Shaun Hutson was the co-writer of James Whale's 2007 autobiography, "Almost A Celebrity: A Lifetime Of Night-Time".
Credited as "James Whale with Shaun Hutson", James notes in the acknowledgements: "many thanks to Shaun Hutson and his wife Belinda for making the book happen".
Credited as "James Whale with Shaun Hutson", James notes in the acknowledgements: "many thanks to Shaun Hutson and his wife Belinda for making the book happen".
James Whale's autobiographical memories aren't always reliable, with him getting dates and events muddled in the telling. In "Almost A Celebrity" he recalls that Jerry Sadowitz's impression of Tommy Cooper having a heart attack took place "the week after" Tommy's death, despite the fact that Tommy actually died in April 1984.
James did state that complaints were received, noting: "Within minutes of him completing the impression, our switchboard was jammed with callers howling that Jerry, his act and my show were in bad taste and should be taken off the air. We had more than four hundred calls of complaint from the Tommy Cooper Appreciation Society alone."
James did state that complaints were received, noting: "Within minutes of him completing the impression, our switchboard was jammed with callers howling that Jerry, his act and my show were in bad taste and should be taken off the air. We had more than four hundred calls of complaint from the Tommy Cooper Appreciation Society alone."
Michael Balfour is a rare example of a guest receiving an onscreen credit.
Although all the guests on the series are introduced by name, the end credits for every edition feature only James and the production crew. Yet Balfour's name appears onscreen during the location visit for Revenge of Billy the Kid (1991).
Although all the guests on the series are introduced by name, the end credits for every edition feature only James and the production crew. Yet Balfour's name appears onscreen during the location visit for Revenge of Billy the Kid (1991).