Mark Griffiths: The Funny Side of Christmas (1982)

Ben Baker's Christmas Box

Time for another tinsel-topped trip through telly's festive past with a regular Ben Baker that has snow on the logo. In each short episode I talk to a guest about a programme that represents the Christmas period to them and today the author and playwright Mark Griffiths discusses BBC One's 1982 selection box of new comedy shorts from established programmes "The Funny Side of Christmas" featuring everything from "Last Of the Summer Wine" to "Three of a Kind". Among many freewheeling detours, Mark tells me about his experience writing for Smith and Jones aged 18, chooses the new Frank Muir and recites a particularly memorable moment from "Yes Minister". Come all friends of the dialysis machine!

See (all but the Only Fools section) "The Funny Side of Christmas" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWL0VYbvCUs

Find Mark on Twitter at https://twitter.com/markgriffiths42

And visit his website here: https://markgriffithsbooks.co.uk

I've just released a new book all about the faces, films and forgotten frippery that made up the British Christmas TV experience. You can find it here: https://linktr.ee/BenBakerBooks.