Here's the truth: Syd and Eddie are very different people:
Eddie is into golf and supporting Manchester City.
Syd is into model making and music. He takes an interest in Manchester City, but he's a 'supporter' whereas Eddie is a 'fan'.
Syd was in some ways scared of Eddie when they worked together, and they never socialised much. But that's not to say there is a problem between them as such. Eddie had a heart transplant a decade or so ago and Syd came to see him.
There's no 'problem' between them as such, but they're just very different, and always were.
Here's the truth: Syd and Eddie are very different people:
Eddie is into golf and supporting Manchester City.
Syd is into model making and music. He takes an interest in Manchester City, but he's a 'supporter' whereas Eddie is a 'fan'.
Syd was in some ways scared of Eddie when they worked together, and they never socialised much. But that's not to say there is a problem between them as such. Eddie had a heart transplant a decade or so ago and Syd came to see him.
There's no 'problem' between them as such, but they're just very different, and always were.
Pretty much as I suspected - and it's like anything else. How many of us would want to socialise with people we spend working with? Many do, but equally many don't and the kind of work they did was longer and more intense than two guys working in an office for example.
Oh, and most of the speculation on this thread comes from interviews the boys themselves gave on TV suggesting an animosity.
Pretty much as I suspected - and it's like anything else. How many of us would want to socialise with people we spend working with? Many do, but equally many don't and the kind of work they did was longer and more intense than two guys working in an office for example.
Oh, and most of the speculation on this thread comes from interviews the boys themselves gave on TV suggesting an animosity.
I just wonder why, if the claims of animosity were exaggerated by the pair in interviews, what was the aim? I could see perhaps there could have been a bit of money in it down the line if they'd had some sort of Martin & Lewis style emotional reunion, but so far as I can see there's never been any intention and Eddie in particular wants to take it easy these days. They both already put autobiographies out several years ago...I'm just trying to figure out what the motivation would have been?
Certainly Eddie's quote a few years ago about them not having spoken in years garnered quite a bit of publicity, but there was seemingly never any attempt to capitalise on it.
I didn't mind L and L, not the greatest, but amusing
Canon and Ball I found abysmally, embarrassingly unfunny, yet they've no doubt make a packet out of it and have big houses etc
Same with chuckle brothers
I don't recall Eric being seemingly completely terrified of giving Ernie a line because he knew he'd bugger it up. Ernie Wise was a tremendously talented and generous performer. In the clip I posted, Syd seems virtually incapable of doing anything. He has about 7 short lines and fails to hit the mark on the majority of them.
If a straight man's main job is to make his partner seem funnier, Ernie pulled that off with aplomb. All Syd Little succeeded in doing was making people wonder what he was there for.
While it's certainly true that Eric got the majority of the laughs, that didn't stop Ernie being a recognisable character with his own set of traits that viewers warmed to and were familiar with. When Eric makes a joke at Ernie's expense, we laugh knowing that a. Ernie can give as good as he gets and b. His character is that of a pompous pseudo-intellectual who needs his ego pricking once in a while. When Eddie makes a joke at Syd's expense it resembles nothing more than a brash loudmouth bullying an extremely weak target who neither has the brains or the balls to muster up a comeback.
the humour in Little and Large was the sheer disbelief it triggered that Syd was making a nice living as a comedian, my Dad used to make us roar with laughter with his constant mocking of him, but Syd laughed last :cool:
BIB - you mean after Morcambe and Wise and the Two Ronnies? Little and Large were a little bit crap, in my opinion.
Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies were past their best by the '80s (indeed Morecambe died in 1984) but they were probably still better than Little and Large.
I would say the top comedy double act of the '80s was probably Smith and Jones. Certainly better than Little and Large.
Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies were past their best by the '80s (indeed Morecambe died in 1984) but they were probably still better than Little and Large.
I would say the top comedy double act of the '80s was probably Smith and Jones. Certainly better than Little and Large.
I'd go Fry and Laurie myself. French and Saunders should be in with a shout too along with Smith and Jones.
Little and Large had their niche - early evening 'family' viewing, nothing offensive background telly whilst people are busy making tea, getting ready to go out etc. I'm sure they're very grateful for the time they had and probably can't even themselves explain their popularity.
Everybody 'famous' has their time in the limelight and unless they have a special durability (such as Ant and Dec) or the capacity to successfully reinvent themselves (i.e. Lily Savage/ Paul O' Grady), it's good to recognise when you've passed your best and it's time to move on. Many formerly 'famous' people are possibly very content having given up the fame game and gone on to do something else with their lives. Nothing wrong with that. Fame isn't everything and often comes at a price. More people than we realize are probably happy to let go and return to relative anonymity.
It seems that they're both entertaining people. According to Wikipedia, Syd performs on cruise ships and Eddie is still in showbusness. Syd is 73 and Eddie is 75.
Little and Large had an effective TV slot for their style, that Saturday teatime slot before the "grown up" shows start in the evening. Their humour was a bit weak, but then they weren't aimed at a sophisticated audience!
Double acts are quite a rarity these days. The last 30 years have seen plenty on TV, Smith and Jones, Fry and Laurie, French and Saunders, Hale and Pace, Punt and Dennis, Mitchell and Webb plus others, but I can't think of any recent ones. All the new stand ups are solo performers, maybe the classic straight man, funny man double act will be reinvented!
I didn't mind L and L, not the greatest, but amusing
Canon and Ball I found abysmally, embarrassingly unfunny, yet they've no doubt make a packet out of it and have big houses etc
Same with chuckle brothers
I agree. Little and Large was 'good' telly as far as I am concerned. As you say, not the greatest, but for me they were head and shoulders above Cannon and Ball (Rock On Tommy... I Hate You Tommy.... yawn).
Eddie Large seemed to be a 'naturally' funny man. Okay his impressions weren't going to give Mike Yarwood any sleepless nights but to me he came across as naturally witty and silly, without being ridiculously over the top (see Bobby Ball...)
Everybody 'famous' has their time in the limelight and unless they have a special durability (such as Ant and Dec) or the capacity to successfully reinvent themselves (i.e. Lily Savage/ Paul O' Grady), it's good to recognise when you've passed your best and it's time to move on. Many formerly 'famous' people are possibly very content having given up the fame game and gone on to do something else with their lives. Nothing wrong with that. Fame isn't everything and often comes at a price. More people than we realize are probably happy to let go and return to relative anonymity.
Didn't Ronnie Barker open an antique shop when he decided to retire?
Everybody 'famous' has their time in the limelight and unless they have a special durability (such as Ant and Dec) or the capacity to successfully reinvent themselves (i.e. Lily Savage/ Paul O' Grady), it's good to recognise when you've passed your best and it's time to move on. Many formerly 'famous' people are possibly very content having given up the fame game and gone on to do something else with their lives. Nothing wrong with that. Fame isn't everything and often comes at a price. More people than we realize are probably happy to let go and return to relative anonymity.
Comments
There is little to any footage existing on the net apart from the od xmas episode or Bob Holness joining them to play Status Quo its zero.
Eddie is into golf and supporting Manchester City.
Syd is into model making and music. He takes an interest in Manchester City, but he's a 'supporter' whereas Eddie is a 'fan'.
Syd was in some ways scared of Eddie when they worked together, and they never socialised much. But that's not to say there is a problem between them as such. Eddie had a heart transplant a decade or so ago and Syd came to see him.
There's no 'problem' between them as such, but they're just very different, and always were.
Pretty much as I suspected - and it's like anything else. How many of us would want to socialise with people we spend working with? Many do, but equally many don't and the kind of work they did was longer and more intense than two guys working in an office for example.
Oh, and most of the speculation on this thread comes from interviews the boys themselves gave on TV suggesting an animosity.
I just wonder why, if the claims of animosity were exaggerated by the pair in interviews, what was the aim? I could see perhaps there could have been a bit of money in it down the line if they'd had some sort of Martin & Lewis style emotional reunion, but so far as I can see there's never been any intention and Eddie in particular wants to take it easy these days. They both already put autobiographies out several years ago...I'm just trying to figure out what the motivation would have been?
Certainly Eddie's quote a few years ago about them not having spoken in years garnered quite a bit of publicity, but there was seemingly never any attempt to capitalise on it.
If both were interviewed for an hour and both were critical of each of for 2 minutes of that time, which 2 minutes will producers focus on?
He does the front of house, while his wife does the cooking. A very nice chap, I had a good chat with him on Saturday!
Canon and Ball I found abysmally, embarrassingly unfunny, yet they've no doubt make a packet out of it and have big houses etc
Same with chuckle brothers
the humour in Little and Large was the sheer disbelief it triggered that Syd was making a nice living as a comedian, my Dad used to make us roar with laughter with his constant mocking of him, but Syd laughed last :cool:
I'm not sure. What is Chris Evans' talent?
Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies were past their best by the '80s (indeed Morecambe died in 1984) but they were probably still better than Little and Large.
I would say the top comedy double act of the '80s was probably Smith and Jones. Certainly better than Little and Large.
I'd go Fry and Laurie myself. French and Saunders should be in with a shout too along with Smith and Jones.
Little and Large had their niche - early evening 'family' viewing, nothing offensive background telly whilst people are busy making tea, getting ready to go out etc. I'm sure they're very grateful for the time they had and probably can't even themselves explain their popularity.
Eric Morecambe was asked what Morecambe and Wise would be if they weren't funny.
Eric replied "Mike and Bernie Winters."
Double acts are quite a rarity these days. The last 30 years have seen plenty on TV, Smith and Jones, Fry and Laurie, French and Saunders, Hale and Pace, Punt and Dennis, Mitchell and Webb plus others, but I can't think of any recent ones. All the new stand ups are solo performers, maybe the classic straight man, funny man double act will be reinvented!
I agree. Little and Large was 'good' telly as far as I am concerned. As you say, not the greatest, but for me they were head and shoulders above Cannon and Ball (Rock On Tommy... I Hate You Tommy.... yawn).
Eddie Large seemed to be a 'naturally' funny man. Okay his impressions weren't going to give Mike Yarwood any sleepless nights but to me he came across as naturally witty and silly, without being ridiculously over the top (see Bobby Ball...)
Now that IS funny!
Didn't Ronnie Barker open an antique shop when he decided to retire?
Eddie was in the audience heckling him, getting a few laughs, and Syd invited him up on stage and they went down a treat.
The rest is history.