British Comedy on the radio
If you enjoy British Comedy it is probably worth ditching the telly and exploring shows on the radio. The Beeb have a host of material on line that isn't restricted geographically. Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy leaps out as a radio hit, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. The Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra and BBC Sounds websites have the motherlode.
The Goon Show is an obvious starting point. Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers inspired the Pythons and a generation that followed. When I discovered The Goons it was slightly disconcerting to find that my dad had a well practiced Bluebottle impersonation.
But there is also Much Binding in the Marsh, Round The Horne, ITMA - It's That Man Again, The Navy Lark, The Men from the Ministry, Beyond Our Ken, The Boosh, and more.
Not a Beeb show, but in my teens, Kenny Everett's Saturday show on Capital was essential listening with his Captain Kremmen serial. He was so funky! It's out there on the internet. You might find the odd tv clip as well.
Comments
Yes, the BBC Radio iPlayer is not geo-restricted and it's a motherlode of stuff to listen to. Also, they have a great line-up of free podcasts as well!
The first Hancock's Half Hour is currently available. Worth tracking down The Blood Donor and The Radio Ham.
Simon,
You really hit the nail on the head! I still remember fragments of ITMA. It’s being so happy what keeps me going!
I have a strange relationship with ITMA. It obviously amused my parents and grandparents long after it was off the air, and in my teens I bought a script book, laced with annecdotes by Ted Kavanagh. Enjoyed that too. But then I heard an episode and it was horrible, I couldn't reconcile what I was hearing with what I had read or been told about the show. Years later, I can listen and I'm more in tune with it. Maybe it was a duff episode on that first encounter?
Simon,
it has been a long time, I barely remember it. I know the character I quoted was called Mona Lott. I do remember all the other shows you mentioned. How about Educating Archie? I just finished reading the first half of Julie Andrews’ autobiography. She mentions several cast members. She also mentions Michael Bentine. He was on the Goon Show at one time. Then he moved to TV. A brilliant comedian. Very original.
It's only being so cheerful that keeps her going 😀 My mum used to do a Mrs Mopp impersonation, while my Dad did Funf.
Educating Archie was incredibly popular. Particularly when you consider that it was a ventriloquist act on the radio.
The Goon Show started life as a vehicle for Michael Bentine and he was with the show for three years. My main memory of Bentine is a tv show called Potty Time that had puppets with silly voices enacting various surreal storylines.
A friend recommended Cabin Pressure. It is hysterical! I need to listen to them all over again.
One character briefly took flight again last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhTBp1DRfx4&feature=emb_logo