Barker had been a leading comic writer and actor for over 30 years and created some of the most memorable characters seen on British television. The man behind Fletcher, Arkwright, and dozens of others comes across as a shy, self-contained and un-showbizzy man, who nevertheless knew the scale of his own talent. David Jason provides a touching introduction--he always called Barker "guv'nor" and was particularly moved that Barker said when he retired, "you're the guv'nor now"--and Ronnie Corbett recalls his sadness at the ending of their partnership. "But I'd done everything I wanted to do", said Barker, "I had no ambition left". And while this gently absorbing book reminds us of what we are missing, it equally depicts a man enjoying a tranquil retirement, a simple pleasure denied to so many other comic heroes.--Nick Wroe

I've given it an extra star because it included the text of the "Four Candles/Fork Handles sketch" otherwise it's only worthy of one star.