Cinescope

That Was The Week That Was

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.

Comedy

4.0 / 5

24th November 1962 - 28th December 1963

Writer

Tony Webster

Producer

Donald Baverstock

Top Cast

Millicent Martin • Lance Percival • Kenneth Cope

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Show 1

24th November 1962

Episode 1

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

1st December 1962

Episode 2

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

8th December 1962

Episode 3

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

15th December 1962

Episode 4

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.