Richard Michael Hills (17 January 1926 – 6 June 1996) and Sidney Green (24 January 1928 – 15 March 1999),Denis Giffor

''The Independent'', 17 March 1999 informally known as Sid Green and Dick Hills, were a British partnership of television comedy writers, at their highest profile during the 1960s. They both attended Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham Boys Grammar School in south-east London. They were both school captains, Hills in 1943 and Green in 1945. Richard returned to the school as a teacher of English, Latin and French. They co-wrote a number of radio scripts whilst Hills was still employed there, and then became writers for Dave King's radio show and then of Dave King's TV show. In the early days not having an office, they wrote together for hours in the Lyons Tea Rooms in Forest Hill SE London where the staff kept them supplied with drink and food for which they paid at the end of the day. Hills and Green created (with star

Anthony Newley Anthony Newley (24 September 1931 – 14 April 1999) was an English actor, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker. A "latter-day British Al Jolson", he achieved widespread success in song, and on stage and screen. "One of Broadway's greatest leading ...

) and wrote the six-part surreal comedy series ''

The Strange World of Gurney Slade ''The Strange World of Gurney Slade'' is a surreal six-part British television comedy series devised by Anthony Newley and made by ATV, first transmitted by the ITV network between 22 October and 26 November 1960. Newley devised the central con ...

'' (1960). In 1961 they wrote the ITV sitcom ''

Winning Widows ''Winning Widows'' is a British television sitcom which first aired on ITV between 1961 and 1962.Rhodes & Westwood p.200 It stars Peggy Mount and Avice Landone as Martha and Mildred, two widowed sisters who move in together. Other actors who appe ...

'' for

Peggy Mount Margaret Rose Mount OBE (2 May 1915 – 13 November 2001) was an English actress. As a child, she found acting an escape from an unhappy home life. After playing in amateur productions, she was taken on by a repertory company and spent nine yea ...

. The partnership also wrote for such performers as

Roy Castle Roy Castle (31 August 1932 – 2 September 1994) was an English dancer, singer, comedian, actor, television presenter and musician. In addition to being an accomplished jazz trumpet player, he could play many other instruments. Following a vers ...

and

Frankie Howerd Francis Alick Howard (6 March 1917 – 19 April 1992), better known by his stage-name Frankie Howerd, was an English actor and comedian. Early life Howerd was born the son of soldier Francis Alfred William (1887–1934)England & Wales, Deat ...

, but their best-remembered collaboration was with the comedy double act

Eric Morecambe John Eric Bartholomew, (14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984), known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's de ...

and

Ernie Wise Ernest Wiseman, (27 November 1925 – 21 March 1999), known by his stage name Ernie Wise, was an English comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, who became a national institution on British television, especially ...

on the ATV show '' Two of a Kind'' (1962–66), and the comedians' first colour

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series in 1968. Hills and Green also played supporting roles in various sketches in the series. Hills and Green were involved in the writing of the three cinema films made by

Morecambe and Wise Eric Morecambe (John Eric Bartholomew, 14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984) and Ernie Wise (Ernest Wiseman, 27 November 1925 – 21 March 1999), known as Morecambe and Wise (and sometimes as Eric and Ernie), were an English comic double act, working i ...

in the 1960s: ''

The Intelligence Men ''The Intelligence Men'' is a 1965 comedy film starring the British comic duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. In the US, it was retitled ''Spylarks''. It is subtitled " M.I.5 plus 2 equals 0". The film was successful enough to enable Morecambe a ...

'' (1965) (in which they also had cameo roles), ''

That Riviera Touch ''That Riviera Touch'' is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. It is the second feature-length film made by the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise. The film opened at the Leicester Square Thea ...

'' (1966), and ''

The Magnificent Two ''The Magnificent Two'' is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Morecambe and Wise in the third and final of their 1960s trio of films. Plot Two British Action Man travelling salesmen are sent to the South American co ...

'' (1967). After nearly 10 years writing for Morecambe and Wise, Green and Hills signed an exclusive contract writing for ATV around 1968, and their professional relationship with Morecambe and Wise ended.Obituary: Sid Green
''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 16 March 1999 After their two-year contract ended, the two writers attempted to try to break into the US TV market with Green and Hills writing for

Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known as the host of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson received six Pr ...

. Green alone wrote for ''

The Don Knotts Show ''The Don Knotts Show'' was a variety program aired by NBC as part of its 1970-71 lineup.Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows'' Long relegated to the role of sidekick, which he had portr ...

'' (1970–71) in Los Angeles, although

Don Knotts Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on ''The Andy Griffith Show'', a 1960s sitcom for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He also ...

did not initially use any of Green's material. Green and Hills also wrote and starred in their own show, ''Those Two Fellers'' (1967) for the ITV contractor

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

. In the US, Green and Hills wrote for a number of American comedians, including the Flip Wilson show, for which they were nominated for an Emmy Award. When Hills' son Mark became eligible for the US draft in the 1970s, Hills moved his family back to Britain and the men's partnership broke up. Green remained in the US writing for Johnny Carson,

Bill Cosby William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...

and others, but still contributed to British television. Green created the sitcom '' Mixed Blessings'' (1978–80) and wrote some episodes of it. Hills continued to write for light entertainment shows in the UK during the 1980s. During the early eighties they wrote for the British double act Cannon and Ball, occasionally recycling material that had been used for Morecambe and Wise in the sixties.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hills, Dick and Green, Sid British comedy duos Screenwriting duos British comedy writers Morecambe and Wise 20th-century British comedians