A real comedy pioneer

Unearthed: The first known recording of a comedian broadcast in the UK

Here is the oldest surviving recording of a comedian that aired in the UK.

Helena Millais appeared in character the Cockney Our Lizzie on London’s 2LO radio station on October 20, 1922 - three weeks before the BBC launched.

The rare recording has been given a new airing, 98 years on, for a podcast about the early days of UK broadcasting.

Comedian Paul Kerensa, who hosts the British Broadcasting Century, said: ‘She was a character act not that far removed from Victoria Wood. 

‘There was no copy of her act online at all, but one of our listeners, comedy writer Alan Stafford, found a copy from an old radio documentary on a tape in his loft, so we’ve included it in the podcast to preserve online forever.’

She wasn’t quite the first comedian on air. Charles Cory was broadcast performing his act to an audience from Westminster's Wireless Exhibition on September 30 of that year, and two days later William Parkyn and  Herbert Dickeson, both described as ‘humorists'  were transmitted from the same event. But no recordings of these are thought to exist.

And while they were broadcast of stage acts, Millais is believed to be the first comedian  to perform in a studio to no live audience, just listeners at home.

The British Broadcasting Century podcast is available here. Kerensa, known for his regular appearances on Radio 2’s Pause For Thought segment, is also recreating the first BBC broadcast, a news bulletin,  in time for the Corporation’s 98th birthday  on November 14

Published: 10 Nov 2020

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