Why Bother?

1994 saw one of Peter Cooks most acclaimed performances since his 1960's heyday. Chris Morris' surreal and inventive questions brought out the very best of eccentric aristocrat Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling, a character whom Cook had carried with him through Beyond the Fringe and Not Only...But Also... to his latter years.

1994 saw one of Peter Cook's most acclaimed performances since his 1960s' heyday. Chris Morris' surreal and inventive questions brought out the very best of eccentric aristocrat Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling - a character whom Cook had carried with him through 'Beyond the Fringe' and 'Not Only... But Also...' to his latter years.   These five interviews recall Streeb-Greebling's early years (sent to prison at the age of four by his father) and his life before and after the incident with the eels. It looks back at his days of extreme comfort in a Japanese POW camp and his attempts to mediate in the Rodney King LA riots. Streeb-Greebling discusses his habit of strangling business partners, reveals his plans to capitalise on his discovery of the fossilised remains of the infant Christ and attempts to begin an extremely tedious anecdote about bee-keeping.

Peter Cook

Michael Palin

Peter Cook was an exceptional talent - verbally witty, surreally inventive and a true original. The father of modern satire and alternative comedy, he was voted the top comedian of all time in the Channel 4 show The Comedian's Comedian. 
 
In this selection of clips from the BBC archive, Michael Palin trawls Peter Cook's back catalogue for his funniest and silliest moments, including several rare gems that have never been previously broadcast. 
 
Covering Peter Cook's 36-year career, it features all the best interviews, monologues and sketches, including extracts from Beyond the Fringe, monologues from the immortal E. L. Wisty and excerpts from Cook and Moore's taboo-breaking 'Derek and Clive' dialogues. There are also hilarious parodies of Malcolm Muggeridge and Loyd Grossman, radio phone-ins from 'Sven' and various interviews discussing his involvement with Private Eye. 
 
Insightful and irresistible, this is a fascinating exploration of the life and career of a seriously funny man. 
 
Peter Cook In His Own Words features classic comedy extracts which reflect the language and attitudes of their time. 
 
©2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Peter Cook

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