APRIL

o April 1, 1973 - The pilot episode of Porridge is shown. This prison comedy would become a long-running classic Britcom starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale.

o April 2, 1940 - Snoot extraordinaire Penelope Keith (Good Neighbors, To The Manor Born) born in Sutton, Surrey.

o April 2, 1989 - First episode of May to December. This popular sitcom about the relationship between an older man and younger woman would last six seasons.

o April 4, 1975 - The first episode of the classic Good Neighbors, starring the "fab four" of Felicity Kendal, Richard Briers, Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith.

o April 4, 1978 - The last season of the terrific Rising Damp begins with the late, great Leonard Rossitter as the greedy landlord Rigsby.

o April 5, 1912 - Future Dad's Army star John Le Mesurier born in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

o April 5, 1929 - Nigel Hawthorne, who was so memorable as the scheming Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, born in Coventry.

o April 7, 1930 - Andrew Sachs (Manuel in Fawlty Towers) gets slapped for the first (but certainly not the last) time when he is born in Berlin, Germany.

o April 7, 1991 - The Darling Buds of May, a fondly remembered comedy about a rural family starring David Jason and Pam Ferris as Pa and Ma Larkin, premieres.

o April 8, 1976 - The fourth season of Are You Being Served? begins, containing several classic episodes such as Top Hat and Tails, Fire Practice, and Fifty Years On.

o April 10, 1971 - The legendary double-act Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker make sketch comedy history with the debut of their show The Two Ronnies. The show would run for twelve seasons as well as a number of specials.

o April 11, 1941 - Shirley Stelfox (the original Rose from Keeping Up Appearances) born in Dunkinfield, Cheshire.

o April 11, 1992 - Rowan Atkinson On Location in Boston screened on BBC1.

o April 14, 1969 - A one-off episode of The Liver Birds is shown as part of the Comedy Playhouse series. This one-off would eventually spawn a regular series that lasted ten seasons. Among the stars were Mollie Sugden, who played the domineering Mrs. Hutchinson.

o April 15, 1982 - Dad's Army star Arthur Lowe dies in Birmingham of a stroke.

o April 16, 1982 - First season of The Bounder, with the ever-charming Peter Bowles as Howard Booth.

o April 16, 1995 - Arthur English (Mr. Harmon from Are You Being Served?) passes away due to complications from emphysema.

o April 19, 1953 - Ruby Wax born in Evanston, Illinois. She is not well known in her native country, but Wax spent five years with the Royal Shakespeare Company and is now one of the UK's most popular comedians/chat show hosts.

o April 20, 1969 - Rebecca Lacey (Hilary on May to December) born in Watford, Hertfordshire.

o April 20, 1964 - BBC2 is launched.

o April 21, 1995 - Viewers get their first look at Craggy Island and its eccentric residents as Father Ted begins its award-winning run.

o April 22, 1990 - The perfectly cast Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie make their first appearance as P.G. Wodehouse's legendary Jeeves and Wooster. (The second of four seasons would follow a year later.)

o April 25, 1986 - Highlights from the first Comic Relief charity shows are screened on BBC1. Among the cast helping raise money for charity are Rowan Atkinson, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Lenny Henry, Paul Eddington and Stephen Fry.

Complied by Michelle Street
Editor, The Insider