The Secret Policeman's Other Ball Backdrop Blur
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball Poster

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

"At Last the Truth Can Be Told - The Other Ball is Bigger"

Following the success of the 1979 show and the financial benefits accruing to Amnesty from the spin-off movie, TV special and record albums – Cleese, Lewis and Walker planned the next show to be a more spectacular event. Cleese focused on broadening the comedic talent to be presented at the show. In addition to the Amnesty show stalwarts drawn from the Oxbridge/Monty Python/Beyond The Fringe orbit, he invited newcomers such as Rowan Atkinson’s colleagues from the BBC TV show Not the Nine O'Clock News including Pamela Stephenson and Griff Rhys Jones; comedian Victoria Wood and regional comic Jasper Carrott. Lewis secured a return appearance by Billy Connolly and a debut appearance by "alternative" comedian Alexei Sayle who Lewis had recently discovered and was managing. Building on the success of Pete Townshend's 1979 appearance Lewis recruited other rock musicians to perform at the 1981 show including Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Donovan and Bob Geldof.

Top Cast

  • Rowan Atkinson

    Rowan Atkinson

    Self - Various Roles

  • Jeff Beck

    Jeff Beck

    Self

  • Alan Bennett

    Alan Bennett

    Self - Various Roles

  • Graham Chapman

    Graham Chapman

    Self - Various Roles

  • Eric Clapton

    Eric Clapton

    Self

  • John Cleese

    John Cleese

    Self - Various Roles

  • Phil Collins

    Phil Collins

    Self

  • Billy Connolly

    Billy Connolly

    Self

  • Peter Cook

    Peter Cook

    Self - Various Roles

Overview

Following the success of the 1979 show and the financial benefits accruing to Amnesty from the spin-off movie, TV special and record albums – Cleese, Lewis and Walker planned the next show to be a more spectacular event. Cleese focused on broadening the comedic talent to be presented at the show. In addition to the Amnesty show stalwarts drawn from the Oxbridge/Monty Python/Beyond The Fringe orbit, he invited newcomers such as Rowan Atkinson’s colleagues from the BBC TV show Not the Nine O'Clock News including Pamela Stephenson and Griff Rhys Jones; comedian Victoria Wood and regional comic Jasper Carrott. Lewis secured a return appearance by Billy Connolly and a debut appearance by "alternative" comedian Alexei Sayle who Lewis had recently discovered and was managing. Building on the success of Pete Townshend's 1979 appearance Lewis recruited other rock musicians to perform at the 1981 show including Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Donovan and Bob Geldof.

Rating

6.3 / 10
6 Reviews
0 Popular

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