14 Facts About Barry Took

Barry Took was an English writer, television presenter and comedian.

Barry Took's decade-and-a-half writing partnership with Marty Feldman led to the television series Bootsie and Snudge, the radio comedy Round the Horne and other projects.

Barry Took is remembered in the UK for presenting Points of View, a BBC Television programme featuring viewers' letters on the BBC's output, and the BBC Radio 4 programme The News Quiz.

The son of a manager at the Danish Bacon Company, Barry Took was born in Victoria Road, Muswell Hill, north London, and lived in Winton Avenue, Bounds Green.

Barry Took attended Stationers School but left at the age of 15.

Barry Took co-wrote Beyond Our Ken for two series with Eric Merriman for BBC Radio before leaving after a disagreement with his fellow writer.

Barry Took returned to the UK in early 1970 and was involved in setting up the BBC series The Goodies, although he had returned to take up the position of Head of Light Entertainment at London Weekend Television.

Barry Took resigned from this position when Stella Richman, his superior and the Director of Programming, was dismissed.

Barry Took was involved in two further television series in support of this initiative, Your Move and Write Away.

In 1977, Barry Took hosted his own comedy sketch show, Barry Took and Co.

Barry Took had seven books published, including his autobiography and several histories of comedy.

Barry Took wrote Kenneth Williams's life story for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography in 1996.

Barry Took spoke publicly about his experiences with depression and of undergoing extensive psychotherapy for several years.

Barry Took died on Easter Sunday 2002, aged 73, in a nursing home in Enfield.