After six years without a regular television show in the United Kingdom (though he had hosted a one-off UK version of "The Gong Show" for Channel 4, which was critically panned and was not commissioned for a full series), Howerd returned to TV screens in 1987 in the Channel 4 show "Superfrank!", scripted by Miles Tredinnick and Vince Powell. In the last years of his career, Howerd developed a following with student audiences and performed a one-man show at universities and in small theatrical venues. He was also a regular and popular guest on the late night BBC Radio 1 programme "Into the Night", hosted by Nicky Campbell.