Rambling Syd Rumpo!

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The Carry On series ran from 1958 till 1978 and other than a brief stop off in the New World in 1992’s Carry On Columbus has never managed to get back on its feet.  Personally I would fund a new movie like a shot if I had the money… perhaps producers should consider a public funding project?

As for casting - well they need a team don’t they, a company of the best of British comedy acting talent who could happily be drawn from for any future releases. (more…)

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Back in the midsts of time, Little Britain was represented by the affable Kenneth Horne who took a weekly jaunt in front of a live studio audience through meetings with a bewilderingly insane bunch of characters, played by Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee.

One of the most wonderful creations in Round the Horne was Rambling Syd Rumpo himself, played by Kenneth Williams. The archaic and anarchic folk singer brought an added degree of wonder, whimsy and downright rudeness to a series that expressed double entendre after double entendre week after week on radio, seemingly above the radar of the BBC censors.

Here, then, is the lyrics to one of Rambling Syd’s greatest hits. To the tune of “Green Go My Rushes-oh”: (more…)

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We hear so much about the “tragic” comics – Tony Hancock, for instance – that the tragedy tends to overshadow the body of work that they leave behind.

Of course it makes a good story for the media to talk about lonely comics, holed up in hotel rooms, away from their families and friends, topping themselves.

Dwelling on these actions, however, enforces the tragedy, and increases the legend, which always results in us being unable to forget these characters.

Personally speaking I’m not a big fan of Tony Hancock’s; but there are others, such as Kenneth Williams, who might well have committed suicide, whose loss was a sad one for many British comedy fans.

Yet these types of figures don’t (I hope I’m not tempting fate here) seem to be with us anymore in the world of comedy, at least.  There are obviously the mental health problems that Paul Merton suffered, and other comics have terrible times on the road, from the club circuit all the way to the top.

Is it that these days comedians are made of sterner stuff?

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As radio comedies go, there are three which seem to remain popular and outsell all of the other BBC audio comedy releases.  One of these is Round the Horne.

Comprising of Kenneth Williams, Bill Pertwee, Hugh Paddick and Betty Marsden, Round the Horne was expertly held together by languid straight man Kenneth Horne.  It was written by the late Marty Feldman and Barry Took.

Running from 1965 to 1968, the series was an insane ride through spoof adverts, dramatic pastiche and contained some of the most wonderful double entendres ever to be broadcast.

BBC censors were unable to prevent broadcast of a show making comedy from archaisms; there are even stories that following complaints the powers that be would sit scratching their heads and wondering exactly what the audience (which always seemed to include a very excitable lady with a high-pitched laugh) were indeed laughing at.

If you have never come across Round the Horne, I can only suggest you make an effort to, especially if you are a fan of double entendres, absurdist comedy, Carry On… or any of the performers or writers.

Incidentally, I wrote a sizeable project on Round the Horne for my A Level English Language few years back; don’t be surprised to see some of it appearing here on Quintessential Comedy once the articles section is ready.

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