British Comedy Guide
Steptoe And Son. Image shows from L to R: Harold Steptoe (Harry H. Corbett), Albert Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell). Copyright: BBC
Secrets & Scandals Of Steptoe & Son

Secrets & Scandals Of Steptoe & Son

  • TV documentary
  • Channel 5
  • 2022
  • 1 episode

A documentary examining the making of Steptoe And Son. Features Graham McCann, Tessa Le Bars, Dick Fiddy, Robert Ross, John Thomson and more.

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Steptoe And Son. Image shows from L to R: Harold Steptoe (Harry H. Corbett), Albert Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Documentary
Broadcast
2022
Channel
Channel 5
Episodes
1
Features
Graham McCann, Tessa Le Bars, Dick Fiddy, Robert Ross, John Thomson, Madeline Smith, Louis Barfe, Michael Ohajuru and more
Producers
Kate Staples, Mark Roberts, Mark Harrison, Conor Carroll, Gabie Meade, Tom Evans and Debbie Nugent
Company

Steptoe And Son was the biggest, grittiest, most foul-mouthed sitcom of its day. But behind the laughter, the catch
phrases and the pickled onions lies a very different story.

Steptoe And Son: Secrets & Scandals brings revelations about a Labour leader asking the BBC for a big favour, a Met Police vice squad operation actively targeting celebrities, and a descent into alcoholism that almost tore apart the biggest sitcom in Britain. This revelatory documentary uncovers eye-opening stories about the significance of the show and the truth of what went on behind the scenes.

It features contributions from actor and comedian John Thomson (who played Harold Steptoe in a radio adaptation), legendary agent Tessa Le Bars (who was the widow of Steptoe co-creator Alan Simpson), actor Madeline Smith (the only former Bond girl to go on to appear in Steptoe) and TV historians Dick Fiddy and Graham McCann.

The show documents a remarkable tale of political fixing, the BBC and the power of Steptoe And Son. With remarkable first-hand sources, the documentary reveals a political intervention that may have landed Labour a general election majority, all by shifting a broadcast of Steptoe And Son.

The documentary also uncovers some remarkable truths about the arrest of co-star Wilfrid Brambell for 'importuning persistently for immoral purposes'. It also reveals details of the behaviour of both Brambell and the vice squad that led to his arrest, and the extraordinary way in which the BBC decided to tackle one of its biggest stars being arrested in a men's toilet.

Among other insights are an expletive-laden rant that caused a diplomatic incident during a foreign tour, and how the show changed Britain's attitudes to swearing.

Catch-up

Additional details

Also known as
  • Steptoe And Son: Secrets & Scandals (Billed title)
Picture
Colour

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Saturday 14th May 2022 at 9:20pm on Channel 5
Episode length
55 minutes
All previous repeats
  • Sunday 10th March 2024 at 10:00pm on C5
  • Friday 24th February 2023 at 10:00pm on C5

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