Stanley Baxter

Jack Docherty brings together a jam-packed cast of comedians, actors and famous faces for a riotous celebration of Scotland's most valuable export – its sense of humour. Scotland is a small nation with a big funny bone. It's known the world over for self-deprecation, quick-witted patter and deadpan asides. But what makes it so funny? To find out the answer, this programme delves deep into the BBC Scotland archives to find a century’s worth of classic characters, catchphrases and comedy clips.

Comedy legend Stanley Baxter returns from retirement and returns to the Christmas schedules with a trawl through the very best of his classic sketches and routines, his memories of making the shows, plus some brand new material, including his contemporary take on the Queen's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth.

Documentary profile of Stanley Baxter featuring his first in-depth interview for forty years and extracts from his comedy series and specials. With contributions from Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry and Clive James.

It is written among the limitless constellations of the celestial heavens, and in the depths of the emerald seas, and upon every grain of sand in the vast deserts, that the world which we see is an outward and visible dream, of an inward and invisible reality ... Once upon a time there was a golden city. In the center of the golden city, atop the tallest minaret, were three golden balls. The ancients had prophesied that if the three golden balls were ever taken away, harmony would yield to discord, and the city would fall to destruction and death. But... the mystics had also foretold that the city might be saved by the simplest soul with the smallest and simplest of things. In the city there dwelt a lowly shoemaker, who was known as Tack the Cobbler. Also in the city... existed a Thief, who shall be... nameless.

Rab, Burney and Jamesie go to Italy to see Scotland play in the World Cup,taking frail and elderly ex-soccer star Matt Fernie with them. Jamesie gets arrested - and visited by Ella,seeking a separation - but Matt is taken seriously ill before Scotland's final game and Rab must lie to let an old man die happy.

Stanley Baxter's Picture Annual

Stanley Baxter's Christmas Hamper

The Stanley Baxter Series 1981

Dame Edna Everage takes questions from a celebrity audience about her life and career.

We hear from the Minister of White Papers about how Stanley Baxter is to return, then we hear how Miss Porker wants her own show, we learn about sex and violence on the television, we have an episode of Mastermind with Magnus Magnusson, The Channing Report presents Sir John Gielgud and The Generation Game, Charmaine Globb presents an episode of Probe about 'Mimicry, a Cry for Help, there's the story of an actress behind television advertisements, an ad for the TV Times, a programme that appeals to sports lovers and movie lovers, Botanic Man, and the finale is the George Burns Show.