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Comic Cook honoured with plaque | Comic Cook honoured with plaque |
(10 minutes later) | |
Comedian Peter Cook has been honoured with the unveiling of a plaque at the central London club he opened, kick-starting the 1960s satire boom. | Comedian Peter Cook has been honoured with the unveiling of a plaque at the central London club he opened, kick-starting the 1960s satire boom. |
Cook - who died in 1995 - became one of the UK's most influential comics of the last 50 years, through his work with Dudley Moore and in Beyond the Fringe. | Cook - who died in 1995 - became one of the UK's most influential comics of the last 50 years, through his work with Dudley Moore and in Beyond the Fringe. |
The Establishment Club, in Soho, was seen as a symbol of swinging London. | The Establishment Club, in Soho, was seen as a symbol of swinging London. |
A Westminster Green Plaque was unveiled at the building by the city council and the Heritage Foundation. | A Westminster Green Plaque was unveiled at the building by the city council and the Heritage Foundation. |
The foundation was set up to pay tribute to key figures in the entertainment world, while raising funds for good causes. | The foundation was set up to pay tribute to key figures in the entertainment world, while raising funds for good causes. |
'Amazing place' | |
Speaking at the unveiling, his first wife Wendy Cook said: "When we met as students at Cambridge this was in his heart and in his mind - a political, satirical nightclub - this is what he wanted to do as an undergraduate. | |
"When it opened everybody wanted to be there, it was an amazing place." | |
Among the stars at the event on Sunday was comedian Barry Cryer. Finally, Peter joins the establishment and goes from being off-the-wall to being on it Ian HislopPrivate Eye | |
"He was brilliant, he was a one-off, he was an amazing man," Cryer said. | |
"He was relentlessly funny, it was amazing, it wore you out. In the end the booze got hold of him and that was very sad. He had a lot more to offer and we lost him too early." | |
His friend would have been very "rude and insulting" about the plaque, he added. | |
Broadcaster and quiz show host Nicholas Parsons said Cook's talent was unique. | |
"He was exceptional, there's no doubt about it," he said. | "He was exceptional, there's no doubt about it," he said. |
"Like a lot of very highly talented people he was always so charming and courteous. I always found him most delightful and engaging, and he had the most amazing mind." | "Like a lot of very highly talented people he was always so charming and courteous. I always found him most delightful and engaging, and he had the most amazing mind." |
'Comedian's comedian' | |
The Establishment Club in Greek Street - now a bar - helped revive the career or Frankie Howerd, as well as introduce Barry Humphries' character Dame Edna Everage to British audiences. | The Establishment Club in Greek Street - now a bar - helped revive the career or Frankie Howerd, as well as introduce Barry Humphries' character Dame Edna Everage to British audiences. |
Cook also stepped in to help satirical magazine Private Eye in 1962, investing his own money and securing support from his showbusiness friends. | Cook also stepped in to help satirical magazine Private Eye in 1962, investing his own money and securing support from his showbusiness friends. |
For a time, it was even produced from the club premises. | For a time, it was even produced from the club premises. |
Current editor Ian Hislop said: "Finally, Peter joins the establishment and goes from being off-the-wall to being on it." | Current editor Ian Hislop said: "Finally, Peter joins the establishment and goes from being off-the-wall to being on it." |
In 2005, Cook was ranked top in a "comedian's comedian" poll, voted for by comics and comedy writers. | In 2005, Cook was ranked top in a "comedian's comedian" poll, voted for by comics and comedy writers. |
The Heritage Foundation's David Graham said the idea for the plaque came from a fan. | |
"We don't appreciate people until we lose them and that's a very British trait," he said. | |
"I remember when Peter died the next day the papers were full of what a great genius he was but why weren't they saying that when he was alive?" |