Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor is one of the finest after-dinner speakers of his generation, entertaining audiences the length of the country with tales from the greats of British Comedy. Interspersing impeccably develivered comedic routines with anecdotes of a 45-year career in television and light entertainment, Rod will ensure that your guests enjoy an after-dinner experience that they will talk about for years.

Rod’s career in television began with Granada Television in 1964 after graduating with an honours degree in law and at the age of 23 he became the company’s youngest producer.

Rod remained with Granada for eight years, becoming responsible for many of the company’s most successful local and children’s programmes. In 1972 he moved into theatre working with artistes such as Ken Dodd, Vince Hill , Mike Yarwood, Bruce Forsyth and Billy Connolly.

In 1977 Rod returned to Granada and produced his first series with Paul Daniels and shows with guests including Roy Orbison, The Four Tops, Sacha Distel, Michel Legrand and many others.

In 1980, Rod went freelance and produced his first BBC programme, the story of the famous Batley Variety Club, receiving a BAFTA nomination. At the advent of Channel 4 and over the next 15 years he produced and directed entertainment shows for all four terrestrial channels, including Roy Hudd’s Halls of Fame (BBC 1), David Essex Showcase (BBC 1), By Royal Command (BBC 1), Mike Harding in Belfast (BBC 2), The London Palladium’s 80th Birthday Show (ITV), Telethon ’88 (ITV), The Other Side Of The Tracks (3 Series, Channel 4), the award winning Motown Story (Channel 4) and Phillip Schofield’s Gold (BBC and ITV).

Rod’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the British comedy scene led him to compile a definitive reference work on the subject , the Guinness Book of Sitcoms.