Peter Edward Cook (17 November 1937 – 9 January 1995) was an English comedian, actor, satirist, playwright and screenwriter. He was the leading figure of the British satire boom of the 1960s, and he was associated with the anti-establishment comedic movement that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s.
Born in Torquay, he was educated at the University of Cambridge. There he became involved with the Footlights Club, of which he later became president. After graduating he created the comedy stage revue, Beyond the Fringe, beginning a long-running partnership with Dudley Moore. In 1961, Cook opened the comedy club The Establishment in Soho, Central London. In 1965, Cook and Moore began a television career, beginning with Not Only... But Also. Cook’s deadpan monologues contrasted with Moore’s buffoonery. They received the 1966 British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance. Following the success of the show, the duo appeared together in the films The Wrong Box (1966) and Bedazzled (1967). Cook and Moore returned to television projects continuing to the late 1970s, including co-presenting Saturday Night Live in the United States. From 1978 until his death in 1995, Cook no longer collaborated with Moore, apart from a few cameo appearances but continued to be a regular performer in British television and film.
Referred to as "the father of modern satire" by The Guardian in 2005, Cook was ranked number one in the Comedians' Comedian, a poll of more than 300 comics, comedy writers, producers and directors in the English-speaking world.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to enjoy the humour of Peter Cook & Dudley Moore during the 60's, perhaps because he'd missed out on their TV shows, which weren't shown on the major US networks when he was living there. He played the LP version of one of their sketches on this shows during 1969.
Peter Cook was also involved with Private Eye. At the time when Peel was a fashionable media figure, Peter Cook parodied him, and his interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the 11 December 1968 Night Ride, on The Loneliness of the Long-Playing Record, a Christmas record given away free with the seasonal issue of the magazine (See the Peel Wiki page on Private Eye for a transcript.). On his 22 January 1969 show, Peel mentioned Peter Cook was on Cilla Black show tonight doing a parody of him. He also said Cilla Black asked why he didn't play her records, which he replied he did, but turned the volume down as silence was beautiful.
Shows Played[]
- 16 April 1969: The Ravens (LP - Not Only Peter Cook... But Also Dudley Moore) Decca
- 07 May 1969: Tramponuns (LP - Not Only Peter Cook... But Also Dudley Moore) Decca