A News Huddlines reunion celebrating the life and comedy of Roy Hudd OBE.
The Roy Huddlines was staged on Sunday 14th May 2023 at the Sondheim Theatre in London’s West End. The cast, writers and producers of BBC Radio's longest-running audience comedy programme, The News Huddlines, gathered to celebrate the life, love and laughter of Roy Hudd OBE.
Roy had a profound effect on all who worked with him - he was a unique combination of comedy genius, wise mentor and cheeky uncle. The cast reunited here for one joyous hurrah in his honour are Huddlines originals Chris Emmett, Alison Steadman, Nichola McAuliffe and announcer Richard Clegg, plus Kate Harbour and the brilliant Jon Culshaw who took Roy's centre microphone with the blessing of Roy’s widow, Debbie Hudd.
Also assembled for this gala event were the writers who cut their comedy teeth working on The News Huddlines and went on to create some of the finest British comedy from the 1980s to the present day. Not the Nine O'Clock News, Spitting Image, Drop the Dead Donkey and One Foot in the Grave were all created by Huddlines alumni, and the legacy continues.
Recorded on: 14 May and 28 June 2023
Recorded at: The Sondheim Theatre and The Soundhouse
The Roy Huddlines Part One (duration 55’19”)
1. INTRODUCTIONS (Simon Brett, John Lloyd, Peter Moss, Dirk Maggs)
2. PRE-SIG - ROY'S STATUE (by Glenn Mitchell)
3. SIG TUNE
4. JON'S MONOLOGUE (edited by Dave Dixon)
5. ROY HUDD, CHILD PRODIGY (by Julian Dutton)
6. SONG - MY OLD GRAN (by Richard Quick)
7. CHARLES & CAMILLA (by Stuart Silver)
8. VESPERS (by David Semple)
9. THE EAGLES HAVE LANDED (by Malcolm Williamson) *
10. ROMPS IN THE RAF (by Richard Quick)
11. ROY MEETS MAX MILLER (by Martin Booth) *
12. FIRE BRIGADE QUICKIE (by Mark Griffiths)
13. FIRST DAY AT BUTLINS (by Roger Davison)
14. THEATRICAL DIGS (by Tony Hare)
The Roy Huddlines Part Two (duration 48’30”)
1. OPENING & SIG TUNE
2. THE MAGICIAN’S STRIKE OF 1973 (by Julian Dutton)
3. ROY'S PERFECT PITCH (by Ged Parsons)
4. FRIGGINS - WURLITZER ORGAN (by Alan Stafford)
5. THE NEWS CLEGGLINES (by Richard Stoneman)
6. THE PHONE SCAM (by Les Rowley)
7. ROY HUDD – MASTER SPY (by Tony Hare)
8. WHAT IF HUDDLINES WERE WRITTEN BY A.I. (by Paul B. Davies)
9. JUNE GLUM (by Dave Dixon)
10. THE HUDDLINES’ PRIME MINISTERS (by Andy Hamilton & Nick Revell)
11. WHADDYA THINK? (by Richard Quick)
12. STOP PRESS (edited by Dave Dixon)
13. CLOSING SIG TUNE & CREDITS
14. POST SIG: BILLY BENNETT AND THE STATUE (by Glenn Mitchell)
Richard Clegg and Chris Emmett © Andy Hollingworth
Alison Steadman © Andy Hollingworth
Jon Culshaw, Debbie Hudd and Kate Harbour © Andy Hollingworth
Alison Steadman and Jon Culshaw © Andy Hollingworth
Debbie Hudd, Nick Revell, Carol Smith, Tony Hare, Dave Dixon, Martin Booth, Dirk Maggs, Richard Clegg, Chris Emmett, Alison Steadman, Jon Culshaw and Kate Harbour © Dirk Maggs
