Mike Yarwood

[Omegstrat6]

Sitting here on lunch break and just read of the death of impressionist Mike Yarwood. Yet another well known tv personality of my youth passes. Im sure he is quite fondly remembered by many. RIP and thanks for the laughs.

[phild]

He had a wealth of heavyweight politicians and sporting greats who he could impersonate back in the day, but it couldn't be done now as we have nothing but light weight entertainers and monotone politicians who are as thick as mince.

[mickd1961]

He was brilliant but for a very short period in the 70’s.

His Harold Wilson was superb and his Ted Heath but once they’d faded he found it impossible to mimic new personalities for some reason.

For a 5 year period he was fantastic.

Rory Bremner for me has the best longevity.

[baggieal]

Didn’t find him funny!

[Omegstrat6]

He was brilliant but for a very short period in the 70’s.

His Harold Wilson was superb and his Ted Heath but once they’d faded he found it impossible to mimic new personalities for some reason.

For a 5 year period he was fantastic.

Rory Bremner for me has the best longevity.

Agree with that. Re-watching some of his stuff on YouTube, the period in the 70s with him doing characters like Wilson, Heath, Patrick Moore, Frank Spencer or Steptoe&Son still work quite well whereas many of the clips from the late 70s into the 80s haven't worn well at all. Yarwood himself admitted to feeling despondent as the new wave of "alternative comedy" challenged the more traditional show biz acts and his own popularity waned but when watching some of his 80s stuff I just found the impressions not very good and the comedy weak. As you say, for some reason he found the newer personalities harder to mimic. I'd agree that Bremner enjoyed greater longevity but he would be the first to give credit to Yarwood for inspiring him.

[yoonited]

No mention of Alistair Mcgowan - he did a brilliant Parky.

[Omegstrat6]

No mention of Alistair Mcgowan - he did a brilliant Parky.

😂Really quite enjoyed that, thanks for posting👍
(and, yes, his Parky was very good!)

[mickd1961]

😂Really quite enjoyed that, thanks for posting👍
(and, yes, his Parky was very good!)

He’s superb.

Sadly not seen much these days, I guess taking someone off will be regarded as a “hate crime” soon.

David Craig used to cry about how he was lampooned in Bo Selecta which was hilarious in my opinion.

I’d love to see Bo Selecta return and there is talk of it.

https://youtu.be/4-XqgUdm_l4?si=fslaKNINbMmvOjEP

[DaveP67 is back!]

He’s superb.

Sadly not seen much these days, I guess taking someone off will be regarded as a “hate crime” soon.

David Craig used to cry about how he was lampooned in Bo Selecta which was hilarious in my opinion.

I’d love to see Bo Selecta return and there is talk of it.

https://youtu.be/4-XqgUdm_l4?si=fslaKNINbMmvOjEP

Funniest sketch imo was the Kim kardashian/Kanye west gipsy caravan episode, they had ‘ The biggest caravan on the whole of the gip site’ hilarious but doubt it would be allowed now.