GET LAST LAUGH AT YVONNE ARNAUD

REIMAGINING the lives of three of Britain’s greatest comedy heroes - Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse - THE LAST LAUGH, is a new laugh-a-minute play from writer and director Paul Hendy.

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Ahead of its run at The Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford from Tuesday to Saturday August 5 to 9, we caught up with the cast - Bob Golding, Damian Williams and Simon Cartwright - to chat about the nostalgia, the tour, and most importantly, the laughs!

The names of these three comedians (Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse) will conjure up a sense of nostalgia for many - do you have your own fond memories of them?

Bob Golding (Eric Morecambe): I have strong and fond memories of all the comics in The Last laugh. I espe cially remember a Christmas special where Eric & Ernie were dressed as turkeys. I was mesmerised at their ability to make not just me laugh but my parents, my younger brother, and my elderly grandmother who would chuckle and mutter “silly buggers” under her breath.

Damian Williams (Tommy Cooper): I have so many fond mem ories of these iconic men from watching them at Christmas with the family, particularly sitting with my dad watching Tommy Cooper and seeing him crying with laughter. Tommy is the reason I got into the business.

Simon Cartwright (Bob Monk house): All three were iconic leg ends of British light entertainment and featured in positive childhood memories for me.

I enjoyed watching Bob Monk house presenting in the very early 70s - I would have been six years old - programmes like ‘The Golden Shot’ and then into the 80s with ‘Bob's Full House: They are fond memories of a time of happier fam ily environments, when we'd all watch stuff together.

Without giving too much away, what is The Last Laugh about— and why do you think it resonates with audiences today?