Ronnie Corbett (1930–2016)

This is not really a biography of two men, but the story of a partnership. It gives a fascinating insight into the workings of a successful comedy partnership. Having grown up through the period when Messrs Corbett and Barker came to fame, this was absolutely gripping.
Beware, the end is harrowing as Ronnie Corbett explains how he watched Barker fade and die. Half a comedy duo can be the saddest of all entities: look at poor Ernie Wise after Eric's demise. The two Ronnies did always have a show more life separate from each other and so, it was not quite as bad as it might have been: still a two hankie read! show less

Despite many of the gags now being quite dated, the content holds up reasonably well. Not quite the same as watching the delivery from the two masters of comedy, however reading through it I can picture them in my head.
A very quick and enjoyable read reminding me of 1970s & 80s British comedy.

It is nice to read the biography of a comedian without a tortured past. Ronnie Corbett is obviously one of those people who remembers the sunny days of summer and forgets the rainy ones.
This book is uniquely Ronnie Corbett: every line has his distinctive vocal lilt and there are a few nuggets, particularly concerning his long standing professional relationship with Ronnie Barker. The friendship, which looked so close on stage and screen, was not so away from the bright lights and grease show more paint: not, that they were enemies, they simply lead their own lives.
I mostly approve of Corbett's sunny view of life but, I would have been interested to read more about the ear infection which affected his balance and lead to ten years of pre-show fear.
A pleasant book about a pleasant man. show less

You can't be in your thirties and above and not have a special place for the Two Ronnies in your heart. This is a perfect book for a trip down memory lane and some fascinating insights in to the process that went in to making the show, and how it fitted in to the rest of the two stars' lives.
The book is frequently very funny with some key scripts given in full, and Corbett manages to slip in a few typical meandering stories. It helps that you can't read it without hearing his distinctive show more Scottish voice.
If I had a criticism it would be that there is the occasional use of a bad pun here and there, and it could have done with some tighter editing as some of the sentences are a bit clumsy (not unlike this one!) It's not particularly deep and could be seen as just a sequence of anecdotes, but I don't think the hard-hitting psychoanalysis is required here - look elsewhere if you want that.
I read this in the space of a couple of 90-minute train journeys. It's a magnificent way of remembering a great double act and a fitting tribute to Ronnie Barker, a much-missed comic actor. show less