Carry On Laughing which - by contrast - are broadcast regularly on British television. It is also considered much less successful at transferring the established formula to the small screen than the "Carry On Christmas specials". The series was conceived after the departures of two long-serving "Carry On" contributors: writer Talbot Rothwell and actor Charles Hawtrey. Furthermore, Kenneth Williams declined to appear in the series. Other "Carry On" regulars only appeared in a minority of episodes: Sid James in only the first four, Hattie Jacques in only one; and Bernard Bresslaw appeared only in the second series. In the absence of Rothwell, other
Carry On Christmas Specials would go on to script "Carry On Behind", several episodes of the "Carry On Laughing" television series, and was the co-writer of the 1992 film, "Carry On Columbus". Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story "Treasure Island", this episode saw the "Carry on" debut of Wendy Richard, who would go on to have small roles in "Carry On Matron" and "Carry On Girls". Although the 1969 special was broadcast in colour, the 1970 special was shown in black and white due to a technicians' strikes that caused Thames Television to broadcast all their Christmas shows that year in black and