Let’s hear it for the ladies…the Funny Ladies, that is, of British comedy.  Coming your way on PBS stations nationwide beginning this weekend is More Funny Ladies of British Comedy. Airing tonight on KERA Channel 13 in the North Texas area at 10:30pm (following the new season of Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, which airs at 8:30pm), this sequel to the 2004 Funny Ladies of British Comedy is again hosted by the Grand Dame of British comedy, Penelope Keith and features clips highlighting your favorite ladies from favorite British comedies such as Vicar of Dibley, Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served?, Last of the Summer Wine, As Time Goes By and Fawlty Towers.

As one of the Executive Producers of More Funny Ladies, along with Mike Seymour,  I can’t begin to tell you what an honor is was to be able to spend the day with Penelope Keith back in September taping the host segments.   As you’ll see, we recorded the segments at the Royal Theatre in Bath, England on the stage with the set of the play as the backdrop. In addition to the host segments, we had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Keith and talk about things ranging from her thoughts on the popularity of British comcdy in the U.S., the possibility as to why the “ladies” are funnier than the “men” and, also, her thoughts on the wonderful talents of Mollie Sugden and Wendy Richard, both of whom passed away since the taping of the original Funny Ladies special in 2004.

Our day started at 4a with the long drive from London to Bath. Arriving at the Theatre just before 8a we began taping around 10a and finished up mid-afternoon. Then a couple months of editing in the clips of our favorite ladies and you have what, hopefully, you’ll be able to see at some point over the next couple of weeks.

I hope you enjoy the result of the hard work of a number of people on both sides of the pond involved in the production. It was an amazing opportunity.