The Two Ronnies

Obituary: Sir Paul Fox 1925-2024

In a black and white image, Paul Fox sits next to a camera with the 1980s version of the BBC logo

To have had one BBC career as distinguished as that of Sir Paul Fox would have been remarkable – Editor of Grandstand, Editor of Panorama and one of the most successful Controllers of BBC One ever (1967-73), who launched shows such as Dad’s Army, The Generation Game, The Two Ronnies and Parkinson. But to have had two – he left Television Centre in 1973 to put Yorkshire Television on the map, but returned in 1988 to become Managing Director of BBC Television – was, by any standards, an extraordinary achievement.

Paul Whitehouse’s Sketch Show Years to showcase 60 years of British comedy

Paul Whitehouse laughs in front of a set with individual orange lightbulbs

The new show – commissioned by UKTV for Gold – will explore 60 years of sketch comedy, with each of the four episodes covering roughly one decade. Whitehouse will explore a variety of shows, from The Two Ronnies to The Catherine Tate Show. Classics like Not the Nine O’Clock News, The Fast Show and Harry Enfield & Chums will also feature.