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Comedian and entertainer Bernie Clifton has launched a unique comedy archive in conjunction with Salford University.
Around 500 hours of audio material collected by late BBC producer and scriptwriter Mike Craig donated by his widow Sue will form the basis of the archive.
Craig worked with some of Britain's best known comedy acts, including Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd and Les Dawson, as well as writing and producing more than 1,200 shows for radio and television.
The donated material, originally used for his documentaries and radio programmes on the history of comedy, was donated to the university in the hope that it will be used to educate and entertain.
Salford University's archive and repository team has digitised the tapes, and are now cataloguing and cross-referencing the recordings so they can be accessed by students.
Dr Chris Lee, senior lecturer and film and comedy researcher at the University of Salford, said: “The alma mater of such luminaries as Peter Kay and Jason Manford has brought comedy to a digital level and made ‘logging on’ the new ‘stand up’ as Mike Craig’s choice recordings of the performances and memories of many British comedy greats are now available for comedy fans.”
Clifton will unveil the Mike Craig Comedy Archive with academics from institutions across the country and other guests at Sandbar in Manchester on Thursday 31st May.
The launch forms part of the Sixth International Comedy Conference, organised by Chris Lee, and Dave James of Manchester Metropolitan University, taking place in Manchester from 31st May-1st June.
