The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

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.

Billed Cast

Rowan Atkinson

Self - Various Roles

Jeff Beck

Self

Alan Bennett

Self - Various Roles

Graham Chapman

Self - Various Roles

Eric Clapton

Self

John Cleese

Self - Various Roles

Phil Collins

Self

Billy Connolly

Self

Peter Cook

Self - Various Roles

Sheena Easton

The Secret Policeman Choir

Bob Geldof

Self

Barry Humphries

Self - Various Roles