Tuesday
(0)I am feeling well disposed towards Mark Holland just now, because he quite often links to and comments at my personal blog (now mercifully back in full picture posting business). So go and have a read of this, featuring a classic collection of fun lines that Mark found here.
Particularly good bit, political and Samizdata friendly:
There was a fire at the main Inland Revenue office in London today, but it was put out before any serious good was done.
That is Ronnie Corbett exchanging scripted banter with long time Two Ronnies partner Ronnie Barker, who died yesterday.
Barker, for benighted foreigners who do not know about him, was for several decades a dominant force in British TV comedy, starring in such classics as Porridge and Open All Hours. He also wrote lots of funny stuff.
I know it is always said that whoever it is will be sadly missed when they die, but he really will be.
Barker, for benighted foreigners who do not know about him, was for several decades a dominant force in British TV comedy, starring in such classics as Porridge and Open All Hours. He also wrote lots of funny stuff.
He was also the greatest British comic actor and one of our greatest character actors. The sentimental stuff is overdone nowadays, but this is genuinely sad news.
Posted by Pete_London at October 5, 2005 12:18 AM
Strange thing is, I though he'd died many years ago. I find out now he simply retired and stayed out of the limelight. Stranger thing is I was thinking about him just yesterday.
A sad loss all the same. I remember them fondly for their Christmas specials.
Posted by James at October 5, 2005 05:03 AM
Always gave me a laugh. My favourite sketch was the vicar giving a sermon in cockney rhyming slang.
Posted by Elaine at October 5, 2005 03:24 PM
Ronnie laying on his bunk in Slade prison having done more than his fair share of the agony uncle bit.
"Will this take long Godber ? Only my leg's gone to sleep and I want to catch it up. Know what I mean!"
He was the Governor!
God Bless.
Posted by RAB at October 5, 2005 04:50 PM
Much of Ronnie Barker's humour was grounded in conservative values, in a small-c sense. He was a wonderful wordsmith, a highly intelligent man and I am very sad he has gone. He was pure gold.
I loved the Two Ronnies. I grew up watching their material. Porridge and Open All Hours were brilliant.
May he rest in peace.
Posted by Johnathan Pearce at October 5, 2005 05:24 PM
For an amusing selection of gags from the Two Ronnies illustrated with stamps, please go to www.avionstamps.com click on 'features' then click on 'The Two ronnies' and enjoy.
Posted by Roger B at October 6, 2005 09:33 PM
