General Chat

I thought he was hysterical and I didn't watch the programme simply because I didn't want to see him denigrated - there's a statue of him erected in Caerphilly a few miles up the road from me - he was a genius

Sharron, your interpretation is spot-on. Dove was the most warm-hearted, loyal woman.

I must say that I too found his stage humour old-fashioned and childlike but I recognised his skill in getting laughs out of material that should have made people groan. In private, he was far funnier because he could drop the stage persona of the bumbling clown.

I didn't find Tommy Cooper funny but felt that was no reason to dislike him.

Any reports I had ever seen about his wife, Dove, had always portrayed her as a harridan and he as a womanizer, and who could blame him?

This programme showed Dove from a very different angle. She was, quite evidently, a strong, intelligent woman, faced with a lot of important decisions, who did the best she could for her family.

She was needed by her children at home and her husband on tour.

I liked the woman she was portrayed to be.

His daughter didn't like it either:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608922/Tommy-Coopers-daughter-Vicky-blasts-film-makers-cashing-memory-controversial-new-film-life-depicts-star-alcoholic-wife-beater.html

Perhaps you ought to write to the Producers, or one of the 'Feedback' programmes?? Unfortunately 'good news' doesn't sell a programme. :-0

Paul I enjoyed the program but am well aware that there are 2 sides to every story was never a fan of his I never got his humour at all, but if it was true that he never forgot his roots and still worked the clubs even when he could just do TV for that I admire him. I remember seeing his death on TV and saying to my mum see I don't think that is funny unbeknown to us he had died.

I do believe drama was based on Mary's book don't know if that is correct.

I was Tom Junior's best friend from the ages of 9 to 19. I spent much of my time with the family at their home in Chiswick and their cottage in Eastbourne. I was treated as a member of the family and have a wealth of happy memories.

Both Tommy and Dove treated me almost like a second son, so I was thoroughly disheartened to see them portrayed in such an unfavourable light. Tommy's undershot jaw gave him a speech impediment that made his speech seem slurred, which many mistook for drunkenness. He had an absolute rule that he would never drink before a performance and despised artists who did so.

As for his implied meanness, that could not be further from the truth. His generosity was such that he would often buy everybody in the bar a drink, strangers included. Anybody watching the drama would wonder why such a repellent figure would be attractive to women. In fact he was a powerful, confident, charismatic man whose conversations were engaging, articulate and informed.

He also had a taste for dirty jokes, even though none of them got into his act.

As a wartime Guardsman and a black belt in Judo he could certainly handle himself, but violence towards women was simply inconceivable. Unfortunately this drama left out all the wonderful things about him that made those within his orbit as devoted as his many fans.