James Maynard Kitchener Lampwick

Emery's favourite character [Ed - mine too!]. In fact he wrote that Lampwick was probably himself at a more advanced age. Since 1963 Emery had enjoyed success on BBC television in a series of shows featuring quick sketches and musical interludes. But he was frustrated that he hadn't had the opportunity to develop his many characters beyond the sketch format. Then, in 1970, he finally got the chance to star in a 50-minute special called 'Dick Emery's Grand Prix'. The storyline concerned Emery's character, Lampwick, as an ageing motor ace determined to win one more race before retiring.

The programme enabled Emery to change the format of his shows from then on as he proved that not only were his characters sustainable beyond the quick-fire sketch, but also what an accomplished character actor Dick Emery actually was. From that show on, the musical numbers were dropped and more lengthy character sketches were put in to each show: "So now you see why I feel a debt of gratitude to the old boy!" He wrote. "In spite of his cunning streak, Lampwick is endearingly straight forward and British in the old-fashioned sense. If he saw injustice he would not hesitate to put his fists up and 'have a go', clucking away all the while and choking in the attempt to give vent to his indignation." To achieve the appearance of Lampwick, Emery's hair was ruffled up, he wore 'Lampwick specs' and moustache, a little whitening round the eyes and some shading on the cheeks and forehead to make his face look older and more drawn.