That Was The Week That Was

50min

Comedy

That Was the Week That Was, informally TWTWTW or TW3, is a satirical television comedy programme on BBC Television in 1962 and 1963. It was devised, produced and directed by Ned Sherrin and presented by David Frost. An American version by the same name aired on NBC from 1964 to 1965, also featuring Frost. The programme is considered a significant element of the satire boom in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. It broke ground in comedy through lampooning the establishment and political figures. Its broadcast coincided with coverage of the politically charged Profumo affair and John Profumo, the politician at the centre of the affair, became a target for derision. TW3 was first broadcast on Saturday 24 November 1962.

Episodes

Cast

Show 1

1. Show 1

50min

24th Nov 1962

The first programme includes: A parody of BBC by-election coverage; The army becoming a political party; An expose of record producer Norrie Paramor; Bernard Levin interviewing a group of PR men; a skit on the then-current infomercial-style show ""Jim's Inn"", a parody of the recent hit song ""Love And Marriage"" and Timothy Birdsall's send-up of Identikit pictures.

Show 2

2. Show 2

50min

1st Dec 1962

Items include: A look at the possible successors to retired Conservative leader Harold MacMillan; a send-up of TV science shows; and a rant by a yobbish cricketer (Cope).

Show 3

3. Show 3

50min

8th Dec 1962

A monologue by a tobacconist (Roy Kinnear) on why smoking is a good thing, an expose of songwriter Lionel Bart's borrowings from old-time songs; Bernard Levin interviews hotellier Charles Forte, a group of Cardinals sing Arrivederci Roma; and a sketch (and subsequent calypso) on the subject of open flies.

Show 4

4. Show 4

50min

15th Dec 1962

A list of Britain's remaining colonies; trade unions quarrelling over a hole in the road; an old-time comedian (Roy Kinnear) complains about the satire boom.

Show 5

5. Show 5

50min

22nd Dec 1962

The Queen's christmas broadcast being censored; Bernard Levin is shouted down by a group of farmers.

That Was The Year That Was

6. That Was The Year That Was

50min

29th Dec 1962

An expose of the ""Cross Bencher"" column in the Sunday Express.

Show 7

7. Show 7

50min

5th Jan 1963

Show 8

8. Show 8

50min

12th Jan 1963

Show 9

9. Show 9

50min

19th Jan 1963

Show 10

10. Show 10

50min

26th Jan 1963

Show 11

11. Show 11

50min

2nd Feb 1963

Show 12

12. Show 12

50min

9th Feb 1963

Show 13

13. Show 13

50min

16th Feb 1963

Show 14

14. Show 14

50min

23rd Feb 1963

Show 15

15. Show 15

50min

2nd Mar 1963

Show 16

16. Show 16

50min

9th Mar 1963

Show 17

17. Show 17

50min

16th Mar 1963

Show 18

18. Show 18

50min

23rd Mar 1963

Show 19

19. Show 19

50min

30th Mar 1963

Show 20

20. Show 20

50min

6th Apr 1963

Show 21

21. Show 21

50min

13th Apr 1963

Show 22

22. Show 22

50min

20th Apr 1963

Show 23

23. Show 23

50min

27th Apr 1963

First air date

24th Nov 1962

Last air date

28th Dec 1963

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks