Count Arthur Strong's Radio Shows Quiz

Answer: Steve Delaney

Steve Delaney originally developped the character of Count Arthur while he was at drama school in the 1980s but put him to one side while pursuing his TV acting career in the '80s and '90s. Interestingly, some of Delaney's real TV appearances coincide with some of the many TV appearances the Count claims to have made. Delaney had roles in British TV dramas 'Juliet Bravo' and 'All Creatures Great and Small', both of which Count Arthur regularly reminisces about.

Of the wrong answers, both Peter Serafinowicz and Dave Mountfield have appeared in 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show' while Graham Fellows is another very accomplished character comedian, most famous for his creations John Shuttleworth and Brian Appleton, as well as a short-lived pop career as 'Jilted John'.

Answer: Mark Radcliffe

As well as being an aficionado of many musical genres, particularly folk and indie, Mark Radcliffe is also a keen student of the history of comedy, having presented a number of documentaries on the subject for BBC radio. Since Count Arthur affectionately parodies many of the comedians Radcliffe admires, it is unsurprising that the DJ was so keen to invite the Count to appear regularly on his show.

He has been co-producing 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show' with John Leonard since the very first series.

Answer: Malcolm Titter

Malcolm, who has adopted the stage name 'De Tinsel' though his real surname is 'Titter', appears in at least one episode of every series of 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show'. Although his acting talents seem to leave a lot to be desired, nothing seems to hold him back quite so much as the 'help' of his supposed coach and mentor.

In the episode 'Piccalilli' the Count accidentally poisoned Malcolm with his home-made piccalilli on the day that Malcolm was due to audition for the musical 'Cats', while in the episode 'The Advert' Arthur gatecrashes Malcolm's audition for an advert by pretending to be his grandfather. Malcolm is played by Terry Kilkelly.

Answer: Mel and Sue

Sue Perkins joined the cast for series 2 of 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show' and when she left at the end of series 3 her friend and long-time comedy partner Mel Giedroyc took over her roles from series 4 onwards. The brilliant Mel and Sue have been a fixture on British TV and radio for twenty years, both as a double act and in individual ventures.

As well as their comedy work, Mel and Sue present the very popular cookery show 'The Great British Bake-Off' while Sue Perkins has become a regular presenter on Radio 3. All the wrong answers are also names of wonderful British comedy double acts, Mel Hudson and Vicky Pepperdine starred in 'The Hudson and Pepperdine Show' together on Radio 4 and Rebecca Front and Doon Mackichan have regularly worked together on a number of tv and radio projects over the years while legendary comedy double act French and Saunders should need no introduction to British comedy fans!

Answer: Gerry

Count Arthur visits 'Gerry's Caf' in most episodes of the show, often holding up the queue while he ponders over what to order or regales Gerry with a long and confusing story. Arthur is frequently rude to other customers and resents having to share his table, newspaper or condiments with other patrons.

In one episode 'Alf Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares' he takes over the running of the cafe after Gerry injures himself by falling over a bucket which the Count has absent-mindedly left lying about.

Answer: Barry Cryer

During his long and distinguished career Barry Cryer has written for, and with, some of the most celebrated comedians in the country, including John Cleese and David Frost but has also found the time to appear in a number of tv and radio shows over the years including recent appearances on the popular BBC One comedy panel show 'Would I Lie To You?'.

His best-known and most enduring work has been on the riotously funny and delightfully anarchic radio show 'I'm Sorry I haven't A Clue' in which Barry, along with other 'ISAHAC' veterans Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, are given silly things to do by the show's host. From its debut in 1972 until his death in 2008, the show was hosted by the wonderful and much-missed Humphrey Lyttelton who was ably succeeded in hosting duties by Jack Dee. Barry Cryer appeared in two episodes of 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show', in the series 2 episode 'After Dinner Speech' he asks the Count for help in delivering an address at an important charity event at which the Duke of Edinburgh is to be present and in series 6's 'The Curse of Count Arthur' he and Count Arthur are supposed to be attending a Hammer Horror cast reunion party, if only they can find their invitations!

Answer: Geoffrey

Geoffrey is quiet and mild-mannered and easily bullied by the belligerent Count, with whom he is endlessly patient, no matter how rude Count Arthur is to him!

Answer: Wilf Taylor

Like Gerry and Geoffrey, Wilf is endlessly patient with Count Arthur, despite his rudeness to Wilf's other customers and attempts to cadge freebies from the shop. Wilf also lets Count Arthur do a book-signing in his shop in the first episode of series 1 'Book Signing'. Wilf also takes the Count and their other friends to France for the day in the episode 'Beer Cruise and on a fishing trip in the episode 'Gone Fishing'.

Answer: Sally

Although Sally is friendly with Count Arthur, she refuses to be drawn into most of his schemes and is much more capable of dealing with him than Geoffrey is. She is also the only one of Arthur's friends who ever makes fun of his malapropisms.

Answer: Sony Radio Award

The show won a gold Sony Radio Award for comedy, the most important award a British radio comedy can win. The first episode of series 1 was broadcast in 2005 and series 7 was broadcast in 2012. In 2013 Count Arthur made the transition to TV as so many radio comedies have done before.