andy eastwood on bbc4
Andy and Frank Skinner discuss George Formby
Our very own Andy Eastwood appeared on BBC Four last night (18 April
2020) together with another familiar face, well-known comedian and TV
personality, Frank Skinner. They both featured in episode two of a three-part
series on British Variety artists entitled, "What A Performance! Pioneers of
Popular Entertainment" which of course just had to include George Formby.
Andy and Frank met up at the world-famous City Varieties theatre in the
centre of Leeds where Andy was appearing at the time.
They discussed George Formby and played a solo from "Leaning on a Lamp Post."
Andy is always great value and whilst he is a brilliant entertainer and a fantastic
musician, he is also a massive fan of Formby and a great friend of The George
Formby Society.
Although he has such a busy schedule, he will always try to attend at least one
Blackpool convention in the year and whilst he is very successful in his chosen
career, he is still the same Andy that many of us have known over the last thirty
years.
Throughout his career and even before that when he was at Oxford University, Andy
has always given the GFS plenty of good, free publicity and is always welcomed at
the Imperial by all the members.
Frank Skinner, of course, is also such a familiar face within the Society after he
accompanied forty members of the GFS at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in April 2018
when we played in front of a capacity audience of over 5,000 people including HM
the Queen to celebrate her 90th birthday.
This programme was first broadcast in December 2015.
Update 06/03/2026
Andy Eastwood is not only a valued member of the committee of the George
Formby Society, but someone whose many and varied
performances—both at home and abroad—bring great
credit to the Society. One only has to glance at Andy’s
performance diary to realise just how busy he is.
One of those engagements happens to be at a theatre
close to where I live, and I am very much looking
forward to seeing his show at the famous Leeds City
Varieties Music Hall in the centre of Leeds. Andy has
appeared there on numerous occasions over the years.
Also appearing on the bill will be Steve Barclay, a former
member of the George Formby Society who, one never
knows, might perhaps be tempted to rejoin us one of
these days. In addition, the lovely singer Helen Farrell
will be performing, and I look forward—indeed for the
first time—to seeing her on stage.
The performance we will attend takes place on 17 May this year. Three days later I celebrate my birthday, according to Wikipedia! Andy
shares the same birthday, although I hasten to add, not the same birth year.
PP - 06/03/2026