Denis Norden - Revision history

Kurt at 16:25, 24 August 2024

2024-08-24T16:25:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 24 August 2024
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	~~{{Short description\|English writer}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Denis Norden		\| name = Denis Norden
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	==Early life and career==		==Early life and career==
	Norden was born as '''Denis Moss Cohen'''<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB \|doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380564\|title=Norden, Denis Mostyn (1922–2018) \|year=2022 \|last1=Mellor \|first1=Roger Philip }}</ref> into a Jewish family in [[Hackney Central\|Hackney]], in London's [[East End of London\|East End]]. His parents were George Cohen, a tailor specializing in bridal gowns, and his wife Ginny (née Lubelsky), who was of Polish heritage.<ref name="ODNB"/> The family name was changed by deed poll to Norden while Denis was a child.<ref name="ODNB"/> He was educated at Craven Park Elementary School and the [[City of London School]] where he was a contemporary of [[Kingsley Amis]]. Upon leaving school, he worked as a [[stagehand]], moved into cinema management by the age of 17 and quickly progressed to be the manager of a cinema in [[Watford]]. He also organised variety shows. He joined the [[Royal Air Force]] during the [[Second World War]] and was a wireless operator with a signals unit. His writing career began in the Royal Air Force when he wrote for troop shows. Whilst preparing for one of these shows in 1945, Norden, accompanied by fellow performers [[Eric Sykes]] and Ron Rich, went to a nearby prison camp in search of stage lighting; the camp turned out to be the [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp]], which had recently been liberated by the Allies. Norden, Sykes and Rich organised a food collection amongst their comrades to feed the starving ~~{{citation needed\|date=June 2022}}~~ camp inmates.		Norden was born as '''Denis Moss Cohen'''<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB \|doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380564\|title=Norden, Denis Mostyn (1922–2018) \|year=2022 \|last1=Mellor \|first1=Roger Philip }}</ref> into a Jewish family in [[Hackney Central\|Hackney]], in London's [[East End of London\|East End]]. His parents were George Cohen, a tailor specializing in bridal gowns, and his wife Ginny (née Lubelsky), who was of Polish heritage.<ref name="ODNB"/> The family name was changed by deed poll to Norden while Denis was a child.<ref name="ODNB"/> He was educated at Craven Park Elementary School and the [[City of London School]] where he was a contemporary of [[Kingsley Amis]]. Upon leaving school, he worked as a [[stagehand]], moved into cinema management by the age of 17 and quickly progressed to be the manager of a cinema in [[Watford]]. He also organised variety shows. He joined the [[Royal Air Force]] during the [[Second World War]] and was a wireless operator with a signals unit. His writing career began in the Royal Air Force when he wrote for troop shows. Whilst preparing for one of these shows in 1945, Norden, accompanied by fellow performers [[Eric Sykes]] and Ron Rich, went to a nearby prison camp in search of stage lighting; the camp turned out to be the [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp]], which had recently been liberated by the Allies. Norden, Sykes and Rich organised a food collection amongst their comrades to feed the starving camp inmates.

	After the war, Norden wrote material for comedian [[Dick Bentley]], before meeting [[Frank Muir]] (who wrote for comic actor [[Jimmy Edwards]]) in 1947; they were brought together by producer [[Ted Kavanagh]]. Muir and Norden's first joint venture was a radio show for both performers, ''[[Take It from Here\|Take it from Here!]]'', which they scripted from 1948 to 1959. They went on to write many successful radio and television scripts, including ''[[Whack-O!]]'' (1956–1960) and three series of ''[[Faces of Jim]]'' (1961–1963) which were vehicles for Jimmy Edwards. They also wrote the satirical sketch ''[[Balham, Gateway to the South]]'' for the [[BBC Third Programme]]. The sketch, which had originally been broadcast in 1948 as part of a comedy series called ''The Third Division'' and which featured actor [[Robert Beatty]], was later performed by [[Peter Sellers]] for his LP, ''The Best of Sellers'' (1959). In the early 1960s, Muir and Norden wrote the sitcom ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)\|Brothers in Law]]'', an early series featuring [[Richard Briers]], and its spin-off ''[[Mr Justice Duncannon]]''.		After the war, Norden wrote material for comedian [[Dick Bentley]], before meeting [[Frank Muir]] (who wrote for comic actor [[Jimmy Edwards]]) in 1947; they were brought together by producer [[Ted Kavanagh]]. Muir and Norden's first joint venture was a radio show for both performers, ''[[Take It from Here\|Take it from Here!]]'', which they scripted from 1948 to 1959. They went on to write many successful radio and television scripts, including ''[[Whack-O!]]'' (1956–1960) and three series of ''[[Faces of Jim]]'' (1961–1963) which were vehicles for Jimmy Edwards. They also wrote the satirical sketch ''[[Balham, Gateway to the South]]'' for the [[BBC Third Programme]]. The sketch, which had originally been broadcast in 1948 as part of a comedy series called ''The Third Division'' and which featured actor [[Robert Beatty]], was later performed by [[Peter Sellers]] for his LP, ''The Best of Sellers'' (1959). In the early 1960s, Muir and Norden wrote the sitcom ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)\|Brothers in Law]]'', an early series featuring [[Richard Briers]], and its spin-off ''[[Mr Justice Duncannon]]''.

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-16T00:49:47Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 15 January 2023
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Wikiquote}}~~
	*{{IMDb name\|0629428\|Denis Norden}}.		*{{IMDb name\|0629428\|Denis Norden}}.
	*{{Screenonline name\|id=1189102\|name=Denis Norden}}.		*{{Screenonline name\|id=1189102\|name=Denis Norden}}.

Kurt at 23:26, 15 January 2023

2023-01-15T23:26:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:26, 15 January 2023
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	{{Short description\|English writer}}		{{Short description\|English writer}}
	~~{{more citations needed\|date=September 2018}}~~
	~~{{EngvarB\|date=August 2014}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2014}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Denis Norden		\| name = Denis Norden
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	==Death==		==Death==
	Norden died at the [[Royal Free Hospital]] in [[Hampstead]], London on 19 September 2018, aged 96, two months after the death of his wife.<ref name="BBC obit"/><ref name="itv"/><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-45569460		Norden died at the [[w:Royal Free Hospital\|Royal Free Hospital]] in [[w:Hampstead\|Hampstead]], London on 19 September 2018, aged 96, two months after the death of his wife.<ref name="BBC obit"/><ref name="itv"/><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-45569460
	\|title=TV host Denis Norden dies aged 96 \|work=BBC News\|date=19 September 2018 \|access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.macularsociety.org/patrons\|title=Macular Society: Patrons\|access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref>		\|title=TV host Denis Norden dies aged 96 \|work=BBC News\|date=19 September 2018 \|access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.macularsociety.org/patrons\|title=Macular Society: Patrons\|access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref>

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	*{{Screenonline name\|id=1189102\|name=Denis Norden}}.		*{{Screenonline name\|id=1189102\|name=Denis Norden}}.
	*{{British Comedy Guide\|people\|denis_norden}}.		*{{British Comedy Guide\|people\|denis_norden}}.

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Norden, Denis}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Norden, Denis}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-07-21T03:11:07Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:11, 20 July 2022
(No difference)

en>AnomieBOT: Dating maintenance tags: {{Citation needed}}

2022-06-11T22:05:38Z

Dating maintenance tags: {{Citation needed}}

New page

{{Short description|English writer}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Denis Norden
| honorific_suffix = {{postnom|size=100%|country=GBR|CBE}}
| image = Denis Norden.jpg
| birth_name = Denis Moss Cohen
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|2|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Metropolitan Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], London, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2018|9|19|1922|2|6}}
| death_place = [[Hampstead]], London, England
| occupation = {{ublist|Radio & television writer|Television presenter|Radio personality}}
| employer = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| years_active = 1941–2006
| spouse = {{marriage|Avril Rosen|1943|2018|reason=her death}}
| children = 2
| module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flagu|United Kingdom}}
|branch= {{air force|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears= 1939–1945
|rank=
|unit=Wireless operator, [[Military communications|<br>Signals unit]]
|commands=
|battles=[[Second World War]]
|awards=
|relations=
}}
}}
'''Denis Mostyn Norden''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (6 February 1922 – 19 September 2018) was an English comedy writer and television presenter. After an early career working in cinemas, he began scriptwriting during the [[Second World War]]. From 1948 to 1959, he co-wrote the [[BBC Radio]] comedy programme ''[[Take It from Here]]'' with [[Frank Muir]]. Muir and Norden remained associated for more than 50 years, appearing regularly together on the radio panel programmes ''[[My Word!]]'' and ''[[My Music (radio programme)|My Music]]'' after they stopped collaborating on scripts. He also wrote scripts for [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] films. He presented television programmes on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] for many years, including the nostalgia quiz ''Looks Familiar'' and [[blooper]] shows ''[[It'll be Alright on the Night]]'' and ''Laughter File''.

==Early life and career==
Norden was born as '''Denis Moss Cohen'''<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380564|title=Norden, Denis Mostyn (1922–2018) |year=2022 |last1=Mellor |first1=Roger Philip }}</ref> into a Jewish family in [[Hackney Central|Hackney]], in London's [[East End of London|East End]]. His parents were George Cohen, a tailor specializing in bridal gowns, and his wife Ginny (née Lubelsky), who was of Polish heritage.<ref name="ODNB"/> The family name was changed by deed poll to Norden while Denis was a child.<ref name="ODNB"/> He was educated at Craven Park Elementary School and the [[City of London School]] where he was a contemporary of [[Kingsley Amis]]. Upon leaving school, he worked as a [[stagehand]], moved into cinema management by the age of 17 and quickly progressed to be the manager of a cinema in [[Watford]]. He also organised variety shows. He joined the [[Royal Air Force]] during the [[Second World War]] and was a wireless operator with a signals unit. His writing career began in the Royal Air Force when he wrote for troop shows. Whilst preparing for one of these shows in 1945, Norden, accompanied by fellow performers [[Eric Sykes]] and Ron Rich, went to a nearby prison camp in search of stage lighting; the camp turned out to be the [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp]], which had recently been liberated by the Allies. Norden, Sykes and Rich organised a food collection amongst their comrades to feed the starving {{citation needed|date=June 2022}} camp inmates.

After the war, Norden wrote material for comedian [[Dick Bentley]], before meeting [[Frank Muir]] (who wrote for comic actor [[Jimmy Edwards]]) in 1947; they were brought together by producer [[Ted Kavanagh]]. Muir and Norden's first joint venture was a radio show for both performers, ''[[Take It from Here|Take it from Here!]]'', which they scripted from 1948 to 1959. They went on to write many successful radio and television scripts, including ''[[Whack-O!]]'' (1956–1960) and three series of ''[[Faces of Jim]]'' (1961–1963) which were vehicles for Jimmy Edwards. They also wrote the satirical sketch ''[[Balham, Gateway to the South]]'' for the [[BBC Third Programme]]. The sketch, which had originally been broadcast in 1948 as part of a comedy series called ''The Third Division'' and which featured actor [[Robert Beatty]], was later performed by [[Peter Sellers]] for his LP, ''The Best of Sellers'' (1959). In the early 1960s, Muir and Norden wrote the sitcom ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)|Brothers in Law]]'', an early series featuring [[Richard Briers]], and its spin-off ''[[Mr Justice Duncannon]]''.

In 1964, their writing partnership ended, as Muir moved into management with the [[BBC]]. Over the next several years, Norden, who had long had a fascination with Hollywood, wrote the scripts for several films, including ''[[Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell|Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell!]]'' and ''[[The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom]]''. Although he was no longer writing with Muir, the two regularly appeared together on panel shows ''[[My Word!]]'' (1956–1990) and ''[[My Music (radio programme)|My Music]]'' (1966–1993), first on radio then television. In 1965, he wrote, narrated and starred in a featurette jointly made by the [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] producers and the [[Ford Motor Company]]. The colour short, entitled ''A Child's Guide to Blowing up a Motor Car'', went behind the scenes of an exploding car stunt being filmed for ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]''. Norden takes a young relative on a day out to a film set, where they meet several stars and production team members, but not [[Sean Connery]]. Lost for many years, it is now available on the 'Ultimate Edition' DVD of ''Thunderball'', as released in late 2006.<ref name="BBC obit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25738224 |title=Obituary: Denis Norden |date=19 September 2018 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=belsen>{{cite news|title=How Denis Norden stumbled upon concentration camp horror|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33230122|access-date=8 September 2015|work=BBC News|date=23 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0869026/|title=''A Child's Guide to Blowing up a Motor Car''|website=imdb.com}}</ref>

==ITV presenter==
Norden was also later well known to television audiences for his [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] shows: ''Looks Familiar'', ''[[It'll Be Alright on the Night]]'' and ''Laughter File''. ''It'll Be Alright on the Night'', which he hosted from 1977 until 2006, consisted of out-takes from film and television linked by comments. Much of the material from the early episodes was used on [[Dick Clark]]'s "Bloopers" specials which aired on [[NBC]] a few years later. A couple of mid-1980s editions featured several [[camcorder|home video]] clips: with the increasing private ownership of domestic camcorders, clips were spun off into the long-running ''[[You've Been Framed!]]'' (1990–). ''Laughter File'', first broadcast in 1991, showed spoof adverts, real foreign adverts, practical jokes, live television mistakes and other various "oddities", which Norden said, "tickled our fancies, just when they needed tickling". These items included virtually everything discovered during research for material suitable for ''It'll be Alright on the Night'' that was not eligible for that show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-09-19/denis-norden-tribute-itv-documentary/|title=ITV reveals Denis Norden tribute programme in change to TV schedules|website=Radio Times|author=Ellie Harrison|date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="itv">{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2018-09-19/itll-be-alright-on-the-night-host-denis-norden-dies-aged-96/|title=It'll be Alright on the Night host Denis Norden dies aged 96|date=19 September 2018|author=Nina Nannar|website=ITV News}}</ref>

==Retirement and legacy==
Norden announced his retirement from his two long-running ITV shows ''It'll Be Alright on the Night'' and ''Laughter File'' on 21 April 2006. He was then 84 years old and suffering from macular degeneration, which made it difficult for him to read an autocue. A special show was recorded on 14 May 2006 as a 'farewell tour' to all his shows over the years, called ''All the Best from Denis Norden'', which was shown on 2 January 2007. As the show's [[closing credits]] were shown, the studio audience gave Norden a standing ovation, which was followed by him then placing his trademark clipboard on his desk, which the camera zoomed in on to as the credits ended. He has since been succeeded on ''It'll Be Alright on the Night'' by [[Griff Rhys Jones]] and later by [[David Walliams]].

For years, Norden was resistant to producing an autobiography, saying that much of his life and career had already been well covered by Frank Muir's ''A Kentish Lad'' and that a book called ''The Bits Frank Left Out'' would be too brief. Nevertheless, in October 2008, a book containing a sequence of autobiographical sketches was published entitled ''Clips from a Life''. He continued to make occasional television and radio appearances. He contributed to a [[BBC Four]] season about the history of satire, and he appeared as a guest on ''[[The One Show]]'' on 2 October 2008 to talk about his life and career as well as his book. He was interviewed in a one-off documentary called ''Der Sommer 1939'' ("The Summer of 1939"), which was broadcast on 12 August 2009 on the Franco-German television station [[Arte]]. Norden also appeared as part of a contribution of show business friends, writers and performers in the BBC documentary ''The Secret Life of Bob Monkhouse'' in January 2011.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2006/04/norden-calls-it-a-night-after-30-years-at-itv/|title=Norden calls it a night after 30 years at ITV|author=Liz Thomas|date=21 April 2006|publisher=The Stage|access-date=15 April 2013}}.</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/nov/08/denis-norden-barfe-review|title=If in doubt, say 'Cockfosters'|author=Kit Hesketh Harvey|work=The Guardian|date=8 November 2008|access-date=15 April 2013}}.</ref>

==Personal life==
Norden and his wife Avril, whom he married in 1943, had a son, Nick, an architect, and a daughter, Maggie, a radio personality and lecturer at the [[London College of Fashion]]. Maggie was a presenter on London's [[Capital Radio]] in its earlier days and presented the Sunday afternoon programme ''Hullabaloo''. Affected by [[macular degeneration]], Norden joined [[Peter Sallis]] and [[Eric Sykes]] in 2009 as a patron of The [[Macular Society]], after becoming a member in 2004.

==Death==
Norden died at the [[Royal Free Hospital]] in [[Hampstead]], London on 19 September 2018, aged 96, two months after the death of his wife.<ref name="BBC obit"/><ref name="itv"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-45569460
|title=TV host Denis Norden dies aged 96 |work=BBC News|date=19 September 2018 |access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macularsociety.org/patrons|title=Macular Society: Patrons|access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|title=Clips from a Life|author=Denis Norden|date=6 October 2008|isbn=978-0-00-727795-7|publisher=Fourth Estate}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb name|0629428|Denis Norden}}.
*{{Screenonline name|id=1189102|name=Denis Norden}}.
*{{British Comedy Guide|people|denis_norden}}.

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norden, Denis}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Hackney Central]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English Jewish writers]]
[[Category:Jewish English comedians]]
[[Category:English radio personalities]]
[[Category:English television personalities]]
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:English television writers]]
[[Category:People educated at the City of London School]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:British male television writers]]