'What's on Next?' was a quick-fire comedy sketch show which originally went out in the old 'Opportunity Knocks!' slot of 6.45 P.M. on Monday nights. As Gwynplaine F.MacIntyre has noted, it was highly derivative of the hit U.S. show 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In', with comedians poking their heads out of garish sets, uttering corny quips, pulling faces, and disappearing. It scored over its inspiration, however, by not making the comedy topical, although if viewed today would certainly be regarded as 'very '70's'.
The late William Franklyn headed up this pack of jokers, his urbane manner made him a suitable figurehead, rather like Kenneth Horne. His patter would often be interrupted by Anna Dawson, playing a nymphomaniac traffic warden. Sandra Dickinson was the token totty ( replaced by the equally sexy Linda Lou Allen in Season 2 ). Barry Cryer, Bob Todd, and Jim Davidson ( fresh from 'New Faces' ) made up the rest.
In one sketch, a depressed Andonia Katsaros says: "My husband drives me to drink!" to which Dickinson replies: "Your're lucky. I have to walk!". In another, Davidson announced: "I'm a verger!". "If you believe that, you'll believe anything!", said Cryer, dressed as Groucho Marx for a reason which escapes me.
The show also featured ( in its first season, at any road ) regular guest spots from Pam Ayres and Hinge & Bracket. I can recall being baffled by the latter. Were they real women or not? Season 2 saw the show move to an 8.00 slot on Monday nights, and cut down to a slimmer half-hour. With Pam, Dame Hilda and Dr.Evadne gone, it wasn't quite as much fun, but provided a welcome bridge between 'Coronation Street' and 'World In Action'.
Yes, half the jokes were old, the other half hurried. But nobody, least of all the viewers, seemed to care. Rather like the later 'Russ Abbot's Madhouse', 'Next' gave the impression that the cast were enjoying themselves hugely, and making something worthwhile out of very little.
The late William Franklyn headed up this pack of jokers, his urbane manner made him a suitable figurehead, rather like Kenneth Horne. His patter would often be interrupted by Anna Dawson, playing a nymphomaniac traffic warden. Sandra Dickinson was the token totty ( replaced by the equally sexy Linda Lou Allen in Season 2 ). Barry Cryer, Bob Todd, and Jim Davidson ( fresh from 'New Faces' ) made up the rest.
In one sketch, a depressed Andonia Katsaros says: "My husband drives me to drink!" to which Dickinson replies: "Your're lucky. I have to walk!". In another, Davidson announced: "I'm a verger!". "If you believe that, you'll believe anything!", said Cryer, dressed as Groucho Marx for a reason which escapes me.
The show also featured ( in its first season, at any road ) regular guest spots from Pam Ayres and Hinge & Bracket. I can recall being baffled by the latter. Were they real women or not? Season 2 saw the show move to an 8.00 slot on Monday nights, and cut down to a slimmer half-hour. With Pam, Dame Hilda and Dr.Evadne gone, it wasn't quite as much fun, but provided a welcome bridge between 'Coronation Street' and 'World In Action'.
Yes, half the jokes were old, the other half hurried. But nobody, least of all the viewers, seemed to care. Rather like the later 'Russ Abbot's Madhouse', 'Next' gave the impression that the cast were enjoying themselves hugely, and making something worthwhile out of very little.