Impromptu

1964 - United Kingdom

Devised by David Croft this was an unscripted thirty minute comedy series in which the five members of the cast were presented with cards bearing the characters, situations and first lines which would form the basis of that week's show. From then on the rest was up to them. 

The performers were Betty Impey, Peter Reeves, Anne Cunningham, Victor Spinetti and Lance Percival and the 'card giver' known as Boss Man was Jeremy Hawk. The music was supplied by John Barry. The series only ran from April to June before disappearing from our screens but years later was revived in a somewhat altered form for BBC radio before returning to television as Whose Line Is It Anyway in which different guest performers each week would improvise short sketches suggested by a live studio audience.

Published on December 22nd, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

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