Eddie Braben: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|English comedy writer and performer}} | {{Short description|English comedy writer and performer}} | ||
{{infobox person | {{infobox person | ||
| name = Eddie Braben | | name = Eddie Braben | ||
| image = Eddie Braben | | image = Eddie Braben.jpg | ||
| caption = The desk at which Braben wrote scripts for Morecambe and Wise | | caption = The desk at which Braben wrote scripts for Morecambe and Wise | ||
| birth_name = Edwin Charles Braben | | birth_name = Edwin Charles Braben | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1930|10|31|}} | | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1930|10|31|}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Dingle, Liverpool]], Lancashire, England | | birth_place = [[w:Dingle, Liverpool|Dingle]], Lancashire, England | ||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013| | | death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|05|21|1930|10|31|df=yes}} | ||
| occupation = Comedy writer | | occupation = Comedy writer | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 16: | Line 14: | ||
==Life and career== | ==Life and career== | ||
[[File:Eddie Braben's desk, Florence Institute.jpg|thumb|right|Braben's desk at which he wrote many scripts for Morecambe and Wise]] | |||
Braben's father was a butcher at [[St. John's Shopping Centre|St. John's Market]], [[Liverpool]],<ref name="theguardian.com"/> and he was born in Monkswell Street, [[Dingle, Liverpool|Dingle]]. He was evacuated to [[Anglesey]] as a child during [[World War II]], and was a fan of radio comedy, particularly [[Arthur Askey]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22607531|title=Eric and Ernie's writer Braben dies|date=21 May 2013|access-date=1 January 2018|publisher=BBC}}</ref> He left school in 1945 and worked in the [[British American Tobacco]] factory before [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|national service]] in the [[Royal Air Force]], during which he was posted to the kitchen at [[RAF Kenley]]. He then worked as a market trader with his own greengrocery stall, writing jokes in his spare time.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10071408/Eddie-Braben.html|title=Eddie Braben Obituary |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref> | Braben's father was a butcher at [[St. John's Shopping Centre|St. John's Market]], [[Liverpool]],<ref name="theguardian.com"/> and he was born in Monkswell Street, [[Dingle, Liverpool|Dingle]]. He was evacuated to [[Anglesey]] as a child during [[World War II]], and was a fan of radio comedy, particularly [[Arthur Askey]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22607531|title=Eric and Ernie's writer Braben dies|date=21 May 2013|access-date=1 January 2018|publisher=BBC}}</ref> He left school in 1945 and worked in the [[British American Tobacco]] factory before [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|national service]] in the [[Royal Air Force]], during which he was posted to the kitchen at [[RAF Kenley]]. He then worked as a market trader with his own greengrocery stall, writing jokes in his spare time.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10071408/Eddie-Braben.html|title=Eddie Braben Obituary |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref> | ||
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Braben, along with Morecambe and Wise, won the Society of Film Television Artists 1973 award for Outstanding Contribution to Television. He also won the Best British Light Entertainment Script award from the [[Writer's Guild of Great Britain]] in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1973. | Braben, along with Morecambe and Wise, won the Society of Film Television Artists 1973 award for Outstanding Contribution to Television. He also won the Best British Light Entertainment Script award from the [[Writer's Guild of Great Britain]] in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1973. | ||
[[File:Writer-Eddie-Braben.jpg|thumb|right|Braben (centre) with Eric & Ernie]] | |||
Braben wrote and appeared in various radio comedy shows for the BBC, including ''The Worst Show on the Wireless'' (Radio 2; 1973–75<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22the+worst+show+on+the+wireless%22&svc=9371514#search|title=Search Results – BBC Genome|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>) and ''The Show with Ten Legs'' (Radio 2; 1976–81<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22show+with+ten+legs%22&svc=9371514#search|title=Search Results – BBC Genome|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>). In 2001, Braben collaborated with [[Hamish McColl]] and [[Sean Foley (director)|Sean Foley]] to write ''[[The Play What I Wrote]]'', a stage play and tribute to Morecambe and Wise, which opened at the [[Liverpool Playhouse Theatre]] before transferring to London's [[West End theatre|West End]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> The play won an [[Olivier Award for Best New Comedy]], it later transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event]]. The director was [[Kenneth Branagh]].<ref name="Gardner">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2003-03-31-play_x.htm|title=The play they wrote is all in good fun|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|date=31 March 2003|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> | Braben wrote and appeared in various radio comedy shows for the BBC, including ''The Worst Show on the Wireless'' (Radio 2; 1973–75<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22the+worst+show+on+the+wireless%22&svc=9371514#search|title=Search Results – BBC Genome|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>) and ''The Show with Ten Legs'' (Radio 2; 1976–81<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22show+with+ten+legs%22&svc=9371514#search|title=Search Results – BBC Genome|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>). In 2001, Braben collaborated with [[Hamish McColl]] and [[Sean Foley (director)|Sean Foley]] to write ''[[The Play What I Wrote]]'', a stage play and tribute to Morecambe and Wise, which opened at the [[Liverpool Playhouse Theatre]] before transferring to London's [[West End theatre|West End]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> The play won an [[Olivier Award for Best New Comedy]], it later transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event]]. The director was [[Kenneth Branagh]].<ref name="Gardner">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2003-03-31-play_x.htm|title=The play they wrote is all in good fun|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|date=31 March 2003|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> | ||
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{{Morecambe and Wise}} | {{Morecambe and Wise}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braben, Eddie}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Braben, Eddie}} | ||
Revision as of 12:29, 28 January 2023
Eddie Braben | |
|---|---|
 The desk at which Braben wrote scripts for Morecambe and Wise | |
| Born | Edwin Charles Braben 31 October 1930 Dingle, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 21 May 2013 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Comedy writer |
Edwin Charles Braben (31 October 1930 – 21 May 2013)[1] was an English comedy writer and performer best known for providing material for Morecambe and Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd.
Life and career
Braben's father was a butcher at St. John's Market, Liverpool,[1] and he was born in Monkswell Street, Dingle. He was evacuated to Anglesey as a child during World War II, and was a fan of radio comedy, particularly Arthur Askey.[2] He left school in 1945 and worked in the British American Tobacco factory before national service in the Royal Air Force, during which he was posted to the kitchen at RAF Kenley. He then worked as a market trader with his own greengrocery stall, writing jokes in his spare time.[3]
Although shy, he sent jokes to various comedians that were appearing in Liverpool. His first was sold to Charlie Chester for 2s 6d[2] (12½p), but his first major success was with Ken Dodd, with whom he worked for 12 years.
Braben's biggest success came when the BBC lured Morecambe and Wise from ITV. Bill Cotton, then in charge of Light Entertainment at the BBC, was looking for a writer following the duo's split from Dick Hills and Sid Green. The first Braben-penned Morecambe & Wise Show was broadcast in July 1969,[1] and he wrote most of their BBC shows after that, including many of the Christmas specials. In 1980, he joined Thames Television to continue writing for the duo following their move back to ITV two years previously.
Braben, along with Morecambe and Wise, won the Society of Film Television Artists 1973 award for Outstanding Contribution to Television. He also won the Best British Light Entertainment Script award from the Writer's Guild of Great Britain in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1973.
Braben wrote and appeared in various radio comedy shows for the BBC, including The Worst Show on the Wireless (Radio 2; 1973–75[4]) and The Show with Ten Legs (Radio 2; 1976–81[5]). In 2001, Braben collaborated with Hamish McColl and Sean Foley to write The Play What I Wrote, a stage play and tribute to Morecambe and Wise, which opened at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre before transferring to London's West End.[2] The play won an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, it later transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. The director was Kenneth Branagh.[6]
Braben had a son, Graham, with his first wife. After her death, he married Deidree, an ex George Mitchell singer/dancer, with whom he had two daughters. He had six grandchildren.[7]
Braben's autobiography, The Book What I Wrote, was published in 2004.[8]
Braben's book, Eddie Braben's Morecambe and Wise Book, was published shortly after his death in 2013.
In December 2017, Eric, Ernie and Me, a docudrama about Braben's work with Morecambe and Wise written by Neil Forsyth starring Stephen Tompkinson as Eddie Braben, was shown on BBC Four.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Barker, Dennis (21 May 2013). "Eddie Braben obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Eric and Ernie's writer Braben dies". BBC. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Eddie Braben Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ "Search Results – BBC Genome". Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Search Results – BBC Genome". Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Gardner, Elysa (31 March 2003). "The play they wrote is all in good fun". USA Today. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Eddie Braben". The Daily Telegraph. London. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "My schooldays: Eddie Braben". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "BBC Four – Eric, Ernie and Me". BBC. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
