! Priceless.

[@PhflyDan1]

I used to LOVE Stanley Baxter Show....

[@redicderldavis]

A true talent..

[@keithspottiswoode5594]

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

[@geminienigma4421]

This is class 👍👍👍

[@2ndbaronet]

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

[@maureenkirby1207]

Absolute brilliance!

[@markdurrant4174]

Absolute brilliant 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@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.

[@lordtj63]

His Edith Evans is hysterical (not as good as Kenneth Williams impression though). I forgot how talented Stanley Baxter was.

[@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.

[@keith1255]

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

[@ruivog]

This is true comedy masterclass.

[@mammasbabas]

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

[@sitgeshorn]

What can I say?...Brilliant!!

[@susanbetts761]

Completely brilliant!

[@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!

[@honeysuckle4537]

Thank You Steve your a star xxx

[@suzannesadiiqa]

lovely 'take' on Sir John Geilgud!!

[@marshallscott7955]

He's a genius.

[@algie-t2w]

I love Mr Hudson being referred to as the "Old Queen".

[@misssparkles7520]

wonderful Stanley, still going strong at 92,

[@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?

[@TOTRAVEL-f3c]

Same Sets 👍🏻

[@algoyo]

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

[@grolschgal]

Fabulous Hudson and Mrs Bridges here 😍

[@angelaegan4748]

Such a talent.

[@glenpovey]

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

[@frannieo1707]

Back to the days when TV actually entertained.

[@johnrogers5399]

Brilliant!

[@raygower2527]

Pure genius

[@artsed08]

This is Rock, Hudson!

[@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.

[@clemstevenson]

Genius!!!!!!!!!!

[@cryptohunt2552]

The man is now 92. Why isn't he SIR Stanley Baxter?