More Than Likely cover art

More Than Likely

A Memoir

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More Than Likely

By: Dick Clement, Ian le Frenais
Narrated by: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
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About this listen

 Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are the creators of some of British television's most beloved comedies. Essex-born Clement teamed up with Geordie insurance salesman La Frenais in the early 1960s and scripted a series about two young pals from Newcastle, The Likely Lads, which became one of BBC Two's first hits. The duo went on to create the classic sitcoms Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Porridge starring Ronnie Barker, and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Together and separately they have worked as writers and script editors for some of the most famous TV programmes ever made, and with stellar performers that include Billy Connolly and Tracey Ullman. Clement and La Frenais have been partners for more than five decades: longer than Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan, Laurel and Hardy, and Morecambe and Wise. Their career has covered writing, directing and producing for movies and the theatre as well as for television. They have written comedy set in factories, prisons and building sites; drama set in shabby London streets and the corridors of power; musicals about bands coming together and bands breaking apart. Along the way they have had some memorable encounters with movie stars like Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and Marlon Brando; and with poets, prima donnas, politicians and rock stars. This is their story.

(p) Orion Publishing Group 2019 Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Screenwriting Entertainment Celebrity Comedy Memoir Funny

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Critic reviews

Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are responsible for making a lot of people laugh a lot. Their writing track record is up there with the very best ... riveting .... the book is a tribute to the breadth and range of their impact - and how much fun they have had in the process (Sarah Crompton)
Witty, deft, highly consumable, sporadically revealing ... vivid and amusing ... It's good and gossipy, but they sneak in all sorts of smart observations about showbiz ... There's a joy, certainly, to joining them at - or within a short stride from - the high table of television and film ... their clarity and understated wit throughout explains why they are still much in demand (Dominic Maxwell)
Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have brought a smile to the face of the nation for the best part of six decades ... More Than Likely is a matey stroll down memory lane in which they separately, and jointly, recall past glories and the famous faces who have crossed their paths ... More Than Likely is an entertaining read full of sharp-eyed nostalgia, star-studded anecdotes and an affection for the good and bad times of a lifetime in the storytelling business (Allan Hunter)
Clement and La Frenais' book will tickle anyone who loves comedy and relishes gossipy stories about cultural icons of yore ... The book's index reads like a who's who of showbusiness. Over the course of six decades, Clement and La Frenais encountered everyone from Ava Gardner and Richard Burton to Peter Cook an Dudley Moore via the rude and foul-mouthed Michael Winner. Their career has been a crazy ride and it makes for a thoroughly entertaining read (Garry Bushell)
The writers of Porridge, The Likely Lads, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, The Commitments and Lovejoy take a stroll down memory lane, recalling past glories and the many famous faces to cross their paths. There are fond tales of Ronnie Barker, Bill Nighy and Hollywood greats from Marlon Brando to Ava Gardner. This is a light-hearted entertaining and nostalgic memoir
Fascinating insights into some of the actors they have worked with over the years, including Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale and James Bolam
More Than Likely brings to life with flair and humour the people that inspired them ... Memorable encounters include Hollywood stars like Richard Burton, Michael Caine, Ava Gardner, Sean Connery and Daniel Craig
All stars
Most relevant
Can’t believe I put this off cause some of the reviews said it’s not edited very well (theirs a few hiccups but not many)
Proper enjoyed it, loads of little stories off two decent blokes, who made it without getting to big for their boots.
Anyone who writes Likely Lads, Porridge an Auf Wedersien deserves a listen an you won’t be disappointed.

I’d give you a can 🍺 but I’ve only got 6 left 😉

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You know its a good book when your sad that you've reached the end of it

Superb

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That the lads were such a large part of what was going on in Hollywood and other locals. I always assumed they were hanging around up in Sunderland thinking of new characters and stories to tell, just 6,000 miles offside in the end. Great to hear Dick and Ian riffing at times, though that's probably the wrong term. If you enjoyed their work onscreen, then you'll enjoy this immensely.

I never knew

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I really couldn't put this book down. so interesting and well-written. brought back some childhood memories

brilliant Reed

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The authors are legends and deliver a fun and cheeky book sharing their stories of film and TV writing. They've worked with them all!! My only complaint is as a big Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen Pet fan I would have like a little more on those masterpieces. Great listen and actually very motivating as they talk of success and failure very openly. Excellent.

Great background stories to some of out best known films and TV

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