Comments
This brought back the happiness and laughter that he gave me in the 1970s and now I want my children to hear and love him too. Please repeat it on BBC Two.
Janet Sloss, Tetbury
Great programme about Jake Thackray. I know BBC Four can't broadcast such wonderful recherché stuff all the time, but that's the sort of template programme it needs to aim for. There's a marvellous BBC archive of richnesses like this, still to be explored. Now, any chance of these great programmes being on a bit earlier in the evening when TV on all the other channels is rubbish? Why is all the good stuff on so late? There seems to be an unwritten (or maybe it's written) law that anything before 9pm has to be bland, shallow pap.
Andrew Goldie, London
What a wonderful show. Jake was an absolute master of his craft, and is sorely missed. Don't keep the archived material to yourselves BBC, please reshow what you've got; better yet release (or allow to be released) a DVD of it. While you're at it, please repeat this documentary and the following programme on BBC One or BBC Two, so they can be seen by the much wider audience they deserve.
Chris Sunderland, Harrow
What a fabulous pair of programmes - I have been humming his tunes ever since. They had been lying dormant in my memory but it took only 90 minutes to bring the memories, tunes and poetry flooding back. A good friend of ours, who loves Jake's music as much as we do, missed the programmes. Please, please repeat them on BBC One or BBC Two and release a DVD - I'm certain it would be a big seller.
Sheila Broom, Norwich
I thoroughly enjoyed your 'Jake on the Box' night. I discovered Jake Thackray through it, and I have gone on to spend money on the man's music. I highly recommend a repeat, a release, and a scouring of the archives. Thanks.
Andrew Goldie, London
Many thanks to BBC Four for putting together this miscellany of Jake Thackray's work. Nobody holds a candle to Jake in his unique (and I use that word advisedly) approach to chanson-style performance. A whole new generation is coming along who would benefit from seeing and listening to this great master. Whilst I realise that the sound and vision quality of some of his early TV recordings may be slightly below par in today's terms, that can not detract from the enjoyment of Jake's songs.
Peter Lakin, Cymmer
Many thanks for showing these two programmes. It's time Jake was rediscovered. After all, he's Yorkshire's Noel Coward, one of the great comedy singer-songwriters, witty, original, poetic.
Roger Hundleby, Lincoln
Thoroughly enjoyed this documentary about Jake Thackray. I had never heard of him and had no knowledge of his work and his unusual position as an English language singer/songwriter who took inspiration from the continental troubadour and chanson traditions. I have been inspired to find out more about his work.
Ailsa Barnaby, Edinburgh
Full marks to BBC Four for the biography and songs of our much-missed genius (although he himself would not like that description). Is there a move to show it on BBC Two, so the larger proportion of the country can reacquaint themselves with all his astonishing works?
Chris Critchley
Congratulations on two super programmes about Jake Thackray. The biography was gentle and affectionate yet informative and did not suffer from the fragmentation that similar programmes sometimes seem to. Most songs were shown in their entirety, thus ensuring that the comedy and irony remained intact. Jake was perhaps at times an unwilling performer who seemed modest and largely unaware of his huge talent and the degree to which he was loved by the public. I never got to see him live but your two programmes helped to redress that omission on my part. I'm certain that such programmes would be welcomed by a wider (BBC One?) audience.
Jackie Humphreys, Worthing
Great to see the late, great Jake Thackray being recognized by the Beeb. There's clearly a great deal of footage in the archives; it's surprising that the corporation's commercial arm hasn't released any of it to Jake's adoring public. Hopefully this transmission will eventually turn up on one of the non-digital channels as not everyone is, as yet, able to receive BBC Four (the poor unfortunates!)
Hugh Williams, Deeside
I'm not usually driven to comment, but this was enthralling, well thought out, and an amazing introduction to an artist I'd not heard of. Huge congratulations to the production team, and to BBC Four. An early repeat on BBC Two would be just great.
Phil Frances, Scunthorpe
Brilliant! Please show more of this understated, underestimated, fantastic singer/songwriter. Great to hear Jake back on our airwaves: people think he just sang silly songs for That's Life! - how wrong can they be? He was such a clever and talented writer/composer and singer of satirical songs, not to mention a fantastic guitar player to boot. Fantastic stuff, BBC - can we have some more please?
James Reed, St. Andrews
This extremely fine programme about the greatest singer/songwriter produced by the UK in the second half of the 20th century went a very long way towards reinstating the great Jake Thackray in his pre-eminent position. Please repeat it on a far more widely-viewed channel (BBC Two?) as soon as possible.
Linda Watson, Scarborough
I thought that these two programmes actually gave a fascinating view into the world that was Jake Thackray. Thank you very much for paying tribute to one of the cleverest songwriters and individual performers I have had the pleasure of seeing and being able to enjoy. The style, musical ability and the quality of his song/stories have brought both my late parents and myself great happiness and laughter. Your programme brought all those memories back and his songs have stood the test of time very well. The term troubadour suited his performance style perfectly.
Chris MacGregor, Birmingham
Many thanks to BBC Four for the excellent pair of programmes on Jake's life and works. I saw Jake play on several occasions in the 80s and although he's not with us any more, it's wonderful to see him finally getting the exposure he deserves. Please give the non-digital citizens of the UK a treat by airing it on Beeb One or Two ! They'll thank you for it.
Malcolm Jeffrey, Stourbridge
This programme has been long overdue and it was just amazing to see Jake perform: as a thirtysomething I have only enjoyed his genius via audio recordings. Jake has always possessed this enigmatic persona which makes him all the more fascinating. I was glued to the TV for an hour-and-a-half. Jake deserves a larger audience: please, please, please carry this programme and more of his work over to BBC One or Two.
Many thanks.
Becky Escott, Plymouth
Fantastic to see the programmes about Jake Thackray last night. Could we have more of him, and could the documentary get an airing on BBC2 now? Wonderful programme about a wonderful artist.
Paul Thompson, Warrington
I must say what a delight the programme was last night. Jake is the unsung hero of British song-writers, known by everyone over 40 years of age to some degree, songs sung in every folk club several times a year, and a growing number of young people catching on to his talent. It would be smashing if the BBC could broadcast the 'Jake Thackray and Songs' six-part TV series which is in the vaults - and excerpts shown last night. It would get an even bigger audience than the commissioned documentary last night and would gain the interest of the fans of each of the six guests who appeared one at a time on each episode. Now that would be a great public service!
Phil, Wallasey
A real joy to see footage of this sadly under-rated singer/songwriter. Jake's songs are so witty and cleverly constructed both in terms of lyrics and his guitar playing. I hope you will be repeating this on BBC Two at some stage for the benefit of a wider audience. It would also be great to see the six-part series you made with Jake in 1980s, Jake Thackray and Songs. Unfortunately I've never seen it but it is the stuff of legend among Jake's fans, who are still growing in number!
Joe Caprani, Cambridge
Your programmes on Jake Thackray were much-overdue and a wonderful tribute to a fascinating original in British music. I would love to see BBC Four extend the theme to cover the work of distinctively English artists such as Robyn Hitchcock and Luke Haines. (They could be covered in a manner akin to your fine documentaries on Ivor Cutler, John Martyn & Mark E Smith, in the past) I feel the audience for the Thackray programmes would be intrigued to hear about these still-active originals.
Tom May, Sunderland
Thank you BBC Four for this enjoyable and insightful programme. Jake is sadly missed by a dedicated following of fans who remember with affection many of the TV performances from which this programme was compiled. What a treat!
Graham Laws, Chesterfield
Wonderful to see Jake on TV again - it's been too long! It's a mystery to me that such an original talent can have been so ignored in the last 20 years or so - many thanks for taking the first step in righting that wrong. It was a terrific documentary, well researched and full of insight - congratulations to all involved. Both programmes deserve a wider audience, and, while you're at it, how about a re-run of the Jake Thackray and Songs series - the footage in the programmes has really whetted the appetite!
Jamie McCoan, Slough
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