TV Series · 1962

That Was the Week That Was

50 min · Comedy · Ended

Composite

5.4

IMDb

8.1 / 10

122 votes

TMDB

8.5 / 10

2 votes

Local

— / 10

No votes

Synopsis

That Was the Week That Was, informally TWTWTW or TW3, is a satirical television comedy programme on BBC Television in 1962 and 1963. It was devised, produced and directed by Ned Sherrin and presented by David Frost. The programme is considered a significant element of the satire boom in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. It broke ground in comedy through lampooning the establishment and political figures. Its broadcast coincided with coverage of the politically charged Profumo affair and John Profumo, the politician at the centre of the affair, became a target for derision. TW3 was first broadcast on Saturday 24 November 1962.

Cast

Millicent Martin

Lance Percival

Kenneth Cope

Roy Kinnear

David Frost

Crew

Production

Donald Baverstock Producer
Alasdair Milne Executive Producer
Ned Sherrin Producer

Writing

Tony Webster Writer
David Panich Writer
Ed Sherman Writer
Richard Ingrams Writer

Seasons & episodes

Season 1 (23 ep)

1. Show 1

Nov 24, 1962 · 50 min

The first programme includes: A parody of BBC by-election coverage; The army becoming a political party; An expose of record producer Norrie Paramor; Bernard Levin interviewing a group of PR men; a skit on the then-current infomercial-style show ""Jim's Inn"", a parody of the recent hit song ""Love And Marriage"" and Timothy Birdsall's send-up of Identikit pictures.
2. Show 2

Dec 1, 1962 · 50 min

Items include: A look at the possible successors to retired Conservative leader Harold MacMillan; a send-up of TV science shows; and a rant by a yobbish cricketer (Cope).
3. Show 3

Dec 8, 1962 · 50 min

A monologue by a tobacconist (Roy Kinnear) on why smoking is a good thing, an expose of songwriter Lionel Bart's borrowings from old-time songs; Bernard Levin interviews hotellier Charles Forte, a group of Cardinals sing Arrivederci Roma; and a sketch (and subsequent calypso) on the subject of open flies.
4. Show 4

Dec 15, 1962 · 50 min

A list of Britain's remaining colonies; trade unions quarrelling over a hole in the road; an old-time comedian (Roy Kinnear) complains about the satire boom.
5. Show 5

Dec 22, 1962 · 50 min

The Queen's christmas broadcast being censored; Bernard Levin is shouted down by a group of farmers.
6. That Was The Year That Was

Dec 29, 1962 · 50 min

An expose of the ""Cross Bencher"" column in the Sunday Express.
7. Show 7

Jan 5, 1963 · 50 min
8. Show 8

Jan 12, 1963 · 50 min
9. Show 9

Jan 19, 1963 · 50 min
10. Show 10

Jan 26, 1963 · 50 min
11. Show 11

Feb 2, 1963 · 50 min
12. Show 12

Feb 9, 1963 · 50 min
13. Show 13

Feb 16, 1963 · 50 min
14. Show 14

Feb 23, 1963 · 50 min
15. Show 15

Mar 2, 1963 · 50 min
16. Show 16

Mar 9, 1963 · 50 min
17. Show 17

Mar 16, 1963 · 50 min
18. Show 18

Mar 23, 1963 · 50 min
19. Show 19

Mar 30, 1963 · 50 min
20. Show 20

Apr 6, 1963 · 50 min
21. Show 21

Apr 13, 1963 · 50 min
22. Show 22

Apr 20, 1963 · 50 min
23. Show 23

Apr 27, 1963 · 50 min