A new range of videos have arrived from Granada Video and VCI - Masters of Comedy - boasting the best comedians of the last 50 years. Each volume has been compiled to provide a selection of some of the very best moments from the artist's television career, and to launch the range are undoubtedly two of the best known comedy legends, albeit for different audiences, the unforgettable Frankie Howerd and the irrepressible Bernard Manning.

Masters of Comedy - Frankie Howerd features a collection of greatest moments from one of the nation's favourite performers. His exaggerated expressions and risqué repertoires won him parts in many memorable series including Up Pompeii, That Was The Week That Was and numerous Carry On films. Going through various fashionable periods, he died at the height of his popularity after discovering a new audience, and was immediately missed. Running to only an hour though, you will be left wanting more, and it is shame that little more wasn't dug from the archives to sate the appetite!

Masters of Comedy - Bernard Manning features one of Britain's most controversial comedians at his outrageous best. Springing to TV fame with the 1970s show The Comedians, over the years he has gained a massive following for his X-rated humour. Preferring to appear on stage at the Embassy in Manchester, this video gives a rare opportunity to witness his hilarious TV performances. Again this is far too short at only 51 minutes, and although his TV appearances are rare, The Wheel Tappers and Shunters Ball and The Comedians regularly surface on Granada's satellite channels, so there is certainly a lot more material out there. I hope that as the range increases, so does the content for each video.

Both titles are priced £10.99 and whilst this is cheaper than most videos on the market these days, the short length does put me off a little.

Coming soon in the range are Les Dawson and Freddie Starr.

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