Eric Sykes (1923–2012)

Eric Sykes' "If I Don't Write It Nobody Else Will" is an unfashionably friendly and good humoured show business autobiography.
He came from a grindingly poor Lancashire mill town background (marvellously described) and lost his mother who died at his birth. He felt badly the lack of love as his stepmother cared for her own infant son rather than him, but he built a bridge to his lost mother from what he knew of her and unreservedly credits her in a mystical way with the opportunities that show more presented themselves (and that he took).
Humour has to be a defining British characteristic, and Eric Sykes and his friends Frankie Howerd, Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper and the rest of them brightened up a drab post war Britain in an unforgettable way. Altogether a delight to read and a who's who of British comedy. show less

A well written story of Eric Sykes life. Plenty of star names, funny happenings and a touch of the spiritual. Some slightly iffy politics but not enough to put me off. He comes across as a lovely, friendly gent and someone who deserves his place in life.

Slapstick Comedy, with many of the 1960's favourite British comedians. Based on a 1964 episode of the TV series "Sykes and a ....." , in this case obviously Sykes and a Plank. A further film was issued in 1979 based on a new TV version. In my recollections, it seemed much funnier than it now appears. Perhaps I'm recalling one of the other versions, or it was always juvenile humour but my tastes have modified!