Tommy Cooper was one of the UK's greatest comics; with his
trademark fez, a range of terrible jokes and rare skill in magic, he became a
much loved TV regular; a man who could make you laugh before he did anything.
Born
in 1922, Cooper rose to success entertaining troops in Egypt during WWII. The
fez was added in those days. Cooper's magic tricks were (usually) designed to
go wrong, with the 'error' as inexplicable as a lesser man's success.
Cooper
was once auditioning in America, when a friendly producer advised "rehearse
more".
Tommy Cooper died on stage in 1984. The audience
did not realise that his collapse was not part of the act.
These
pages include a selection of 'oneliners' taken from Coopers TV days.
Thanks are due to: Michael
J. Fotheringham, Roy Blinston, Kyle M Thompson, MikeSwindlehurst (again),
Malcolm Martin, Chris Durtnall, Vaughan Rhodes, Charlie Delap, Bob Whitehead,
Howard Edwards, Mike Swindlehurst, Gordon Barnes, Brian, John Holly, Jamie
Rossiter, Mason Willey, Cromadra.