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Brighter side of web - British Comedies
Don't Tell THem Pike
Cardinal Puff
"Hello, the savoy grill"
Blackadder, a master of sarcastic humour
"who was that?"
"Strangely enough, Baldrick that was Pope Gregory the Second
Have you got a ticket?
British Comedy - The Real McCoy
Les Dawson - a great British comedian
"My wife was sleeping like a log, she had her legs in the fire."
Les Dawson used to also presentBlankety Blank, which had some of the cheapest prizes on quiz show TV. Top prizes included: - Get your hair styled at a top salon! Your own knitting machine, - win a map of penrith! -
- In the days when quiz shows were done for the pride and enjoyment....- Great Stuff !
Classic Comedy
I can listen to this over and over again.
The clip missed out the last sentence, when Reginald Perrin says: "It's absolute rubbish, in fact, its neo rubbish and crypto rubbish...."
A great clip of the Beatles appearing on Morecambe and Wise. There is a great repartee between the Kings of Rock and the comic duo of Morecambe and Wise. Rare footage of the Beatles singing a number from "Eric's era". - although it is on the Beatles anthology
Fawlty Towers Bloopers
I have seen most Fawlty Towers episodes several times, so its good to see some rare out-takes. I like the scene when Sybil shuts the door and the set nearly falls down.
1970s BBC British Comedy sets always seemed to be built on a shoestring, but it just shows that its not fancy sets which makes successful programmes...
More Fawlty Towers Clips
"After an incident in Croydon involving a police van and a concrete mixer, police are looking for eighteen hardened criminals."
- Ronnie Barker
Fork Handles Sketch
“Have you got Four Candles?”
“No, I mean have you got any fork handles”
“Have you got any hose?”
“No I mean O’s, letter O's”
- Watch: Four Candles Sketch
- Watch: Ronnie Barker Videos
- Quotes from Porridge
Corporal Punishment
Captain Blackadder, the master of sarcastic wit, gets ample opportunity to display his black humour as he prepares for the firing squad
Morecambe and Wise with Tom Jones
Beautiful counterpart of slick rock star Tom Jones with the irrepressable comedians of Morecambe and Wise. In their heyday they attracted 29 million viewers, you can understand why. - Great comic pairing.
Quotes from Dead Parrot Sketch
C: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
O: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
C: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
O: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
C: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
O: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!
C: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
Tony Hancock had his own very popular half hour sketch show, making him one of Britain's top comedians during the 1950s. A unique clean style of humour noone has ever replaced.
"What are you doing with your hand in the box?"
"O just leaning you know."
"Do you always stand like that?"
Peter Sellers
I have written a short biography of Peter Sellers here: Biography Peter Sellers
I have also added some quotes of Peter Sellers . These include quotes from Dr Strangelove and the Pink Panther films
Clouseau: And who are yeu ?
Jarvis: I'm Jarvis, the butler.
Clouseau: And what is it yeu deu..?
Monsieur..Don't try to be funnayyyy with me
To see video clips of Peter Sellers click on the Peter Sellers link at top of this blog.
Other British Comedians
See also Interview with Peter Sellers and Michael Parkinson
Porridge is a classic sitcom first shown in 1974 starring Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay. Ronnie Barker stars as Norman Fletcher, a criminal behind bars. Sharing a cell with Lennie Godber (Richard Beckinsale) they keep occupied by trying to get one over on the prison warders.
Porridge Quotes
Fletch: I haven't been so put out since my son Raymond crept back into school one night and had a prior peek at the exam papers.
Godber: Did he?
Fletch: Yes he did! And he still didn't bleedin' pass!
I am enjoying watching the 1980s BBC comedy series Yes Minister. It is about how politicians get frustrated by clever civil servants. It is a clever satire on the political life. Even though the civil service are scheming you have to admire their cleverness. Apparently Mrs Thatcher ( PM in 1980s) was a big fan.
Quotes - Yes Minister
"Politicians must be allowed to panic. They need activity. It is their substitute for achievement."
"Civil Service language: 'Sometimes one is forced to consider the possibility that affairs are being conducted in a manner which, all things being considered and making all possible allowances is, not to put too fine a point on it, perhaps not entirely straightforward.
Translation: 'You are lying'."
Bernard Woolley: "Minister, allow me to present Sir Humphrey Appleby, Permanent Under Secretary of State and head of the DAA."
Jim Hacker: "Hello, Sir Humphrey."
Sir Humphrey: "Hello and welcome."
Bernard Woolley: "I believe you know each other."
Sir Humphrey: "Yes, we did cross swords when the Minister gave me a grilling over the estimates in the Public Accounts Committee."
Jim Hacker: "I wouldn't say that."
Sir Humphrey: "You came up with all of the questions I hoped nobody would ask."
Jim Hacker: "Well, opposition is about asking awkward questions."
Sir Humphrey: "And government is about not answering them."
Jim Hacker: "Well, you answered all mine anyway."
Sir Humphrey: "I'm glad you thought so, Minister."
