I never heard of those, or him till my sister-in-law put me on to House. I hope there will be some DVD's or reruns of the old show(s) you mentioned. I wonder if that was ever aired in the US?
It surprised me when he was on Jay Leno, and I heard him speak with his own accent, it amazes me how actors can switch to American English so well, Tracy Ullman use to do that terrificly.