The funny (and true) tale of Barry Cryer - comedy legend, aged 85 and a third

July 2020

I had one of my occasional crazy ideas, wanting to send my writing to a well known person, and thought that Barry Cryer would be a good writer to contact, to see if he would be willing to read my play, Blast from the Past. Perhaps he would forward a few lines of ‘praise’ or comment in order to help me with my promotion of it? I have always enjoyed his style of humour (he was regularly on the television when I was young), I had a good feeling that he would reply and knew that his opinion would count. As his website was not connecting, I couldn't send an email so after a little bit of investigative work (perhaps I should have accepted that private detective job 30 years ago? That's also true by the way!), I managed to find his address and posted off my play to him with one of my distinct letters - sometimes one has to use a little chutzpah!

2 Days later...

Amazingly, just a couple of days later I received a humorous small hand written note from my 'new friend', signed Baz!

'Dear Marc,

Remember these? - A letter!

You didn't enclose a stamped/addressed envelope or include your phone number. Nobody does anymore (why?) so I found it on directory enquiries. I rang - you didn't answer (nobody does anymore) and you didn't leave a message (NDAM) so here it is - a letter!

Ring me - if you remember how. (Phone number enclosed.) 

Yours,

Baz

(Barry Cryer)'

I couldn't believe how quickly he had replied and it was very good of him to go to the trouble of finding my phone number, which I unusually hadn't included in my letter as I really couldn't envisage him calling and had in fact included a self addressed envelope. I was also surprised that he had given me his phone number - so I phoned him.

The answerphone message came on but half way through, Barry's distinctive voice answered. We had a very short chat (well, he didn't know me from Adam - even though he knew I was Marc). I said that it was very rare for such a rapid response and that usually, I either get a reply 6 months later or none at all. He apologised that he had indeed found the envelope and would get back to me. It was a little surreal talking with him. My letter had worked. Great!

Two weeks later...

A second short phone call. He was very sorry that he had not got around to reading it or sending me anything as there was "So much going on." That was fine. I wasn't expecting anything straight away - however long it takes.

The following week...

A third phone call, and this time, a longer chat. He was once again sorry for not replying and said that he would like to be able to help me. I happened to mention that I had only recently noted that he had written material for my favourite stand up (or in this case, sit down) comedian, the superlative Dave Allen and he went on to tell me a couple of interesting stories about him. This was now starting to become more surreal. Weekly updates from Barry, the man himself - with me chatting to this renowned comedy writer about Dave Allen etc! After all, he has written material for all the greats:- Les Dawson, Stanley Baxter, Jasper Carrott, Tommy Cooper, Dick Emery, Frankie Howerd, Spike Milligan, Kennie Everett, The Two Ronnies and Morecambe & Wise. I wondered how long this would go on for? Not that it mattered of course. As I said to him, there was no hurry (I didn't want him to feel pressured). He would obviously keep to his word and I was just happy that he was going to be reading it. 

The following week...

I received a message on my answerphone while I was lucky enough to be holidaying in Wales.

'You won't believe this. You must have given up on me. It's old Barry Cryer, Marc. Sorry mate, so much has been going on. And I read it, oh yes. And I'll send you something in the post. I'm an old luddite, I don't do email and all that stuff. Okay Marc, all the very best.'

How very kind of him. I returned his phone call, to thank him for reading it and to explain that I had been away. "Oh no, don't be silly", he replied. "You're busy with other things." I asked him if he had enjoyed it. The answer was in the positive and I looked forward to reading his thoughts on the script.

Nearly 2 Weeks Later...

I received another small hand written note with some delightful words.

'I found this fascinating from the start, dealing as it does, with the bleak subject of dementia, with an undercurrent of humour throughout. I find some other writers especially interesting, as their work is so different from mine and this represents the perfect formula. Read, absorb and enjoy.'

It was really generous of him to take the time to do this and rather than bothering him again, I sent a few lines in the post to thank him. It is now official - comedy legend Barry Cryer OBE, otherwise known as Baz, is an all round good egg and gentleman!