Carrott's Lib
In 1982, Jasper Carrott was the pre-eminent stand-up on UK television. Before the explosion of Alternative Comedy, only Carrott, Billy Connelly and at a pinch, Mike Harding were making the crossover into a newer looser and more demotic form of stand-up over and above the regular old geniuses of Brucie and Tarby and co.
He was given his own live comedy show on Saturday nights, and amply rewarded the Beeb’s faith in him by the show picking up a BAFTA award. As well as stand-up, the show had sketches, a regular cast and a team of writers who had cut their teeth on radio comedy (including the venerable Week Ending) and were breaking out into television for the first time. Most famously, the show had a live 40m Election special for the 1983 General Election.
The show finished with a special that made it on to BBC1, at that time an honour for an “edgy” live sketch show and a mark of the show's strength.
Most of the shows were produced and directed by Geoff Posner, and the title ran for two series and two specials before morphing, some three years later into the equally popular “Carrott Confidential”.
Carrott's Lib
Series 1
Show 1
First Tx. 2/10/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Show 2
First Tx. 9/10/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Show 3
First Tx. 16/10/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Show 4
First Tx. 23/10/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Show 5
First Tx. 30/10/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Show 6
First Tx. 6/11/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Show 7
First Tx. 13/11/82 BBC Two 22.40 - 23.25
Starring | Jasper Carrott |
with | Nick Wilton |
Mark Arden | |
Steve Frost | |
Kay Stonham | |
Debbie Bishop | |
Written by | Jasper Carrott |
Kim Fuller | |
Rob Grant | |
Doug Naylor | |
Tony Sarchet | |
Bob Sinfield | |
James Hendrie | |
Andrea Solomons | |
Script Associate | Neil Shand |
Directed by | Paul Jackson |
Geoff Posner | |
Produced by | Paul Jackson |
John Bishop | |
Geoff Posner |
Election Special
Starring | Jasper Carrott |
with | Emma Thompson |
Chris Barrie | |
Written by | Jasper Carrott |
Kim Fuller | |
Rob Grant | |
Doug Naylor | |
Tony Sarchet | |
Bob Sinfield | |
James Hendrie | |
Andrea Solomons | |
Script Associate | Neil Shand |
Produced & directed by | Geoff Posner |
Series 2
Show 1
First Tx. 22/10/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 2
First Tx. 29/10/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 3
First Tx. 5/11/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 4
First Tx. 12/11/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 5
First Tx. 19/19/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 6
First Tx. 26/11/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 7
First Tx. 3/12/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Show 8
First Tx. 10/12/83 BBC Two 23.00 - 23.40
Starring | Jasper Carrott |
Written by | Jasper Carrott |
Kim Fuller | |
Rob Grant | |
Doug Naylor | |
Tony Sarchet | |
Bob Sinfield | |
James Hendrie | |
Andrea Solomons | |
Produced & directed by | Geoff Posner |
Special
First Tx. 30/12/83 BBC One 22.40 - 23.25
Starring | Jasper Carrott |
with | Nick Wilton |
Chris Barrie | |
Jan Ravens | |
Nick Maloney | |
Written by | Jasper Carrott |
Kim Fuller | |
Rob Grant | |
Doug Naylor | |
Tony Sarchet | |
Bob Sinfield | |
James Hendrie | |
Andrea Solomons | |
Ian Hislop | |
Script Associate | Neil Shand |
Produced & directed by | Geoff Posner |
Carrott's Lib
There's a rightfully massive amount of info about Jasper Carrott out there but here's his official website
And why not read about Jasper Carrott being awarded an OBE by clicking here?
"Carrott's Lib" was never released on video or DVD. Why not shout at the BBC? There is a cassette of some of the best stand-up which you can find by clicking here...