Ronnie Barker television break with the satirical sketch series "The Frost Report" in 1966, where he met future collaborator, Ronnie Corbett. He joined David Frost's production company and starred in ITV shows including a short film. After rejoining the BBC, Barker found fame with the sketch show "The Two Ronnies" (1971–1987), with Ronnie Corbett. He starred in the sitcoms "Porridge", its sequel "Going Straight" and "Open All Hours". He wrote comedy under his own name, though for much of his written material after 1968 he adopted pseudonyms (including "Gerald Wiley") to avoid pre-judgments of his writing talent. He won a BAFTA for
Ronnie Barker 1978 the two performed a stage version of the show at the London Palladium; lasting for three months, it followed the same format as the show, with old sketches and some new material, supported by variety acts. Barker's unease with appearing as himself in the stage show led him to create a fictionalised version of himself to play instead. A second stage series took place in 1983. Barker was reportedly offended by a sketch called 'The Two Ninnies' on the BBC's "Not the Nine O'Clock News", which mocked their act as being based on dated innuendo-based humour. After a tip-off