Press clippings Page 9
Tommy Cooper's genius was in the love behind the laughs
Love. Now there's a word at the heart of all the laughter he brought. And one sadly absent from so much of the comedy that followed him.
Andrew Vine, The Yorkshire Post, 15th April 2014Tommy Cooper - Flawed Genius
Thomas Frederick Cooper, born on 19 March 1921 in Caerphilly, Wales, was not born big. In fact the midwife said he was a weakling.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th April 2014Interesting objects: Tommy Cooper's fez
Sophisticated men with style used to wear a fez as part of their luxury smoking garb. Cooper transformed it into a comedy prop.
Rhodri Marsden, The Independent, 12th April 2014ITV biopic focuses on alcoholic side of Tommy Cooper
His fans loved him but a new biopic of the comedian explores his darker side as a violent alcoholic who couldn't choose between his wife and mistress.
Simon Edge, The Daily Express, 12th April 2014Ah, those were the days, when Christmas specials featured frilly-shirted Sacha Distel and Clodagh Rodgers in a hostess gown singing cheesy songs in front of skinny TV studio Christmas trees. In this 1973 special these musical interludes break up Tommy Cooper's comedy business of pratfalls and carefully choreographed ineptitude, and some terrible sketches - one involving a game of billiards played with a golf club feels like it goes on for ten years.
But there's a certain piquancy to all of this, as David Threlfall will shortly play Cooper in an ITV bio-drama. Cooper and his comedy have developed a patina of affectionate cool in the years since his death, so it's the perfect chance to see why he endures.
Alison Graham, Radio Times, 27th December 2013Pub favoured by classic comics faces demolition
A London pub that became a 'Mecca for comedy' as a favourite haunt of Tommy Cooper, Tony Hancock and Sid James faces demolition as a hotel group plans to raze a huge part of Leicester Square's conservation area and turn it into a 360-bedroom, 10-story hotel and cinema complex.
Paul Gallagher, The Independent, 27th September 2013Tommy Cooper's magic props to be used in ITV biopic
David Threlfall will play the legendary comedian in his original home - using props found in the attic.
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 16th September 2013Comedy gold - Michael McIntyre's Live and Laughing
He may be reviled, but the highest-earning comedian around is this era's Tommy Cooper or Eric Morecambe... and a class act.
Leo Benedictus, The Guardian, 23rd July 2013Helen McCrory on preparing for Tommy Cooper drama
Helen McCrory has been sharpening her comic timing to portray the other woman in the life of comedy legend Tommy Cooper.
Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail, 31st May 2013ITV's Tommy Cooper drama - Can we see the funny side?
The question is will this be another example of a drama that focuses on a comedian behaving badly?
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 24th May 2013