From Rags to Gags: The Memoirs of a Comedy Writer [Hardcover]

Vince's story, 'From Rags to Gags', is a breathtaking account of the teeming imagination, way with words and capacity for sheer bloody hard work involved in producing hit after hit. I had to read it lying down. --Michael Aspel OBE, Journalist/TV Presenter

This excellent book, written by a master of his craft, will guide you through the months and years of sweat and tears as Vince Powell honed his immaculate comic timing. --Sir Donald Sinden CBE, Actor

This book is an engaging glimpse of a life dedicated to laughter. --Nottingham Evening Post

During the early 70 s, often referred to as The Golden Years of Television Comedy, many television situation comedies, all written by Vince Powell and his late partner Harry Driver, appeared regularly in the top ten TV ratings and were watched by up to 16 million or more viewers shows such as George & the Dragon, Never mind the Quality Feel the Width, Bless This House, Nearest & Dearest, For the Love of Ada and Spring & Autumn. Harry Driver had been struck down by polio at the start of their writing partnership and spent most of his life in a wheelchair. After his death in 1973 Vince carried on writing alone to write more successful TV programmes including Surprise Surprise, Blind Date, Mind Your Language, A Sharp Intake of Breath, Never the Twain and Young at Heart. During his long career Vince met, and became friends with many of the stars he worked with including Sid James, Arthur Lowe, Tommy Cooper, David Niven, Michael Aspel, Sir David Jason, Morecambe & Wise, Bruce Forsyth, Cilla Black, Sir Donald Sinden and Sir John Mills, all of whom you will meet within the pages of his autobiography.

Vince Powell is regarded as one of the Godfathers of British situation comedy and has created and written some of the most successful television sitcoms in TV history. Vince began his career as one of the original writing team for 'Coronation Street', television's most famous soap, now in its 48th year. However, it is with TV sitcoms that he is chiefly associated. Vince created and wrote such highly popular and successful series such as 'Here's Harry' (Harry Worth), 'George & The Dragon' (Sid James and Peggy Mount), 'Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width', 'Spring & Autumn' (Jimmy Jewel), 'For the Love of Ada' (Wilfred Pickles and Irene Handl), 'Nearest & Dearest' (Hylda Baker and Jimmy Jewel), 'Bless This House' (Sid James), 'Love Thy Neighbour', 'Surprise Surprise' & 'Blind Date' (Cilla Black), 'Mind Your Language', 'Never The Twain' (Sir Donald Sinden and Windsor Davies), and 'Young at Heart' (Sir John Mills).