The Best of Tommy Cooper [DVD] (2003)

This compilation pays tribute to a man who had such a talent for comedy that he was capable of entertaining an audience with appalling magic tricks, horrendous jokes and the stage presence of a clumsy giant. Born in 1922 in Caerphilly, Glamorganshire, Tommy Cooper was to become one of the best-loved British comedians of all time and his sudden death on stage in 1984 left the showbiz world mourning a great comedian and magician. His act began life whilst he was training in the army. Tommys humour lay in his ability to mess up magic tricks in the most remarkable way. His comic genius and talent for timing marked him out for success and once he had adopted his trade mark fez he was on his way to super-stardom. Cooper became a familiar face on British television through out the 60s and 70s. An all round entertainer, he excelled in the light entertainment genre, frequently appearing on variety shows and invariably succeeding in stealing the limelight every time. This specially selected selection contains some extracts from Cooper at his best including his infamous appearances on Parkinson and The Bob Monkhouse Show which left the hosts in stitches. From the Back Cover In his trademark fez, look of heroic confusion and perfect sense of comic timing, Tommy Cooper could have an audience in his pocket before he even said a word. Then the jokes would flow, the tricks fall flat and an open-mouthed Cooper would reduce them once more to helplessness. And so, for 30 years, this burly, gangly, seemingly incompetent magician dominated light entertainment television. This compilation features Tommy Cooper at his best: from his early TV show Its Magic to his Variety Show turns, and from his famous chat show appearances to his performances on his own TV shows in the 1970s.