The Story of Light Entertainment

Impressionists (1x6)

Air date: Aug 26, 2006

Sixty years ago impressionists were the poor relations of comedy and relatively small players in radio and variety, but since the birth of the genre as we know it, impressionism has continually pushed boundaries in an attempt to make us laugh with its audacity. Those with the ability to imitate others' vocal patterns and physical mannerisms have long delighted audiences. Peter Cavanagh, billed as 'the voice of them all', was a huge 1940s star of stage and radio, but it was in the 1950s and 60s when their victims (showbiz celebrities, politicians and other public personalities) became well known enough through television that the impressionists enjoyed their greatest success. Whether it was the shockingly satirical impersonation of Harold Macmillan by the likes of Peter Cook and John Bird, the more benign interpretations of Mike Yarwood, the character-type impersonations of Dick Emery or the sharp satirical wit of Spitting Image, impressionists became increasingly popular. Even today, with the glory days of Yarwood long gone, impressionists like Jon Culshaw, Rory Bremner, Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona prove how powerful mimicry can be when used cleverly. In the ultra-competitive world of comedy, impressionists have fought against the inherent snobbery to become some of the coolest, cleverest and most shocking acts in the entertainment schedules.