The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show that starred Benny Hill and aired in various incarnations between 15 January 1955 and 30 May 1991 in over 140 countries. The show focused on sketches that were full of slapstick, mime, parody, and double-entendre. Thames Television cancelled production of the show in 1989 due to declining ratings and large production costs at £450,000 per show.
The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.
Benny begins the program by leading the 'League of Helping Hands' into song; a look into the life of a vagabond; Hill's Angels do a choreographed aerobics exercise at a gym, and later do battle with street punks; a spoof of "The Hot Shoe Show"; and for the close, the opening day at St. John Thomas Hospital.
Show begins with a monologue from 'Professor' Benny about the "missing link" in history, which leads to a filmed segment of the evolution of civilization from the age of the caveman to modern times. A shop clerk at a pharmacy incorporates brand names of certain products into the conversation. Hill's Angels perform a "can-can" at Benito's nightclub. For the finish, Benny plays both 'Hannibal' and 'Mr. T' in a parody of "The A-Team".
Show opens with Benny performing "Maria, Maria", then introducing a series of TV advertising bloopers. Fred Scuttle holds court at an international TV festival where he previews a French version of Bizet's "Carmen" and Irish detective series "O'Jack". A man with a cold and an Irishman are interviewed on "In London Tonight". Pan's People take a bath to the tune of "Love for Sale". An episode of "Yield to the Dawn"; a screening of Cheapo Films' "The Police Raid in Waterloo Station" about two jewel thieves. For the close, a look at athletes in training for the Olympics.
Benny leads things off with "Older Woman"; Fred Scuttle supervises construction work on the Channel Tunnel; "The Great Britsh Dancing Finals" with Hill as host 'Terry Wobegone' and one of the main contestants; Mervyn Cruddy is interviewed once again by Andree Melly on "Departure Lounge"; and examples of different TV programs utilizing the story of Little Bo-Peep and her lost sheep. Also: Anne Shelton performs "Put Your Hand in the Hand."
Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.
High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.
One point per season. Smooths out the episode-to-episode noise to reveal the bigger arc.
Did each season build or fizzle? Green means the finale outscored the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows, bigger swings.
How steady is each season? Tightly clustered dots mean reliable quality. Scattered dots mean a wild ride.
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