{"id":4857,"date":"2024-09-25T22:45:31","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T22:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.wearedeeperblue.co.uk\/history\/?p=4857"},"modified":"2025-02-04T16:31:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T16:31:37","slug":"mike-yarwood-fails-driving-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.wearedeeperblue.co.uk\/history-clone\/mike-yarwood-fails-driving-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Yarwood Fails Driving Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1965, up-and-coming impersonator Mike Yarwood was pictured with actress Janet Rowsell, the “pretty starlet” who helped him after he failed his driving test for the third time. The two were photographed on 14 June 1965 at the Central Pier in Blackpool, where they appeared together in a show. The image shows them reading the Highway Code<\/em>\u2014a lighthearted moment that perfectly captured the youthful charm and comedic spirit of Yarwood at the time. Yarwood\u2019s career took off in the 1970s, reaching its peak during the golden age of British light entertainment. Under the guidance of Bill Cotton, the BBC’s head of light entertainment, Yarwood became one of the leading stars alongside a range of iconic performers, including Bruce Forsyth, Dick Emery, Morecambe and Wise, Val Doonican, and the Two Ronnies. Many of these stars had started their careers on ITV during the 1960s, but by the 1970s, most had made the transition to the BBC.<\/p>\n

Yarwood’s shows were known for their mix of comic sketches, musical guests, and a signature closing song, where Yarwood would famously say, \u201cand this is me\u201d<\/em>\u2014a phrase that later became the title of his autobiography. His comedy was built around impersonations of famous figures, and his ability to capture their mannerisms and voices made him a household name. At the height of his fame, his BBC TV shows regularly drew in audiences of 18 million viewers, with the Mike Yarwood Christmas Show<\/em> of 1977 standing out as a major television event, watched by a staggering 21.4 million people. This made it the highest-rated British television programme that year and one of the most-watched broadcasts in British history, behind only news and sport. However, by the early 1980s, Yarwood’s career began to face challenges. In 1982, he signed with Thames Television, following in the footsteps of Morecambe and Wise, who had joined the company in 1978. While Morecambe and Wise enjoyed continued success on ITV, Yarwood’s transition to the network was less fruitful, and his ratings began to dip. Despite his earlier triumphs, the changing landscape of television and the rise of new comedy talents meant that his popularity gradually waned.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Mike Yarwood remains an enduring figure in the history of British television, remembered for his mastery of impersonation and for being a central figure in one of the most beloved eras of British comedy.<\/p>\n