David Copperfield, who starred alongside Sir Lenny Henry and Tracey Ullman in 1980s hit Three Of A Kind, has hailed her return to the BBC.
“I don’t think Tracey ever went away,” the 68-year-old told the Radio Times, adding: “I don’t believe in comebacks.”
It is over 30 years since the actress, writer and singer was a regular on British TV.
Tracey Ullman returns to the BBC (Richard Ansett/BBC)
She has enjoyed decades of success in the US, but is back with a new six-part BBC One sketch series called Tracey Ullman’s Show.
Alongside Three Of A Kind, Tracey last appeared on the BBC in A Kick Up The Eighties.
The BBC Two series, which ran from 1981-1984, featured Robbie Coltrane and the late Rik Mayall.
Tracey Ullman (Richard Ansett/BBC)
Before emigrating to the US, Tracey starred in ITV sitcom Girls On Top in 1985 with Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Ruby Wax.
The Slough-born comedian later created The Tracey Ullman Show for the Fox network, winning several Emmy and Golden Globe awards.
The acclaimed programme famously spawned animated series The Simpsons, which started out as a series of one-minute shorts.
“Not The Magician” as one of David’s cruise ship billings jokingly states to differentiate him from the US illusionist, is the least successful of the Three Of A Kind cast today.
However, at one point, he was a recognisable face thanks to the BBC One show.
“We didn’t know we were going to be this nationwide thing,” he recalled. “To walk around supermarkets and have people pointing at you, saying, ‘Are you him off the telly?’”
While Tracey is a trailblazer on US television and Comic Relief co-founder Sir Lenny recently received a knighthood from the Queen, the Yorkshireman’s career went in a different direction.
However, he is pragmatic about his celebrity status. “The thing is, I have had my golden years and I am platinum now,” he said.
“But I can’t look back with any regrets at all, and success for me is nothing to do with fame, or money, in that respect.”
The three comedians “got on like a house on fire” while filming Three Of A Kind, and David has good memories.
“I am retired, I have got a pension, but I still love the business,” he said.
Tracey Ullman’s Show is broadcast on BBC One on January 11
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