Following the success of the 1979 show and the financial benefits accruing to Amnesty from the spin-off movie, TV special and record albums – Cleese, Lewis and Walker planned the next show to be a more spectacular event. Cleese focused on broadening the comedic talent to be presented at the show. In addition to the Amnesty show stalwarts drawn from the Oxbridge/Monty Python/Beyond The Fringe orbit, he invited newcomers such as Rowan Atkinson’s colleagues from the BBC TV show Not the Nine O'Clock News including Pamela Stephenson and Griff Rhys Jones; comedian Victoria Wood and regional comic Jasper Carrott. Lewis secured a return appearance by Billy Connolly and a debut appearance by "alternative" comedian Alexei Sayle who Lewis had recently discovered and was managing. Building on the success of Pete Townshend's 1979 appearance Lewis recruited other rock musicians to perform at the 1981 show including Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Donovan and Bob Geldof.
Credits
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Billy Connolly
He was 39, now 82 years old
|
as Himself |
|
John Cleese
He was 42, now 85 years old
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Alan Bennett
He was 48, now 90 years old
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Rowan Atkinson
He was 27, now 69 years old
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Barry Humphries
He was 48, now 90 years old
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Graham Chapman
He was 41, 48 years old when he died
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Eric Clapton
He was 37, now 79 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Jeff Beck
He was 38, now 80 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Peter Cook
He was 44, 57 years old when he died
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Michael Palin
He was 39, now 81 years old
|
as Himself - Various Roles |
|
Sheena Easton
She was 23, now 65 years old
|
as The Secret Policeman Choir |
|
David Rappaport
He was 30, 38 years old when he died
|
as Various Roles |
|
Phil Collins
He was 31, now 73 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Bob Geldof
He was 30, now 73 years old
|
as Himself |
|
The Police
was 5, now 47 years old
|
as Himself |
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
Michael Hamlyn as Associate Producer. |
Production |
|
Martin Lewis as Producer. He was 101 (80) years old when He died
|
Production |
|
John Cleese as Assistant Director. He was 42 (now 85) years old
|
Directing |
|
John Cleese as Producer. He was 42 (now 85) years old
|
Production |
|
Oliver Stapleton as Director of Photography. He was 34 (now 76) years old
|
Camera |
|
Chris Munro as Sound Recordist. He was 17 (now 24) years old
|
Sound |
|
Roger Graef as Producer. He was 46 (now 88) years old
|
Production |
