All language subtitles for The Two Ronnies The Lost Sketches

The two Ronnie. For over two decades,
they were the weekly highlight of

night television.

The jewel in the crown of British light
entertainment.

And the BBC's most highly prized comedy
show.

Their shows were loved by millions.

And the Ronnie's winning cocktail of
characters, sketches and songs brought

huge critical acclaim alongside a
massive viewing audience.

In 1986, Ronnie Barker stunned the world
of show business by unexpectedly

announcing his retirement.

The two Ronnies' special for Christmas
Day in 1987 would be their last show

together. But just before that
announcement, the two Ronnies made their

series together, not for the BBC, but
nearly 11 ,000 miles away in Sydney,

Australia.

The programmes they made there have
never been seen here, but tonight you'll

see, for the first time, recently
discovered footage from the two Ronnies'

produced down under.

Most of the sketches were written just
for this series.

A few were new reworkings of their
favourite material first performed in

Britain.

But none of these two Ronnie's
performances have been screened in full

British television before.

There are the timeless characters we
always loved.

Moments that showcase the brilliance of
Ronnie Barker.

Good evening.

I am the president of the Royal Society
for the Relief of Sufferers from

Pismarantiation.

And routines capturing the dazzling
charisma of Ronnie Corbett.

Sadly no more. I'm afraid he has finally
been summoned to that great pantomime

in the sky.

He's gone to work for Qantas.

With sketches playing unedited at their
original intended length, this is The

Two Ronnies Unseen.

The Two Ronnies' love affair with
Australia began in 1979.

when they were invited to tour their hit
London Palladium show to Sydney and

Melbourne. They did this absolutely
fabulous show at the Palladium. Anyway,

said, would you fancy doing this in
Australia?

So the whole show was packed up and we
went to Australia for a year.

The two Ronnies were already big stars
down under, where their BBC shows had

been screened for years.

Now, the lure of the Aussie sunshine and
a chance to live the Australian

lifestyle for a whole year proved to be
irresistible for both the Barker and

Corbett families.

Ah, we fell in love with Australia
straight away.

Where we lived was a beautiful house
right on the harbour. So, yeah, the pool

went out.

And then there was the wooden wharf. And
then we did used to jump into the

harbour and swim down the road to the
neighbours.

We saw a lot more of the corvettes when
we were in Australia than we ever did in

England, which was absolutely lovely
because we all got on so well. It was a

golden time.

The sun, the sea, the sand, the outside,
you know, all the things that you don't

get in North London.

In addition to the shows with Ronnie
Barker, Ronnie Corbett fulfilled some

engagements while in Australia,
including a special night that led to a

fortuitous meeting.

Ron did his act at the...

Sydney Opera House, which was, you know,
quite a big happening.

And David Frost was there, and he bought
Kerry Packer. He owned Channel 9.

So that's how he met Kerry Packer.

Packer and Corbett became friendly in
the years that followed. And then in

while on his own Australian tour, Ronnie
had a brainwave.

How about doing a special series for
Australia?

And I had a word with Ronnie Barker
about it and Ronnie was up for it. He

what a good idea.

Kerry Packer asked Ronnie C to go to his
house the next day and Ronnie C had

this idea about the two Ronnies doing an
Australian TV series.

And apparently Kerry Packer on the spot
went, yes, we want it.

Kerry Packer's Channel 9 was Australia's
number one TV network in the mid -80s.

Home of the biggest shows and the
brightest stars, including now the Two

Ronnies. So sit back and enjoy the best
of the Two Ronnies down under.

George? What?

If you had three wishes, what would you
wish?

I'd wish for three more days.

How romantic are you? I mean, don't you
ever just want to get up and go?

I would if I drank three more of these,
yeah.

Travel.

Oh, travel, yeah, yeah. I like to
travel, yeah.

Where do you want to travel to, then?

Well, I'll give you a clue. Yeah.

What is big and warm and friendly?

Eh?

What is big and warm and friendly?

Your missus, you mean?

Australia.

Australia. Oh, that's right. That would
be nice. That really would be nice.

Do you believe which has come true,
then?

Nice try there, isn't it?

George?

Sid?

You've still got two whizzies left.

Yeah?

Better wish for a couple to serve.

Eh?

Want some more beer?

Yes, I'll have a mouthful.

Oh, sorry, I only brought you a pint.

What is the difference between a pint
and an eater? That's what I say. What's

the difference?

They've got an extermination here at the
pub tonight.

What do you mean, extermination? Well,
they're going to stay open an hour after

they shut.

That won't bother me. I'm off down to
Pig and Whistle.

Oh, I never been down there.

How far is that?

Well, it's about four miles.

If you hurry, you can do it in two.

What's that? What's that letter you've
been reading? That? That's a letter from

my girlfriend, that is. Oh, really?

Yeah. Nice.

Well, there's no writing on it. No,
we're not speaking.

My girlfriend's got a job down the
museum.

Oh, yeah.

Do you know there's a set of dinosaurs'
bones in the museum which are two

million years old and three months?

How do you make that out?

Well, she's been there three months and
they were two million years old.

Here,

have you seen them two skeletons down by
the door in that museum?

Yeah. The big one's Nelson, you know.
Oh, really?

Who's the little one? That's Nelson when
he was a small boy.

Oh, this beer's terrible, you know. I'll
be glad when I've had enough.

I'd be better off drinking milk.

Oh, don't want to drink milk.

Don't want to drink milk. Milk's very
dangerous, you know. My brother died

drinking milk. Really? Oh, the cow fell
on him.

My other brother, my other brother, he
died of women and drink. Did he? Who was

that? Couldn't get either, so he shot
himself.

What's the time?

I don't know. I haven't got a watch. Oh,
I have.

What are you asking me the time for when
you've got your watch on your wrist

there? Well, I don't want to wear it
out. Keep looking at it.

Has he got a guarantee, that watch? No,
no. But the man in the shop was very

nice. He said if ever I had any trouble
with it, all I've got to do is phone him

up and he'd tell me what time it is.

I had trouble with my budget last week.
Trouble? What kind of trouble? It

drowned it. Oh, dear.

I told you not to keep it in that
goldfish bowl.

It's kept in the birdcage like everyone
else.

I did, didn't I? But the water kept
running out.

My dog died, you know. When was that?

Well, if he'd lived till tomorrow, he'd
be dead a fortnight.

I've had that dog since a week before he
was born.

How can you have a dog a week before
he's born?

He was born a week early.

My sister had a baby this week. Girl or
a boy? Oh, she's a girl. Boys can't have

babies.

I mean, was the baby a girl or a boy?
Oh, I don't know. Oh, so you don't know

whether you're a hunkle or a heart then,
do you?

What are you going to buy for a
christening present, then? Well, I'm

buy a pram. Oh, yeah? A new pram. I'm
going to buy it on the new higher

scheme. What's that?

100 % down and nothing a week.

Oh,

you know, when I was born, I only
weighed two and a half pounds, you know?

that's terrible, that is. Did you live?
Oh, yeah.

You should see me now.

Here, I'll tell you something.

I've got 200 more bones in my body than
you have.

How is that?

I had a kipper for me breakfast.

We've had ten pints here.

Yeah. Shall we go down and have one at
the Swan? No, I can't wait. I'm going to

have one behind the bushes.

It's for two Ronnies unseen.

showcasing their work performed in
Australia and seen here now for the

time. I'm afraid we're cornered,
Corporal. Yes, sir. We should be lucky

out of here alive.

Oh, later than that, sir, I should
wonder.

What? Later than five, sir. Probably
half -half, sir.

I said lucky to get out alive, not to
get out by five.

Oh, I'm sorry, sir. It's the guns, sir.

Guns, I can't hear you properly, sir.
You see, with the guns. I know, I know.

Are we cut off from the other, sir? Yes,
I'm afraid we are.

Yes, sir.

Listen, we can either...

low till morning, or you can climb to a
high vantage point and see if you can

spot the enemy.

What do you say?

Thank you very much. No, no, no, no, no,
no. What do you think of me?

Oh, well, it's up to you, sir.

I think you'd better get up a tree and
risk it. Oh, thank you. I could just do

with one, sir. One what?

A cup of tea and biscuit.

Get up a tree and risk it, man.

Sorry, sir, I'm sorry.

Well, go on, make a start.

Make a start, sir. Make a start.

Make a start. What's the matter with
you? Do I have to repeat every stupid

little word?

What? No need to be personal, sir?

What?

Calling me that what you did, sir?

I said stupid little word.

Oh, sorry, sir.

Sorry.

Well, go on, get on with it.

Sir, sir, I can't climb trees.

What? I can't climb trees. Never could.

Ever since I was a small boy at
Wimbledon. You never told me that.

You were a poor boy at Wimbledon.

I love tennis.

What? There is the cook, sir. Tennis, ma
'am, tennis.

Oh, never mind all that. Listen, up
there on the ridge, there is a tank.

we've got to go up and recapture it,
right? Yes, sir.

But watch out for snipers.

Anywhere near a tank is a hot spot. Oh,
I don't think we are, sir. What?

Anywhere near a Lancashire hot pot, sir.

Hot spot? I said hot. What's the matter
with you? Are you obsessed with food, ma

'am? Sir.

Yes. I can't go, sir. What? I can't go.
Why not? My gun's gone wonky, sir.

Well, it's only natural. So is mine.
It's nerves, that's all it is.

Where are my guns? Oh, your gun. Oh,
your gun. I'm sorry.

What's going on?

Well, sir, it was... It was in my
trouser pocket. It went off half

Yeah, you'd better see Major when we get
back to Calisley about that.

Well, I suppose I'd better go.

You all right, sir? No, of course I'm
not all right.

I'm shot.

Well, it is hot, sir. We're all shot.

Shall I get the stretcher bearing, sir?
No, no. Too late for that.

Just go and let me die in peace.

Yes, sir. Any gravy on it at all, sir?

What? Any gravy on your pie, please?

I said let me die in peace, not get me
pie in peace.

Never mind, never mind, Corbin. You're
not such a bad chap.

We haven't always seen eye to eye, or
ear to ear, for that matter.

It's the gun, sir.

But at least, if you get out of this
mess alive, they'll say I died saving an

ordinary man.

Save you what, sir?

An ordinary man.

Yes, sir, I will, sir. You will what?

When I get back to the mess, I'll save
you a strawberry plant, sir.

Do you think that marriage is a lottery?

No. In a lottery, you do have a slight
chance.

But you like women, don't you, eh? Oh,
yeah, yeah. Just give me me pipe and the

great outdoors and a beautiful girl and
you can keep the pipe and the great

outdoors.

Jill, that ain't stuffy to do with
marriage, is it? That's just the

sex.

The what?

You know what the opposite sex is, don't
you?

Yeah, it's that tart who lives across
the road.

Talking of which, my sister -in -law has
just had quads.

Oh, that's pretty rare, isn't it? Rare,
it certainly is, yes.

Doctor says it only happens once in 1
,600 ,000 times.

Blimey, so when has she ever found time
to do the housework?

I am the president of the loyal society
for the relief of sufferers from

pismorantiation.

For people who cannot say their worms
correctly.

Or who use the wrong worms entirely, so
that other people cannot underhand a

bird they are spraying.

It's just that you open your mouth and
the worms come turbling out in one

second. And you dick -knock what you're
thugging a bit.

And it's very distressing. I'm always
looing it.

and it makes one feel unbumped a couple
of times.

Especially when one's going about one's
diddly tasks, slopping in the slooper

market for inkstands.

Only last wonk I approached the chuck
-out point, and I showed the ghoul

the crash desk the contents of my
trilly, and she said, she said, all

Grandad, shut him out. Well, of course,
that's fine for the ordinary man in the

stoat, who has no dribble with his
warts.

For someone like myself, it's worse than
the kick in the jackstrap.

I mean, sometimes you get stuck on one
letter, such as wobble you, you see. And

I said, well, I've got a tin of whoop, a
woocumber, two packets of wheeze and a

wallflower.

And then she tried to make fun of me and
said that would be whoop pounds, whifty

wee pen.

So I just said wobblers and walked out.

But you do see how dicky felt it is.

But help is at hand. The new society has
been formed by our mumblers.

to help each other in times of ex -cream
ices.

It is bald pismonunces unanimous.

Anyone can ball them up on the smelly
phone at any tide of the day or noon.

24 flowers a spray, seven stays a creek,
and you will come round and get drunk

with you.

For foreigners, there will be
impertuitors who will all squeak many

such as Swedish, Turkish, Berkish,
Jewish, gibberish and rubbish.

Membranes will be able to attend tight
stool or heaving classes.

You'll learn how to grope with the many
complicities of daily work.

Which brings me to the drain reason for
squeaking to you tonight.

The society's first function as a body
was a grand garden freight.

And we hope for many more bodily
functions in the future.

The garden plate was held in the grounds
of Sydney University.

And the guest of horror was the great
American pipsinger, Manny Barilo.

The plate was opened by the External
Affairs P. Minister, Mr. Andrew

Who gave us a few well -frozen worms to
raise off the society's jerk and said

that in the creaks and stunts of thy
head... we must all do our nut roast to

ensure that it sucks weed.

Then everyone visited the various stalls
and abruzements, the rudeabouts, the

thingboats and the dodgers, and, of
course, all the old favourites such as

coquish eye nuts, to try your length,
guessing the weight of the cook and

tinning the pail on the wonky.

The occasion was great fun, and, in
short, I think it can safely be said

all the men present and thoroughly good
women were had all the time.

So please join our society.

Write to me, Dr.

Smallpith, the banner, Pope Moses, and I
will send you some brieflets to browse

through and a brass badge to wear in
your loophole. And a very good night to

all. Good night.

and I haven't seen you at the factory
lately. Well, you've been all sick,

haven't you? No, no, well, I packed it
in, didn't I? Oh, did you? Yeah.

Yeah, well, they wanted me to change
my... What, change your hours?

No, change my... Change your habits, was
it? No, change... Change your socks

tomorrow. No.

I changed my duties. Oh, your duties,
did they? Yeah, well, I didn't want to

that. No, no. It was quite a cushy
little number, you know. It was quite a

job. Yes, it was a lovely job. Thanks,
John, thanks.

There you are. All the best. Cheers.
Cheers, cheers. I never really know what

sort of job you did up there. What job
did you do up there? Well, the same job

as I'd done for 20 years, actually. Oh,
did you? Yeah, I always worked with...

What, with Pride?

No, with... With him recently? No, no,
with... With your overcoat on.

I always worked with Harry Hawkins. Oh,
Harry Hawkins.

Yeah. He used to always work with him.
He used to give me his... His whole

and support. No.

What,

his athletic support?

No, he used to give me his ginger nuts.

Oh.

Yeah, he used to give me his ginger
nuts, and I used to dip him in... In his

for him.

No, in the chocolate. Oh, the chocolate.
Oh, I see. That was the job, was it?

That was the job. Oh, I see. Yeah, Harry
and I made the only ginger nuts. Oh, I

see. Oh, right, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and
then somebody realised, or thought, a

could do the job, a woman, you see.

So they decided to do that, and they put
me on... Short time. No, on... What,

short cake?

No, no.

Sherbet fountains. Oh, that's a real
messy job, the sherbet fountains.

that's... It gets everywhere.

Does it, yeah? Yeah. You know, you go
home and start stripping off, and you

you've got a coating of sherbet all over
the... All over the weekend.

Yeah.

And the wife don't like it. No, well,
that makes it worse, but you can't

No, exactly, no.

Anyway...

Anyway, this woman, she decided that she
didn't want to work with Harry Hawkins.

Oh, did she? She didn't like the way he
handled his... His ginger nuts.

No,

his machinery.

Oh, his machinery.

Yeah, she thought he was... Was nuts.

No, she thought he was... What, ginger?

No, incompetent. Oh, incompetent.

I think so, so you went back with Harry
then, did you? No, no, I decided I had

enough. Oh, did you? So I went back
home, you know. Yeah. Then found the

was up... Up to her knees and so... No,
no.

Up to her old tricks with the milkman.

No, she was up her mother's. Oh, up her
mother's.

So I then and then... and thought, I'm
going to go to the job centre. Oh, yeah.

I thought, go to the job centre, because
it's a good job you're after. That is

the place to... To steer clear of. No.

No, they're quite good, some of them,
you know. My brother -in -law went for a

job as a removal man.

Yeah. And within a week, they'd already
given him a... A fortnight's holiday.

A fortnight's holiday.

A tea chest? No, no, no. No, a double
hernia. Oh, no.

Yeah. So I went up to this job centre.
Yeah, yeah.

And a very nice place, wasn't it? Yeah.

And they've got this girl there.

Yeah. Sitting behind a sort of grill.

Oh, yeah. And she's filing her... Filing
her nails? No, no, filing her... What,

filing the bars, trying to get out with
you? No, no, no.

Filing the jobs. Oh, filing the jobs.
The jobs. Yeah. In the portfolio. Oh, I

see. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And she's very
nice. Very big girl. Oh, big girl. Yeah,

yeah. And she's got these two... Yes,
I'll get the picture.

Either side.

Well, they would be, wouldn't they?

And I mentioned the job. Yeah.

And they sprang up. Did they?

Yeah. What caused that, then? Well, I
don't know the general excitement, I

suppose. Oh, really?

And then they came towards me. Did they
really?

Yeah.

Anyway, these two... Yeah, yeah. I know
what you mean. Yeah, yeah.

These two... What do you call them
again? What do you call them?

Clarks. Oh.

I've got the... I've got the wrong
picture entirely there.

So, these two clerks, they said that
this girl was a trainee.

Trainee, basically, who had just got off
the... Off the train?

No, no.

Off the course. Oh, off the course, of
course, yes. Yeah, of course. And the

clerks that Dad mentioned to you, they
said, if it's a job you're after, we

a vacancy. Oh. Yeah, because we were
looking for someone with short... Short

legs. No, no.

We're short... Short shirts?

No, no, we're short... Shortcomings?

No.

We're shorthand and typing. Oh, I see.

He wanted someone with shorthand because
they were... Shorthanded? No, no.

They were understaffed at the town hall.
Oh, yes. So you never got the job.

Didn't get the job. Didn't get the job.
Can't do it. So you're out of work? No,

not entirely. No, because there was
another job. Another vacancy, which I

accepted. Oh, yeah. Yeah, so I'm working
in the sweet... In the sweet factory,

you know. No, no.

In the city. Oh, yeah. In the sweet...
Well, with a sweet smell of success, is

it? Well, hardly.

I'm in charge of the gents at Central
Station.

I say, Humphrey, what is it, Godfrey?

Who is that terrible, ugly woman you
were with today?

That was my sister.

Oh, of course, I should have noticed the
resemblance.

Just got married, hasn't she?

Yes. And do you know, she's married a
man whom people invariably take an

dislike to?

Why is that, do you think? It saves
time.

They've just moved to Cheltenham, will
they? She loves.

It's Cheltenham. She says in Cheltenham,
breeding is everything.

Yes, well, we enjoy it in Kensington as
well. So we have other interests.

The funny thing is, although he's a
bully, an idler and a drunk, she intends

have 17 children by him.

Good grief, why on earth does she want
to do that?

Well, she says she's hoping to lose him
in the crowd.

Forgot my glasses.

Never mind, I forgot my glasses, never
mind.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we are gathered here this evening to
honour George and Gloria, who today

celebrate 20 years of marred bliss.

Married bliss.

21 years ago, George turned up.

with this beautiful and charming
representative of New Pork.

Very far. Very far. New York.

Theirs have been a fairly stale romance.

A fairy tale romance.

He, a typical English country squirt.
Squirt.

She, a struggling Broadway hooker.

Hooper. Hooper.

In other words...

A danger in the chorus.

George first saw her in the musical
Hello Doggy.

And the moment the curtain was down,
began to ravish her.

Lavish her with every attention.

Showering her with red noses and giving
her germs.

Gems.

Till at last, at the altar, she said the
words he'd been waiting to hear, I do,

and threw up.

Her career.

Oh, grew up her career.

Actually,

when George gave us the news, we were
over the moron with delight.

Gloria, as we know, comes from a fine
old American family.

Though her grandmother, we are told, was
a kept woman.

No, a Kent woman, a Kent woman.

She herself, you will all agree, is a
great lay. Lady.

Lady.

Only one word describes her. Skint.
Same.

As lady of the manor, she never shirted
her dirties.

Shirt her duties.

Visiting the tenants in their holes, in
their homes, and tending to their warts.

Their warts.

Like her, Glorious looked on by all the
sundry as a fiend, as a friend.

Oh, and I should never be forgiven if I
vomited to mention her cooking.

The feathery lightness of her buns, and
the split -second

timing of her rubber beans.

And, as we all know, after that
delicious meal, her speciality, roast

chipolatas.

The whole meal was absolutely uneatable.

Unbeatable.

We now come to George, himself a bit of
a crook, a cook.

Chalespear said, and I quite, one man in
his time plays many

pants. And George certainly has had his
share of girls. In fact, he was

considered at one time quite a wolf.

He was slimy then, slimmer then.

Always a faithful friend. He is a true
toady.

He's a true toady.

He is as true today.

At heart, one of the yes -men of
England. One of the yo -men of England.

I could go on all night.

Instead, I shall gum up by saying, there
were never such a couple of sweeties.

George and Gloria, as we say at the
Bridge Club, two aces who together are a

perfect pair.

I am a little bit excited because I have
reason to believe that my new Channel 9

pay rise has just come through.

To be honest, my last pay rise was
nearly six years ago when I stormed into

program controller's office and demanded
that they pay me what I was worth.

$42 a week doesn't go very far.

Oh, my God, it is pathetic.

$42 a week when you consider that the
producer upstairs is earning nearly

that.

So this week, I took a militant stand
and put in a claim for a 5 % increase,

it's obviously shaken them up a bit
because I have just had this top -level

delivered to me personally.

Actually, it's still a bit crumpled, you
know.

Still a bit crumpled from where it was
wrapped round the brick.

Let's see what it says here.

From the president of Channel 9 to Mr.

Robbie Cornett.

You see, right from the top.

At last I'm about to be treated with a
little respect and deference, as befits

man of my professional status.

What is your game, squib face?

5 % pay rise. I should cocoa, Titchy.

Call yourself a comic. We could train a
chimp to do what you do.

If you're a comic, I'll walk to Perth
with a leaky water bag.

That's how I treat letters like that.

Particularly if they don't get laughed.

On to tonight's story.

which I have decided to tell as a mark
of respect to my old uncle Brutus, who

one of the great characters of show
business. For 25 years, his widow Twanky

a legend throughout Parramatta. But
sadly no more. I'm afraid he has finally

been summoned to that great pantomime in
the sky.

He's gone to work for Qantas.

No, he hasn't. That would be ridiculous.
He is actually dead.

Now, to be honest, he was rather a
comical -looking character with a very

face and an incredibly big pointed nose.

And when they died, they used his head
as a sundial.

It's very interesting because his late
brother, my late Uncle Horace, that was

also in pantomime, he spent 40 years
playing Humpty Dumpty. And I remember

cremation was held up for nearly half an
hour while someone went to fetch an egg

timer.

I've got a strange one. I had an uncle
Gladys once.

Who had a nasty accent and a sawmill.

He was a world record holder. He was the
only man who'd ever slid down Mount

Everest on a tin tray.

And they buried him where he came to
rest.

Just outside Rooty Hill.

When I think of it, it's been quite a
bad year for bad news, all told. I mean,

last Sunday morning, for instance, there
we were all at home, taking things

easy. My little nephew was sitting on
the carpet, playing with his tonka.

And my... My wife was upstairs in our
daughter's

playroom trying to smoke an encyclopedia
salesman out of the doll's house.

It was a very, very cold morning.

I remember, very cold, we had to kick
-start the Rice Krispies.

And I'd just settled down after
breakfast with the Sunday newspaper.

Or was it the Telegraph? Anyway, I was
reading one of their thrusting, in

-depth theological dissertations about a
vicar who was caught on the church roof

with an Avon lady.

Ding -dong merrily on high.

Suddenly, we heard that the chap next
door had just been rushed to hospital.

It's all very tragic because he was a
businessman who was very big in kitchen

equipment until his accident.

He fell on top of a Kenwood blender and
liquidated his assets.

But I digress.

On with this story. Now, this story
concerns a little old lady who, by

coincidence, has also just lost her
husband. And she decides that for some

companionship, she will buy herself a
dog.

You know, we all like pets. And I
remember when I was a boy, we were so

used to have very cheap pets.

For my seventh birthday, my parents
bought me a semi -detached tortoise.

My father couldn't afford a homing
pigeon, so he had a budgie on

elastic.

So this old lady goes down to her local

pet shop.

And the assistant behind the counter
says, I have got the ideal companion for

you. He said, madam, he's a nice little
puppy, only six months old.

So she looks at him and says, yes,
that's very nice.

She said, do you think it will replace
my husband?

I mean, you know, my husband was warm,
he was affectionate, and he was always

doing little jobs around the house.

In that case...

This is definitely the dog for you.

I did try to say that quickly.

Anyway, she said, well, I'll tell you
what.

If the dog doesn't mind, I'll take it.
So they asked the dog, and the dog said,

yes, that's absolutely fine.

And off they go. There you are. You see
a talking dog.

Already the joke has got novelty value.

That's about all it has got, but anyway.

Now, to cut a long story short, the lady
becomes devoted to this dog, and every

afternoon at tea time, rigorous
clockwork, she takes him for a walk down

newsagents for her evening paper. Well,
one day, many years later, her legs are

getting a bit crotchety, so she calls
the dog in and she says, Now, listen,

Tiddles.

I don't think her eyes were too good
either.

If I give you the money, do you think
you'll go down and get my evening paper

tonight on your own? And the dog says,
yes, I can do that, no problem.

And I just made that bit up. Anyway, he
was actually a very

intelligent and perceptive animal during
the last election.

Barry Unsworth came round to the house
canvassing, and the dog made such a

brilliant job of conducting its own
defence, the judge ordered Mr. Undworth

be destroyed.

So she gives it... Oh, my God!

So... So she gives... She gives him the
money for the newspaper. She says, now,

you're sure you don't mind?

And the dog says, no, I don't mind at
all.

Because he's got the money in his mouth.

and he waddles off down the road while
four hours go by and there's no sign of

him. My God, she thinks, perhaps he's
been kidnapped.

Perhaps he's got tangled up in a toilet
roll somewhere.

I don't know what happens.

Anyway, so she throws on her hat and
coat and she begins combing the streets

eventually, just as she's passing a
dingy little alleyway, she hears a

noise and there to her horror is her
little dog with the little lady dog, as

it were.

You know, having a good time amongst the
dustbins, you see.

So she grabs a nearby bucket of water,
throws it over them, and then drags the

dog to one side. She said, well, really,
I've never seen you do that before.

And the dog looks up and says, well,
I've never had the money before.

Oh, the dimples in her cheeks. Oh, the
dimples in her cheeks. And the ribbons

her hair.

And the ribbons in her hair. And the
rosebuds on her lip.

And the lengthy underwear.

Oh, the dimples in her cheeks.

There's a girl who lives near me, pretty
as a pin.

Whenever I go by her place, she always
lets me in.

She's a girl without no brain, she's
simple, so they say.

But when I take her in the woods, she
always knows the way.

Oh, the nipples in her cheeks.

And the sunburn on her knees.

And the music in her voice.

And she tried so hard to please. Oh, the
sunburn on her knee.

When first we met, she was wearing pants
and pushing an old iron plow. At first

I thought she was a boy, but I don't
think so now.

Sometimes we go for buggy rides and
other times we walk.

I'd like to ask the gal her name, but we
don't get time to talk.

Roll the nipples in her cheek.

And the freckles on her back.

And the starlight in her eyes. And the
starlight in her eyes. And she loved my

brother Jack.

What a shame she married Jack.

And she loved my brother Jack.

Didn't have any baked bean and marmite,
so got you some shrimp and bobber, all

right? So, your missus is out on the
town tonight, is she?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, she's gone to the dogs. Well, we
all know that, but where's she gone to?

No, I mean, she's gone to the racetrack,
hasn't she? With her, you know, and

your Eve.

Oh, has she? Yeah, they've both gone dog
racing. Oh, yeah. Well, they'll

probably lose all their money, won't
they? Yeah.

finish up as paralytic as pigs,
probably.

Get picked up by a couple of drunks,
finish up an all -night orgy in Earl's

Court. Still,

it keeps them out of mischief, doesn't
it?

You're talking of mischief, far be it
from me to pry into your sexual

procavities, but ever since you come
into the bar, I couldn't help noticing

you've been wearing that frilly garter.

round the sleeve of your donkey jacket.

Now, which, if my memory serves me
correctly, is not your usual custom, is

No, you're right. Well, there is an
explanation for that. Well, you damn

hope so. Yeah.

Remember the other weekend you and I
went up west, didn't we?

Ended up at that, you know, two o 'clock
in the morning. You remember we ended

up at that drafty little strip club?

Oh, yeah, the air and the G -string,
yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, we had a few that night. We did.
Two to tell. Don't remember too much of

what happened. Anyway, several days
later, there was I at home, Lil, minding

own business, you see, rifling through
my trouser pockets, and she found this

garter, you see. Now, me, having me wits
about me, I spruced her along that it

was a black armband I bought for
mourning for Uncle Cedric, you see, who,

luck would have it, had died the day
before.

It was lucky, wasn't it? Yeah.

Very fortuitous indeed.

Yeah. Not, of course, quite so lucky for
Uncle Cedric, though. No.

No. Anyway, they'll be in very... What's
your name? Oh, dear. What do you

call it, you know, when somebody, you
know, believes everything you say?

Thick.

That's right.

Thick. That is right. That is it. Thick,
that's right. Yes, you're right, that's

what she is, thick. Anyway, still being
thick, as you said, she, she believes,

she's wanted it. She's wanted
everything, you see. Only I've got to

for two or three days, otherwise you're
going to get very suspicious.

Yeah.

Good job she didn't find that little
brazier in your other pocket then, would

it?

Otherwise you'd be walking around with
red satin earmuffs.

With them little holes to poke your
earlobe through.

So, listen, how old was your old Uncle
Cedric then when he kicked it there? He

was the wrong side of 60.

What was that?

94.

Mind you, for the last six months of his
life, he had been shacked up with a

young bird of 25.

Well, he was 94, she was 25?

Yeah. She was shacked out, wasn't he?

No, you see, he never had any kids of
his own, you see, and apparently I think

he wanted to carry on the family strain.

Well, it would have been a strain, yeah.

What did he die of then, terminal
ecstasy or what?

So, yeah.

It's funny, you know, isn't it, this
life and death business, you know? It's

very strange. I mean, I often sit here
and think, why are we here?

Well, the beer's cheaper for one.

I don't mean why are we here. Why are we
sitting in here in this pub having a

pint in the Mary Thatcher? I don't mean
that. I mean, life's great external

riddle. Why do we exist?

Well, it's something to do, isn't it?

And furthermore, what happens after it?
Now, I heard on the television the other

night, I saw this programme where they
said that there's grounds for believing

that there might be intelligent life on
the other side.

What, you mean on Channel 10?

Channel 10. Be realistic, Sid. Other
life on Channel 10. What I'm talking

is snuffing it.

Snuffing it is not the end of it all,
you see.

We may very well, you and me, end up in
hell.

Oh, I never thought of that. Never
thought of that for one minute. I never

Listen to hell.

I wonder what hell's like.

Not a very nice place, I shouldn't
think, would you? Of course it's not a

nice place, otherwise it wouldn't be
hell, would it? No, it's a terrible

I always imagined it as some vast...

bottomless pit, all burning, where
everyone is chained up and forced to eat

shrimp and Bobville crisps throughout
eternity.

Bit like root of the eel on a Friday.

I suppose, then, do you suppose that
Uncle Cedric is, in fact, in here at

present moment? No, no, no, no.

No, I've got a theory about that. I
reckon that even now, your Uncle Cedric

been reincarnated.

Reincarnate? What do you mean by that?

Reincarnate is when you come back into
this life as something else, you know.

I reckon if I had to come back into this
life as something else, I would like to

come back as an hyena.

As an hyena? Why would you want to come
back as a hyena? Well, if you come back

as an hyena, you're laughing, aren't
you?

I mean, you've got all that beautiful
African sunshine. You wouldn't be forced

to eat bleeding crisps all day, either,
would you?

No, I wouldn't want to come back as a
hyena. Not me. Not with my feet.

But you wouldn't have your feet, would
you? You'd be an Iena, would you? I

you wouldn't be an Iena trapping me
through the jungle wearing two pairs of

black broads and a set of odorators,
would you?

You would have the Iena's feet, would
you? Yeah, but I still wouldn't want...

wouldn't be me, you see, it wouldn't
be... I think if I come back as

I'd like to come back as a giraffe.

You, as a giraffe?

Why do you want to be a giraffe?

Well, it'd stop you picking your noses.

come back as, won't you? Hey, you're the
old great white whale, I should say.

You're right, really, with all the whale
bones in the corsets and all that

blubber, she's got a head start.

Well, she nearly got harpooned when you
took her paddling to Clackton, didn't

you?

Hey, what's that?

Oh, look at that. Look at the time I've
got to get out of here. Oh, blimey.

Here, I've got to put my black armband
on now.

What? You're not going to funeral and
all, George, are you? No, I'm going up

laws to see the cricket. England are
battling against Australia.

You know him? Yeah.

Here now is one of Ronnie Barker's
favourite sketches.

He loved it because of Ronnie Corbett's
performance.

That was jolly good, that was. Thanks
very much. I really enjoyed that.

It's a super game, isn't it? I don't
know why I've never tried it before.

But I can assure you, my dear chap, from
now on, thanks to you, I shall be a

dedicated squish player.

Squash.

Pardon? Squash.

The game is called Squash. Oh, yes,
Squash. That's right, yes.

Tell me, who actually won? I wasn't
quite sure about the sort of scoring

technique of it. I mean, did I win? You
played.

You won. You won. Oh, yes, yes. And how
many goals did I get?

Goals? Well, the thing is, you know,
runs were... Points! Points, yes,

yes. I mean, how many did I actually
score? What was the score?

Look, the score was game love, game one,
game love, game love.

Yes. You won by four games to love.

Oh, good.

That's good. You mean I scored four and
you scored love?

Yes. Ah, I see. And how many is love?

Love is nothing.

Oh, I see. Oh, no, that's not right, no,
because I remember distinctly you did

get a point early on, didn't you? Yes.
Yes, only because you had... Oh, I know,

I was holding the thing by the wrong
end, wasn't I?

I was trying to push it, yes, I remember
it, yes. Yes, I must remember you hold

the bat by the thing. The racket. The
racket, yes, the racket. This is a

you see what I mean? The game is called
squash.

Yes. We play it with a ball, and this is
a plastic racket.

Will it work now you've done that?

Look, I don't care.

Do you understand?

I don't care.

Because I'm not going to play squash
anymore.

Ever. Do you understand?

Oh, I say, that's a bit sad, really,
isn't it? I mean, I was hoping I was

to come back next week and see if I
could do a bit better.

A bit better?

A bit better?

Look, matey.

I am the secretary of this squash club.

You understand that? You know, I am the
captain of the team.

Last year I won the singles final in
squash. I played for the state in

You know,

I'm one of the best players around about
here, to be honest.

You know, I'm good.

You know what I mean? Good.

You haven't played before, have you?
You're vastly overweight.

I mean, you know, you're lumbering about
the court there.

I mean, you've come on to that bloody
court in your Grace Brothers suit.

And you've thrashed me.

You've pulverized me.

Grown me into the dust in front of my
friends. I mean, in front of my friends.

You've humiliated me.

How did you do it? How did you do it?

Beginner's luck.

It was a fluke, mate. A fluke, matey.
Well, it won't happen again. It won't

happen the next time, you understand?

Well, you can't play again because
you've broken your rocket.

Racket!

Doesn't matter.

I'll get a new one, you see. I'll get a
new one. And I shall be back here

tomorrow on this very court challenging
you ten o 'clock. Not tomorrow.

Oh, no, sorry, not tomorrow. No, no can
do. What do you mean, no can do? Well,

I've got to go out to a place called
Lord's. There's two fellas called

Gattingham, both of them. They're
teaching me to play crack it or

I first

met Dick down at Dirty Duck.

Didn't I, Dick? Yeah.

Two musicians down and our luck wasn't
weak, Dick. Yeah.

We both sat down and had some beer. And
he comes up with a great idea.

We play in the street for the world to
hear.

Didn't you, Dick? Yeah.

We soon became the best of chums. Didn't
we, Dick? Yeah.

I played the piccolo, he played the
drums. Didn't you, Dick? Yeah.

Well, that sounded off, so we knocked it
on the head, and we formed a one -man

band instead.

The two of us, just me and Ted.

Didn't we, Ted?

Yeah. I go bang, he goes clang. I go
squeak, and he goes twang. I go

bump, he goes thump. I go thrash, and he
goes thump. I go whiz, he goes ting.

I go bonk.

And he goes, we're renowned throughout
the land.

We're the only two -man, one -man band.

The barmaid's nice and a dirty duck,
isn't she, Dick? Yeah.

She gave us a kiss and she wished us
luck, didn't she, Dick? Yeah.

She said, as I'm always telling you,
son, two at a time is better than one.

Twice the manpower, twice the fun,
didn't she, Dick?

No, no.

I go, he goes, I go, and he goes.

It's sometimes when we should go boom.

When he goes, I leave the room.

He goes, I go, and he goes. We're in and
throughout the land.

We're the only two -man, one -man band.

He goes clang. I go squeak. And he goes
quang. I go bonk. He goes thump. I go

crack. And he goes bonk. I go whiz. He
goes ting.

I go bonk. And he goes squeak. We're in
a...

This is The Two Ronnies Unseen,
featuring their performances on

television, produced back in 1986.

Good evening.

Australia in the 21st century.

What will it be like? Well, we in the
government have got together various

economic forecasters with their crystal
balls and one or two with glass eyes to

look into the future.

Over the next 20 years, high technology
will gradually replace natural manpower

in all walks of life.

Now, here, for example, is the new
microchip Richie Beno.

Very simple to operate, and as you can
see, much more animated.

In your shops now. The new generation of
metallic performers will, of course,

replace the wooden ones currently in use
on neighbours.

All actors will have to be oiled before
going on stage, or in the case of Oliver

Reed, well oiled.

The advent of cable and satellite TV
will give you a much wider range of

television programs. By the year 2000,
you will be able to choose from 567

different channels using this handy
remote control device.

Different channels, of course, will
cater for the interests of different

specialist groups, and of course... ABC
will continue to provide its own

unrivaled programmes of minority
interest.

Such as 101 Things to Do If You're Laid
Up in Bed with John Michael Housen.

Now, it is also estimated that come the
year 2010, Australia won't have a

cricket team.

So, no change there.

And personal recreation well -researched
shows that by the end of the century,

sex will be replaced by snooker.

As man's favourite pastime, that is.

This won't make a great deal of
difference, although some men will need

rest.

Others will need a longer vest, but...
But what about the elderly?

85 -year -old Mr Arthur Cretis of Wanala
writes as follows.

When is the government going to stop
ignoring the old age pensioner?

Next.

what will be left of Australia's green
belt? Well, here is a bird's -eye view.

Sorry, that's a bird's -eye pee. Ah,

there it is, you see? Now, all that will
be left of our unspoiled countryside

will be this 25 -acre golf course here
in my back garden in Melbourne, where

trespassers will be shot, but only if
they're in season.

But there will also be great strides
forward in our space program. Already

are underway to fire a game show host
into outer space to make sure it's safe

for a monkey.

But it's not all good news. No.

What can we expect from Medicare? Well,
due to stringent new medical standards,

no one will be admitted into hospital
unless they're 100 % fit.

This will unfortunately lead to slight
delays in treatment.

Migraine sufferers will have to put up
with a little pain in the head, and

lumbago sufferers will have to put up
with a little pain in the back.

Hemorrhoid sufferers will receive a
visit from John McEnroe.

Finally, what changes will there be in
the government itself? Well, politics

will become much more commercialised,
and by the end of the century we could

Houses of Parliament sponsored by
Andrews Liverthorpe.

This will greatly speed up the passing
of amendments.

Parliament will be dissolved every four
hours in a glass of water.

Office conditions throughout Canberra
will be vastly improved. It's estimated

that six out of every ten civil servants
will have their own polished mahogany

desk. and four out of ten will have a
secretary on top of that.

All the civil servants by then will, of
course, be replaced by clockwork models,

so their secretaries will each be issued
with one of these keys.

And that just about winds it up. Or if
it doesn't, you may need a bigger key.

Good night.

Mr. Swellsby, can you suggest something
for a headache?

No, no, not you, dear. No, me, me.

Oh, never mind. Send in a cup of herbal
tea, if you don't mind. And the next

patient, please.

Well, what seems to be the trouble?

I've got a hatchet in my head.

Good heavens, so you have. I noticed it
as you came through the door, but I

thought it was some sort of hat.

It is some sort of hat. Yes, what sort?

The painful sort.

Oh, dear, I'm sorry. Is it causing you
some discomfort? Of course it is, of

course it is. Yes, it does look, does
look very sore, I must say. You see, of

course, you've got it here, haven't you?

Bang, here you have it. Right between
the sex drive and the ability to sew on

buttons.

Would you do something about it, please?

Yes, certainly. What is your name,
please?

Initials? TK. Look, I failed to see
what... Date of birth, please.

August the 4th, 1930.

Oh, well, that's it. Typical. What do
you mean, typical what? Typical Leo.

Leo?

Leo, fire sign, fire, metal, hatchet. It
is a fireman's hatchet, isn't it? Yes,

it is. And of course, it's the 11th of
the month. You are bound to get a

in your head.

I mean, it's curious. You won't believe
this, but I've just written a paper on

the very subject.

Perhaps you'd care to read it. No,
thanks.

I don't really like reading. I've got a
splitting headache.

Well, me too, I can assure you. Yeah,
but I've got a hatchet in mine.

To the untutored eye, outwardly, yes.
Some of it is inwardly.

It hurts.

Look, I am the doctor, Mrs. Platt. Will
you please allow me to be the judge of

what does and what does not hurt?

Now, please.

Do you get tingling at the end of the
fingers? No, no, no, no, no. All the

tingling is confined to my head. Look,

let us not jump to conclusions.

This hatchet in the head may be the
symptom of something...

Far worse. Well, far worse? How can it
be far worse? Look, this is an

Will you do something about it, please?

If only you'd come to me ten years ago.

I've only just got it.

A lifetime of sitting in the wrong
posture, possibly, or a diet of red

you didn't even know your birth sign,
did you? Of course. You're going to get

hatchet in your head. Will you just pull
it out, please? You see, in this case,

we have to treat the whole man.

What about the hole in the man?

What kind of doctor are you, anyway?

Look. You are living out of accord with
nature, you see. Your ying and your yang

are out of... You see, you're feeling
alienated.

Violent. It's not me that's violent.
It's the man upstairs who's stuck in my

head. He's a violent one.

Look, even the man upstairs obeys orders
from outer forces.

Oh, forget it. I'm just going to an
ordinary hospital outpatient. Sorry

it.

Grateful amateurs. What do you know of
the cosmos? Look, you are a windbag, a

gasbag and a crank, and I hope you sit
on your own acupuncture needles.

Great.

The headache's completely gone.

It says here there is no recession.

All I can say is if this isn't a
recession, it must be the worst boom in

history.

Now, everybody's got more money than
they used to have.

I haven't.

That's it.

Didn't you just have an uncle die?

No. No, I got an auntie die.

Married to Fred.

Oh, it was your auntie, was it?

No, I... he didn't die, he's alive.

It was Fred. He's dead.

Fred.

Dead.

How much money did he leave then?

Well, all of it. You have to, don't you?

But none of it to me. I am truly
thoracic. Well, like me.

I haven't got two openings to scratch
the soles of my feet with.

Well, I don't need money. I do.

I do. I've asked for money. I've begged
for money. I've cried for money. Well,

why don't you work for it? I'm going
through the alphabet. I haven't got the

yet.

The two Ronnies traditionally closed
their shows with a song.

This bittersweet number written by
Ronnie Barker doesn't play for laughs,

reminds us what highly accomplished
actors the two Ronnies were.

People don't want clowns no more.

We seem to be out of fashion now.

We seem to have lost our dash somehow.

We seem to have lost our clout.

People don't think we're funny.

No more.

Comedy seems to have passed us by. It's
just moved on. Don't ask us why. Left us

down and out.

But I remember the day when everyone
loved the clown.

I remember the day whenever the circus
came to town. All the kids in the

neighborhood ran after you down the
street.

Everyone's next door neighbor wouldn't
knock on the wall as hard as they could.

There he is!

There he is!

Come out to me, my dear.

And the elephants holding each other's
tails came lumbering through the crowd.

Pulling the cage, if in hell, the lions
and the liberty horses trotting proud.

Then the stilts and the acrobats came
tumbling through the town.

And behind them all, to tremendous
tears, the hero of the day appeared.

The clown, the clown.

Everyone loved the clown.

Everyone loved the clown.

People don't want clowns no more.

Things we do don't make them laugh.

Comical car that falls in half no longer
stops the show.

People don't go for our gags no more.

The slippery planks and the buckets of
paste, it's sheer hard graft just gone

waste, and nobody wants to know.

But I remember the day when the clowns
were the only thing.

I remember the day whenever we entered
the circus ring, that joyful sound, that

magical roar would surge up from the
crowd, and as each pratfall shoot the

floor. Little Joey came back for more.
The laughs were loud.

The laughs were loud and loud.

And the flower bags bursting all over
the place and the custard pies that

And the soldier Simon full in the face
and the baggy trousers filled with glue.

Jock on his square wheel bicycle and
Jimbo's gigantic ears.

And the final chase round the edge of
the ring. And you feel no pain and the

only thing are the cheers. The cheers.
The cheers. You never forget the cheers.

You never forget the cheers.

People don't want clowns no more.

I tend to blame the telly myself.

That's what's put us on the shelf.

That's what did us in.

It's too sophisticated now.

There's entertainment round the clock.

From breakfast TV to late night rock,
it's one long bleeding din.

Too many of us at it now.

They're at it all day long.

Everyone's jumped on the gravy train.

Competition's too strong.

There's quiz shows, talent shows, the
adverts wall to wall.

The men who talk of... politics.

The biggest clowns of all.

Still, come on, Jacko, we can't sit
here.

There's two more shows tomorrow night.

Two more chances to get it right.

Providing family fun.

Let's get moving.

There's a deer.

It's half past twelve and I'm soaking
wet.

And we've got to muck out the elephant
yet.

Come on.

Oh, we'll never get done.

Well,

I'm afraid that's all we have time for
this week. Next week we shall be talking

to Australia's oldest working milkman,
who's just become a father at 71.

and at 23 and at the Larches as well.

And we'll also be talking to Angus
McTavish of the Sydney Caledonian

who, when asked to do something
Glaswegian on Burns Night, was sick in a

box.

And in the back programme, we shall be
meeting the world's greatest basketball

team, which recently changed to a high
-fibre diet and are now known as the

Harlem Bogtrotters.

And we'll be meeting Elastic Jack, the
contortionist who puts his legs behind

his ears and makes a spectacle of
himself.

Well, then, it's goodnight from me. And
it's good day from him. Good day.

We have an extra special Sunday night of
laugh coming up. It begins here at nine

at brand new Billy Connolly and his own
words.

Next, from acorn antiques to dinner
ladies and then those songs at the

it's a funny business with Victoria
Gould.