Funny Man
Season 1
Created by:
Network: ITV Thames Valley
Season aired: 1981-04-23
Overview
"Funny Man" chronicles an extended family of UK music-hall entertainers in the late 1920s, an era of decline for variety entertainment, as audiences flocked instead to motion-picture cinemas.
Episodes · 13
Side by Side
Me and My Shadow
The Keys of the Kingdom
The Good of the Cause
Grown-up Girlie
The arrival of an arrogant new leading man upsets the troupe.
Hearth and Home
Alec's children ignore his warnings about aspiring to more sophisticated circles, with upsetting consequences.
Letting Go
Teddy strives to be treated as an adult, and the troupe enjoy a riotous fancy-dress party.
Gingerbread House
Both Gwen and Davey are offered life-changing possibilities, but this threatens both the troupe and their own relationship.
A Bee in a Bonnet
June 1931. Despite a cold, Davey prepares to perform for a major producer and is too preoccupied to see that Gwen's pregnancy and isolation have affected her mental health.
Many Happy Returns
It's 1932 and Davey is well established in his solo career. Kath tries to accept her now dried out Bobby.
Song and Dance
September 1932. With more members of the troupe moving out of the Lodging House, Alec contemplates the bleak future for Music Hall entertainment, but Elsie is still there for support.
Ships That Pass
It's 1932, and Alec is now back with Elsie and accepts that Music Hall is dying, and that he must move on.
Trumpet Voluntary
May 1933. A year on and Alec feels strong enough to help George start on his new tour.
