"We're the Goodies, Yes the Goodies, oh the Goodies are coming for you - ha ha ha ha!"
Tim Brooke - Taylor
Childhood
Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor was born on 17th July 1940 in Buxton, Derbyshire. He is the youngest of his sister, Carolyn (six years older) and brother, Martin (nine years older). His father was a solicitor in Buxton, co-owing his own law firm in the town (which his brother Martin later worked at). His mother was an ex- international lacrosse player and sports teacher, later becoming a school’s matron when Tim’s father died when Tim was twelve.
Tim was expelled from an all-girls school at the age of five. Being one of just two boys in the school, their antics in the Brownies proved too chaotic so it was recommended that they leave. He went to prep school in Buxton and, at age 13, was sent to Winchester public school. His first comedy footsteps were taken here in an end of term show. Tim had decided to do a magic show, but after the first and second tricks went disastrously wrong, Tim decided to turn the whole act into a comedy performance - deliberately ruining his next tricks. This went down a storm and Tim discovered his love of making people laugh.
When the time came for University, Tim followed in his brother’s footsteps and applied for Cambridge. At the interview to apply for a grant, when Tim was asked what he would do for extra-curricular activities - he blurted out the Footlights club, but knew he would be too frightened to join. He got a place at Pembroke College, Cambridge, to read Economics & Politics.
Cambridge
Tim arrived at Cambridge in 1960. He switched courses to study Economics & Law instead, thus ending up in the same class as John Cleese. Tim (once he’d gained the courage) auditioned for the Footlights and joined. In 1961-1962 Tim became the junior treasurer for the Footlights and contributed additional material for that year’s revue, ‘Double Take’. The following year Tim became the Footlights president. The show for 1963 was, ‘A Clump of Plinths’, which was renamed ‘Cambridge Circus’ and had successful stints on the West End, Broadway and New Zealand. After New Zealand, a stop-off in Hong Kong has since been known (thanks to Graham Chapman’s ‘A Liar’s Autobiography’) for an infamous ‘massage parlour’ episode involving Tim and Chapman. Rest assured, it was all perfectly innocent - Chapman blaming it on their being British and thus politely declining the offer of “assistance”! An album of Cambridge Circus was made and produced by George Martin (producer of The Beatles) and BBC radio took an interest, airing extracts of the revue at the end of 1963. Three more pilots later in the following year and this was to become the radio series, ‘I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again’.
Pre-Goodies
After touring North America (post-Cambridge Circus) with a stage version of ‘That Was The Week That Was’, Tim looked for jobs at the BBC. His first jobs were as a researcher for ‘The Frost Programme’ and writing for ‘The Frost Report’ and Spike Milligan. Tim’s first British television appearance was in 1965 on, ‘On the Braden Beat’ (his first ever TV appearance was in 1964 on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ performing sketches with the Cambridge Circus troupe). Tim’s character on, ‘On the Braden Beat’ was very far-right in his politics, but he dropped the character when he worried that people were beginning to agree with what he was saying. At the same time, ‘I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again’ was quickly developing a cult audience and Tim’s Lady Constance de Coverlet character was soon becoming a popular fixture. The offers soon increased for writing and David Frost suggested in 1966 that Tim, John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman go to Ibiza for six weeks. It was here that ‘At Last the 1948 Show’ came into fruition.
In 1967, while Tim was living with John Cleese and Graham Chapman, they, along with Feldman wrote and performed in the sketch comedy show, ‘At Last the 1948 Show’, which ran for two successful series until 1968. Also running at this time was ‘Do Not Adjust Your Set’, in which Tim made a cameo when Michael Palin was ill. It was here when the Monty Python seeds were planted and Tim was a possible candidate, however he had gone to the BBC with Feldman to write for and star in the 1968-1969 sketch show, ‘It’s Marty’. Also in 1968 Tim co-starred in, ‘How to Irritate People’. Due to Tim’s increased profile the BBC offered Tim his own show but, wanting a friend, he approached Graeme Garden to work on something together. This became ‘Broaden Your Mind’, which ran from 1968-1969 for two successful series, with Bill Oddie also contributing in the second series. It was ‘Broaden Your Mind’ that got Tim and Graeme working with Orson Welles, writing and starring in a number of bizarre short films. From ‘Broaden Your Mind’ the BBC approached Tim, Graeme and Bill for a third series, but they wanted something different. This became ‘The Goodies’.
‘The Goodies’ Era
‘The Goodies’ was first broadcast on BBC2 on 8th November 1970 and ran for eight successful series on the BBC and a final successful series with LWT. Tim’s writing credit was smaller than Bill and Graeme’s for the first five series, up until ‘Goodies Rule - OK?’ (the series five special), where his credit was dropped altogether. Tim, however, was an integral part of the show’s making, often acting as referee for Bill and Graeme’s ideas and helping to conceive ideas and stitch the two halves (written separately by Bill and Graeme) together. Tim was also writing for other shows such as ‘The Two Ronnies’. In 1970 Tim appeared with Marty Feldman at the ‘Royal Variety Show’ with the 1948 Show, ‘Take Your Clothes Off’ sketch. Also in 1970 Tim starred in the first series of the ITV series, ‘His and Hers’. In 1971 Tim made a brief cameo appearance in ‘Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory’ as the computer operator trying to find the last golden ticket, as well as lending his voice to the children’s series, ‘Grasshopper Island’.
In April 1972, Tim joined the cast of the very first episode of ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue’, becoming a regular panellist from the very first series and, of course, the show still runs today to huge acclaim. In the same year he also starred with Cliff Richard in, ’The Case’, an hour-long one-off for the BBC. In 1973, Tim joined forces with Barry Cryer and John Junkin to write and perform in the radio series ‘Hello Cheeky’, which ran sporadically until 1979. ‘Hello Cheeky’ was also given a TV makeover for two series on ITV in 1976, but this was short-lived. The start of ‘Hello Cheeky’ in 1973 also saw the final series of ‘I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again’, which returned for an eighth and final series after a break since 1970, just before The Goodies was first broadcast.
In 1975, during the height of The Goodies fame, Tim reunited with John Junkin for the short-lived series about comedy writers, ‘The Rough with the Smooth’. In 1976, one year after The Funky Gibbon reached number 4 in the UK charts, The Goodies appeared at the landmark benefit concert, ‘A Poke In The Eye With A Sharp Stick’ to do their part. As well as ‘Funky Gibbon’ they performed ‘Sick Man Blues’ and ‘Cactus in My Y-Fronts’. In 1977, during a hiatus with ‘The Goodies’, Tim starred in a run on the West End with a comedy play, ‘The Unvarnished Truth’ along with Graeme. In 1977 Tim quit his 60-a-day smoking habit after a skiing trip and went to Perth, Australia for the play, ‘My Fat Friend’. Tim also went to Australia to perform in the play, ‘Privates on Parade’. In 1979 Tim voiced approximately 57 characters for the children’s cartoon, ‘Gideon’, which ran on ITV until the early 1980s (date unknown). In 1979 until 1982, Tim became the Rector for St Andrews University. After the 8th series of The Goodies in 1980, the show transferred to LWT.
In February 1981, Tim was the subject of ‘This Is Your Life’ - thus breaking the pact made by himself, Graeme and Bill that they would never accept the honour. Also in 1981 Tim appeared in, ‘The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball’, and later the same year the LWT series would begin with a Christmas special (‘Snow White 2’) and end after its first series in 1982. This was the end of ‘The Goodies’ series.
Post-Goodies
Despite the end of The Goodies in 1982, Tim, Graeme and Bill continued working together on the cartoon series, ‘Bananaman’, which ran from 1983-1986. They soon, however, started to go their separate ways. In 1983 Tim appeared in pantomime, playing the dame, Sarah the Cook, in ‘Dick Whittington’ in London (his first pantomime appearance was also ‘Dick Whittington’, playing Idle Jack in 1969). Also in 1983 Tim published his first book, ‘Rule Britannia’. In 1984 Tim appeared on the London stage with the comedy farce, ‘Run For Your Wife’. Also in 1984 Tim acted in the series, ‘Me and My Girl’, an ITV series which lasted for six series until 1988.
In 1985, Tim starred in the first series of the late-night sketch show, ‘Assaulted Nuts,’ made for Channel 4 and US cable channel HBO. Also in 1985 Tim co-hosted the Channel 4 talent show, ‘The Fame Game’. The following year, in 1986, Tim hosted the BBC radio panel show, ‘Hoax!’ which ran until 1996. In 1987, Tim starred in the BBC sitcom ‘You Must be the Husband’, which lasted for two series until 1988. In 1988 Tim published his second book, ‘Tim Brooke-Taylor’s Cricket Box’. In 1989, Tim reunited with the rest of the ‘I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again’ cast for a 25th Anniversary Special edition. Also in 1989 Tim published his third book, ‘Tim Brooke-Taylor’s Golf Bag’.
Throughout the 1990s, Tim toured the world with many various plays. These included, ‘The Upper Hand’ in 1992 and a stage version of, ‘You Must be the Husband’, which went on to tour the Middle and Far East in 1997. Tim also appeared back on screen in the 1996 Christmas special (and then supposed to be the final episode ever) of, ‘One Foot in the Grave’, playing Victor Meldrew’s new neighbour. In 1999 Tim appeared back on the UK stage with the play, ‘The Ladykillers’.
Into the 21st century and Tim continues to work tirelessly. In 2000, Tim toured the UK once again with the play, ‘Why Me’ and in the following year was back on the road with the play, ‘Bedside Manners’. In 2002, Tim’s own golf series, ‘Golf Clubs with Tim Brooke-Taylor’ premiered on satellite channel, Discovery Home & Leisure. The show lasted for two series. In 2002, Tim played a small recurring role as the hospital chaplain in the single series of, ‘TLC’. The following year, Tim achieved his ambition of appearing in a soap opera, playing a gay partner of a chef for a week in ‘Crossroads’ before being killed off! In 2004, Tim teamed up with Graeme to co-host the daytime Channel 4 quiz show, ‘Beat the Nation’. The following year Tim was back on TV with a cameo in an episode of the satirical BBC comedy series, Absolute Power’ and also playing a recurring character in two episodes of ‘60s-based police drama, ‘Heartbeat’. Also in 2005, Tim reunited with Graeme and Bill for a brief yet highly successful stage version of The Goodies at the Sydney Big Laugh Comedy Festival. Its success led Tim and Graeme (sans Bill) to tour Australia at the end of 2005. Also at the end of 2005, Tim appeared with his fellow Goodies on the BBC2 90 minute reunion special, ‘Return of the Goodies’. The ever-increasing profile of The Goodies in the UK led to a month-long stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2006, and a performance at the Brighton Comedy Festival in October.
Today
Tim is a regular panellist on the immensly popular, ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue’. He also actively appears on television and radio in many various documentaries, quiz shows, comedies, dramas, chat shows, etc. as well as making many public appearances. Tim remains a passionate golfer and also a life-long support of his native Derby County FC (of which he was honourary vice-president). He has been married to his wife, Christine, since 1968, and they have two grown up sons, Ben and Edward. Tim lives in Berkshire and co-owns the village pub. He also co-owns a holiday home in the Algarve, Portugal. Into 2007 and the profile of ‘The Goodies’ in the UK looks good, with the stage version of the show touring the UK in March/April 2007. Keep up the good work, Tim!
Compiled by Jess Pickles