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 Columbus Carry On star, not a Carry On bit player". The producers managed to persuade a number of alternative comedians such as Peter Richardson, Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Julian Clary and Nigel Planer, all of whom except Clary are from the Comic Strip, to appear in the film. This was the last film that Gerald Thomas directed, as he died on 9 November 1993. Interiors: Exteriors: The film was panned by many critics. Michael Dwyer in "The Irish Times" described "Carry on Columbus" as a "flaccid, feeble comeback effort" and a "wretched and pathetic attempt which is singularly unfunny". However, "Carry