The Story of Light Entertainment

Great duos have been an integral part of mass popular culture for decades, but why do the public love them so much? And why have so many successful double acts ended up hating each other? Cannon and Ball are among those who shed light on famous comedy fall-outs, with further contributions from Mike Winters and David Baddiel , while Little and Large and Vic Reeves discuss their more successful partnerships in showbiz.

From the Victorian music halls, with their traditional mix of song, dance and comic skit, came the artiste who could "do it all". Yet. despite an incredible mix of skills and after ruling the world of light entertainment for years, the all-rounder's chief source of employment was to become hosts of variety and quiz shows. So how have the likes of Bruce Forsyth, Michael Barrymore, Cilla Black and Bob Monkhouse adapted their talents to keep their positions on the slippery showbiz ladder? Michael Grade, Clive James, Greg Dyke and Nigel Lythgoe are among those discussing these jacks of all trades.

Terry Wogan is among the guests as Stephen Fry looks at the impact that radio stars have had on both their own medium and television. Why does radio still appeal to TV stars such as Jonathan Ross, Michael Parkinson, Ricky Gervais and Terry Wogan? Radio Stars also examines how rock 'n' roll and pirate radio led to the birth of Radio 1, the celebrity DJ and egomania. Plus how radio has constantly fed television with new formats and fresh shows. Featuring Clive James, Dave Lee Travis, Ed Stewart, Mike Smith, Tony Blackburn, Simon Mayo, Johnnie Walker, Jimmy Savile, David Jacobs, Eric Sykes, Simon Dee, Annie Nightingale, Christian O'Connell, Barry Cryer, David Jensen, Emperor Rosko and Mark Radcliffe.

Stephen Fry charts the rise of comedy as an entertainment form, from its days at the foot of the billing in Edwardian music halls to the growth of the sitcom and the fame now enjoyed by some successful acts. The programme examines the influential role of northern working men's clubs and how alternative comedy fought racism and sexism in the 1980s. Moving up to the present day, there's a look at the huge success of shows such as The Office and Little Britain that has brought celebrity status to its performers. With contributions from Victoria Wood, Bruce Forsyth, Roy "Chubby" Brown and David Baddiel.

Stephen Fry explores the relationship between music and light entertainment. Before the advent of youth culture, music had always been at the heart of variety, but when pop arrived on the scene television's reactionary response was to feed viewers a diet of Val Doonican and Engelbert Humperdinck. Even Top of The Pops was predicted to be a flash in the pan, but by the 1970s pop stars such as Cilla Black and Cliff Richard were hosting their own Saturday night shows. Punk put paid to all that, and it has taken over two decades for music to find its way back into the heart of light entertainment. Featuring Cliff Richard, Cilla Black, Nana Mouskouri, Engelbert Humperdinck, Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nigel Lythgoe, Marty Wilde and the Vernons Girls.

Rory Bremner. Stanley Baxter and Avid Bo Selecta ! Merrion contribute to a look at the one-time poor relations of comedy. Those with the ability to imitate others have long delighted audiences, but it was from the 1950s and 60s that impressionists enjoyed their greatest success. Whether it was the satires of Harold Macmillan by Peter Cook and John Bird , the more benign interpretations of Mike Yarwood, the characters of Dick Emery, or the sharp satirical wit of Spitting Image, impressionists proved the power of mimicry. Featuring Jon Culshaw , Ronni Ancona , David Frost , Les Dennis , Bobby Davro , Janet Brown , Steve Nallon , Phil Cool , Phil Cornwell and Alison Jackson.

Michael Parkinson , Terry Wogan and David Frost contribute to a look at one of light entertainment's most successful and enduring formats - the chat show. From the intense investigative questioning on Face to Face, to the use of shock tactics in "confessional" programmes such as The Jerry Springer Show, the chat show format has constantly evolved to provide some of the most talked-about television ever produced.

Before the television age, the music halls and vaudeville theatres may have placed singers and comedians at the top of the bill, but it was the magicians, ventriloquists, tumblers, jugglers, acrobats and dance acts that had audiences enthralled. Initially, the small screen embraced this kind of entertainment, with stars such as magician David Nixon commanding large audiences, but by the mid-1980s, almost all of these skills had disappeared from our screens. The 21st century, however, has seen a variety revival, albeit in a modernised format, and a new generation of talent shows and magicians such as David Blaine have given the genre a new lift. Featuring interviews with Paul Daniels , Simon Cowell , Bruce Forsyth and Jimmy Tarbuck.