Norman Wisdom story

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 15

Norman Wisdom story

From Gillian Wainwright Norman Wisdom’s long stage and screen career is to be the subject of an hour-long television documentary to be screened in Britain this Christmas. Called “Just Wisdom” it will be a programme about the comedian’s life and very different from the normal chronological list of achievements. The producer, Paul Madden, says it was shot in a black set and combined drama and comedy with straight factual information. In the programme Norman finds himself on a film set that leads to many of his typical antics like falling through trap-

doors and tripping into the orchestra pit He is chased by a determined interviewer played by Holly de Jong. Her attempts to track him down lead to the unfolding of his life story. Norman describes his North London childhood as "tough.” His first job was at the Collins .Music Hall in London for $l2 a week. He toured the provincial music halls and appeared in a charity show with stars like Laurel and Hardy, Vera Lynn and Will Fyffe. He became world famous in a series of films and won a British Academy Award for “Trouble in Store” which broke box-office records.