Clarence (UK TV series) Kingdom. Clarence (UK TV series) Clarence is a 1988 BBC situation comedy starring Ronnie Barker and Josephine Tewson, written by Ronnie Barker under the pseudonym "Bob Ferris" as an acknowledgement to Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, creators of "Porridge". It was Barker's final sitcom appearance before his retirement. Barker had previously faced some criticism over his employment of a stammer for comedic effect in "Open All Hours". However, the slapstick potential of a short-sighted furniture shifter must have seemed irresistible. The series was inspired by "The Removals Person" by Hugh Leonard, an episode in the 1971 LWT comedy anthology
Ronnie Barker Barker starred alongside Cleese and Corbett in "The Frost Report"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s best known sketch, which satirised the British class system, with Barker representing the middle class. After the first series, the special "Frost Over England" was produced, winning the Golden Rose at the Montreux Television Festival. With a second series of the show announced, Frost, recognising their potential, signed both Barker and Corbett up to his production company David Paradine Productions. As part of the deal Barker was given his own show in 1968, "The Ronnie Barker Playhouse", which comprised six separate, thirty-minute plays. Barker starred in each piece as a