Tommy Cooper: Just Like That!

The phrase 'comic legend' can be bandied about all too easily, but few really do warrant that accolade. Tommy Cooper, however, was one of them.

With his gruff voice and trademark fez, the bumbling, clumsy-looking mountain of man returns to DVD for the release of this six-part 1978 series.

This time we see Cooper try his hand at a variety-style program, combining his usual mix of simple (yet hilarious) jokes and botched magic tricks with singers and other acts as fillers in between. Cooper’s comedy has dated somewhat over the past three decades, and these shows may not induce the level of laughter they did on first showing, but his charm and comedic skills raise them to well above the quality many modern comedians aspire to.

Some of the tricks are on a larger scale than you’d expect, using the theatre venue to its advantage and giving the audience and viewer more spectacle and scale to them. The great thing of course is that Cooper may actually get the trick right and amaze us, and himself at the same time. Yes, it may be old school entertainment now, but it’s hard not to chuckle when the big man stumbles on stage with a hearty laugh and that big toothy smile.

Extras: None.

Released on 16th June 2008 by Network.

Written by Phil Allely.