Ronnie Barker in August 2017 by Ben Elton. Elton's lecture focused on the future of the British sitcom. Ronnie Barker Ronald William George Barker, (25 September 1929 – 3 October 2005) was an English actor, comedian and writer. He was known for roles in British comedy television series such as "Porridge", "The Two Ronnies", and "Open All Hours". Barker began acting in repertory theatre and decided he was best suited to comic roles. He had his first success at the Oxford Playhouse and in roles in the West End including Tom Stoppard's "The Real Inspector Hound". During this period, he was in
Underground (1958 TV play) Underground (1958 TV play) Underground was a science fiction television play presented as part of the British anthology series "Armchair Theatre" which was broadcast live by the ITV commercial network on 30 November 1958. It is chiefly remembered because an actor had a fatal heart attack during transmission. Written by dramatist James Forsyth (1913–2005) the play depicted survivors from a nuclear holocaust living in the London Underground. It featured actors Donald Houston, Ian Curry, Patricia Jessel, Warren Mitchell and 33-year-old Gareth Jones in what would be his last role. A little over halfway through the production, Gareth Jones complained of