The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Lifestyle: The Little Waster Makes Good
The north east’s finest flat-capped stand-up, Bobby Thompson, talks about his life in comedy.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Little Waster's monologues are spiced with reference to a past that only the north east fully experienced.' With his trademark tatty woollen gansey, flat cap and Woodbine tab, Bobby Thompson pedalled a comedy of debt, dole and marital war in perfect pitmatic dialect. This insightful TV portrait reveals the roots of his sparkling northern wit, from early life in a Durham pit village to show biz stardom. But the comic genius of this stand-up legend failed to travel south.
This superb Tyne Tees TV documentary was broadcast on the 2nd May 1973 as ‘Wor Bobby’, part of the About Britain series, and in the regional Lifestyle series as ‘The Little Waster Makes Good’ in 1976.
Related
Watch for free
Figures in a Landscape Figures in a Landscape
Documentary 1953 17 mins Silent Location: St Ives
A poetic portrait of sculptor Barbara Hepworth and the otherworldly Cornish landscapes which inspired her.
Watch for free
Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt
Documentary 1984 61 mins
Discover the 'name behind the hairstyle', in this essential portrait of the bard of Salford, aka John Cooper Clarke.
Watch for free
The Scandalous Parson The Scandalous Parson
Comedy 1967 27 mins Location: Belfast
Author of Gulliver's Travels faces trial by television
Watch for free
Dancers Dancers
1978 29 mins
Impressionistic portrait of life as a dancer in London’s Ballet Rambert.
Watch for free
Mona Lisa Mona Lisa
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1983 2 mins
Playful experimental film about one of the most famous, widely reproduced paintings in the world.
Watch for free
Photomontage Today: Peter Kennard Photomontage Today: Peter Kennard
Documentary 1983 35 mins
An analysis of the use of photomontage to distort meaning and create subversive and oppositional art, exemplified by the work of Peter Kennard.
Watch for free
Geordie Jubilee Geordie Jubilee
Promotional 1987 4 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A big Geordie welcome to the north east from comrades at NERIAC.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.