Round the Horne - Revision history

Kurt: /* 1967–1968: Series 3 and 4 */

2024-08-04T03:45:45Z

1967–1968: Series 3 and 4

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:45, 3 August 2024
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	====1967–1968: Series 3 and 4====		====1967–1968: Series 3 and 4====
			{{main\|Round the Horne Series 3}}
			{{main\|Round the Horne Series 4}}
	The third series ran for 21 episodes from 5 February to 25 June 1967.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=260}} After recording the first episode, Williams wrote in his diary that "the script was singularly uninspired I think – no innovations or bright ideas for the beginning of a new series ... For the first time I am beginning to feel that this show is rather dated and tired".{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=272–273}} The BBC hierarchy also thought the first show was slightly lacking and Williams was also downbeat after the second recording, writing that "I think the show is quite dead artistically and the format has completely atrophied itself – it is moribund now. I think I will withdraw after this series".{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=273–274}} Trying to turn the show around, Took and Feldman wrote out the popular [[Camp (style)\|camp]] [[Julian and Sandy]] characters (played by Paddick and Williams) from the third episode, but the cast and Simmonds all insisted they were put back, so the writers duly obliged. After a few weeks the show had settled down and Williams recorded in his diary that the recording "went v. well. Script was v. good indeed and the audience splendid – a great deal of affection there, one felt".{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=274}}		The third series ran for 21 episodes from 5 February to 25 June 1967.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=260}} After recording the first episode, Williams wrote in his diary that "the script was singularly uninspired I think – no innovations or bright ideas for the beginning of a new series ... For the first time I am beginning to feel that this show is rather dated and tired".{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=272–273}} The BBC hierarchy also thought the first show was slightly lacking and Williams was also downbeat after the second recording, writing that "I think the show is quite dead artistically and the format has completely atrophied itself – it is moribund now. I think I will withdraw after this series".{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=273–274}} Trying to turn the show around, Took and Feldman wrote out the popular [[Camp (style)\|camp]] [[Julian and Sandy]] characters (played by Paddick and Williams) from the third episode, but the cast and Simmonds all insisted they were put back, so the writers duly obliged. After a few weeks the show had settled down and Williams recorded in his diary that the recording "went v. well. Script was v. good indeed and the audience splendid – a great deal of affection there, one felt".{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=274}}

Kurt: /* 1965–1966: Series 1 and 2 */

2024-08-04T03:45:14Z

1965–1966: Series 1 and 2

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:45, 3 August 2024
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	====1965–1966: Series 1 and 2====		====1965–1966: Series 1 and 2====
			{{main\|Round the Horne Series 1}}
			{{main\|Round the Horne Series 2}}
	The first episode of ''Round the Horne'' was broadcast on the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] on 7 March 1965. It was described in ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'' as "Five characters in search of the authors".{{sfn\|"Round the Horne". ''BBC Genome''}} The series consisted of 16 episodes and ran to 20 June 1965.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=259}} The programme was produced by John Simmonds and included music from the [[Fraser Hayes Four]] and the studio orchestra, "the Hornblowers", conducted by Paul Fenoulhet; from episode six, Fenoulhet was replaced by Edwin Braden. [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], an announcer and newsreader on the [[BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] and the [[BBC Third Programme\|Third Programme]], was used as the programme's announcer, but was given a larger role as the series progressed; he ended up advertising spoof products and giving human sound effects in addition to his normal role.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=250–251}}		The first episode of ''Round the Horne'' was broadcast on the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] on 7 March 1965. It was described in ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'' as "Five characters in search of the authors".{{sfn\|"Round the Horne". ''BBC Genome''}} The series consisted of 16 episodes and ran to 20 June 1965.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=259}} The programme was produced by John Simmonds and included music from the [[Fraser Hayes Four]] and the studio orchestra, "the Hornblowers", conducted by Paul Fenoulhet; from episode six, Fenoulhet was replaced by Edwin Braden. [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], an announcer and newsreader on the [[BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] and the [[BBC Third Programme\|Third Programme]], was used as the programme's announcer, but was given a larger role as the series progressed; he ended up advertising spoof products and giving human sound effects in addition to his normal role.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=250–251}}

Kurt: /* Julian and Sandy */

2023-02-11T01:08:15Z

Julian and Sandy

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	'''{{main\|Julian and Sandy}}'''		'''{{main\|Julian and Sandy}}'''

	The camp pair Julian and Sandy (played by Paddick and Williams) made their debuts in the fourth programme of the first series and rapidly established themselves as a permanent fixture throughout the run of ''Round the Horne''. They are out of work actors whom Horne encounters each week in new temporary jobs. The writers' original idea was that the characters should be elderly and dignified Shakespearean actors filling in as domestic cleaners while "resting" (i.e. unemployed), but the producer, John Simmonds, thought they seemed rather sad, and at his suggestion Took and Feldman turned the characters into chorus boys.{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=98}}{{refn\|The old actor laddies were to be called J. Behemoth Cadogan and T. Hamilton Grosvenor.{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=97}} Took later wrote that he and Feldman named the chorus boys after [[Julian Slade\|Julian Slade]] and [[Sandy Wilson\|Sandy Wilson]], the composers of the popular 1950s musicals ''[[Salad Days (musical)\|Salad Days]]'' and ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)\|The Boyfriend]]''.		The camp pair Julian and Sandy (played by Paddick and Williams) made their debuts in the fourth programme of the first series and rapidly established themselves as a permanent fixture throughout the run of ''Round the Horne''. They are out of work actors whom Horne encounters each week in new temporary jobs. The writers' original idea was that the characters should be elderly and dignified Shakespearean actors filling in as domestic cleaners while "resting" (i.e. unemployed), but the producer, John Simmonds, thought they seemed rather sad, and at his suggestion Took and Feldman turned the characters into chorus boys.{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=98}}{{refn\|The old actor laddies were to be called J. Behemoth Cadogan and T. Hamilton Grosvenor}}.{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=97}} Took later wrote that he and Feldman named the chorus boys after [[Julian Slade\|Julian Slade]] and [[Sandy Wilson\|Sandy Wilson]], the composers of the popular 1950s musicals ''[[Salad Days (musical)\|Salad Days]]'' and ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)\|The Boyfriend]]''.

	===J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock===		===J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock===

Kurt: /* 1965–1966: Series 1 and 2 */

2023-02-11T01:03:49Z

1965–1966: Series 1 and 2

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 10 February 2023
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	====1965–1966: Series 1 and 2====		====1965–1966: Series 1 and 2====
	The first episode of ''Round the Horne'' was broadcast on the [[Light Programme\|Light Programme]] on 7 March 1965. It was described in ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'' as "Five characters in search of the authors".{{sfn\|"Round the Horne". ''BBC Genome''}} The series consisted of 16 episodes and ran to 20 June 1965.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=259}} The programme was produced by John Simmonds and included music from the [[Fraser Hayes Four]] and the studio orchestra, "the Hornblowers", conducted by Paul Fenoulhet; from episode six, Fenoulhet was replaced by Edwin Braden. [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], an announcer and newsreader on the [[BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] and the [[BBC Third Programme\|Third Programme]], was used as the programme's announcer, but was given a larger role as the series progressed; he ended up advertising spoof products and giving human sound effects in addition to his normal role.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=250–251}}		The first episode of ''Round the Horne'' was broadcast on the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] on 7 March 1965. It was described in ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'' as "Five characters in search of the authors".{{sfn\|"Round the Horne". ''BBC Genome''}} The series consisted of 16 episodes and ran to 20 June 1965.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=259}} The programme was produced by John Simmonds and included music from the [[Fraser Hayes Four]] and the studio orchestra, "the Hornblowers", conducted by Paul Fenoulhet; from episode six, Fenoulhet was replaced by Edwin Braden. [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], an announcer and newsreader on the [[BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] and the [[BBC Third Programme\|Third Programme]], was used as the programme's announcer, but was given a larger role as the series progressed; he ended up advertising spoof products and giving human sound effects in addition to his normal role.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=250–251}}

	One of the early episodes included a sketch by Horne, a [[monologue\|monologue]] based on "the centenary of the birth of the crumpet", including a huge crumpet built for [[Queen Victoria\|Queen Victoria]].{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=247–248}}		One of the early episodes included a sketch by Horne, a [[monologue\|monologue]] based on "the centenary of the birth of the crumpet", including a huge crumpet built for [[Queen Victoria\|Queen Victoria]].{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=247–248}}

Kurt at 01:02, 11 February 2023

2023-02-11T01:02:52Z

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	Horne's supporting cast comprised [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Betty Marsden]] and, in the first three series, [[Bill Pertwee]]. The announcer was [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], who also took part in the sketches. All except the last series featured music by Edwin Braden, played by the band "the Hornblowers", with a song in the middle of each show performed by the [[Close and open harmony#Vocal music\|close-harmony]] singing group the [[Fraser Hayes Four]]; in the fourth series, the music was by [[Max Harris (composer)\|Max Harris]] with a smaller group of players than the earlier series.		Horne's supporting cast comprised [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Betty Marsden]] and, in the first three series, [[Bill Pertwee]]. The announcer was [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], who also took part in the sketches. All except the last series featured music by Edwin Braden, played by the band "the Hornblowers", with a song in the middle of each show performed by the [[Close and open harmony#Vocal music\|close-harmony]] singing group the [[Fraser Hayes Four]]; in the fourth series, the music was by [[Max Harris (composer)\|Max Harris]] with a smaller group of players than the earlier series.

	The show was the successor to ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'', which had run from 1958 to 1964 with largely the same cast. By the time the new series began, television had become the dominant broadcasting medium in Britain, and ''Round the Horne'', which built up a regular audience of 15 million, was the last radio show to reach so many listeners. Horne was surrounded by larger-than-life characters including the [[Camp (style)\|camp]] pair [[Julian and Sandy]], the disreputable eccentric J.{{space}}Peasmold<!--YES, IT IS SPELLED LIKE THIS: PLEASE SEE THE MAIN TEXT OF THE ARTICLE--> Gruntfuttock, and the singer of dubious folk songs, [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]], who all became nationally familiar. The show encountered periodic scrutiny from the BBC management for its [[double entendre]]s, but consistently received the backing of the [[~~director~~-~~general~~ of the BBC\|~~director~~-~~general~~ of the BBC]], [[Hugh Greene\|Sir Hugh Greene]]. Horne died suddenly in 1969; the BBC decided that ''Round the Horne'' could not continue without its star and they cancelled plans for a fifth series that year.		The show was the successor to ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'', which had run from 1958 to 1964 with largely the same cast. By the time the new series began, television had become the dominant broadcasting medium in Britain, and ''Round the Horne'', which built up a regular audience of 15 million, was the last radio show to reach so many listeners. Horne was surrounded by larger-than-life characters including the [[Camp (style)\|camp]] pair [[Julian and Sandy]], the disreputable eccentric J.{{space}}Peasmold<!--YES, IT IS SPELLED LIKE THIS: PLEASE SEE THE MAIN TEXT OF THE ARTICLE--> Gruntfuttock, and the singer of dubious folk songs, [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]], who all became nationally familiar. The show encountered periodic scrutiny from the BBC management for its [[double entendre]]s, but consistently received the backing of the [[Director-General of the BBC\|Director-General of the BBC]], [[Hugh Greene\|Sir Hugh Greene]]. Horne died suddenly in 1969; the BBC decided that ''Round the Horne'' could not continue without its star and they cancelled plans for a fifth series that year.

	Over the following decades ''Round the Horne'' has been re-broadcast continually, and all 67 shows have been published on CD. In 2019, in a poll run by the ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'', ''Round the Horne'' was voted the BBC's third-best radio show of any genre, and the best radio comedy series of all.		Over the following decades ''Round the Horne'' has been re-broadcast continually, and all 67 shows have been published on CD. In 2019, in a poll run by the ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'', ''Round the Horne'' was voted the BBC's third-best radio show of any genre, and the best radio comedy series of all.

Kurt at 01:00, 11 February 2023

2023-02-11T01:00:46Z

Show changes

Kurt: /* Background */

2022-12-30T01:14:46Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:14, 29 December 2022
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	===Background===		===Background===
	In 1957 the radio presenter and comedian [[Kenneth Horne]] was the compere on the popular Saturday evening comedy and music radio show ''[[w:Variety Playhouse (BBC)\|Variety Playhouse]]''.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=164–165}} The programme's writers were [[Eric Merriman]] and [[Barry Took]], and when the series came to an end, they prepared a script for a pilot episode of a new show, ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]''. The show, in which Horne was joined by [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Ron Moody]], [[Hugh Paddick]] and [[Betty Marsden]], was broadcast in October 1957.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=170–171}} The series was due to begin in April 1958, but in February Horne suffered a debilitating [[w:stroke\|stroke]]; he was temporarily paralysed down his left-hand side and lost the power of speech. The BBC postponed the series.{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|pp=103–105}}{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=175}} After physiotherapy Horne was able to begin recording ''Beyond Our Ken'' in June, in preparation for the broadcast of the first series between July and November.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=177–178 & 181}}{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|p=105}}		In 1957 the radio presenter and comedian [[Kenneth Horne]] was the compere on the popular Saturday evening comedy and music radio show ''[[w:Variety Playhouse (BBC)\|Variety Playhouse]]''.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=164–165}} The programme's writers were [[Eric Merriman]] and [[Barry Took]], and when the series came to an end, they prepared a script for a pilot episode of a new show, ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]''. The show, in which Horne was joined by [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Ron Moody]], [[Hugh Paddick]] and [[Betty Marsden]], was broadcast in October 1957.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=170–171}} The series was due to begin in April 1958, but in February Horne suffered a debilitating [[w:stroke\|stroke]]; he was temporarily paralysed down his left-hand side and lost the power of speech. The BBC postponed the series.{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|pp=103–105}}{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=175}} After physiotherapy Horne was able to begin recording ''Beyond Our Ken'' in June, in preparation for the broadcast of the first series between July and November.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=177–178 & 181}}{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|p=105}}
	~~[[File:Marty Feldman 1972.JPG\|thumb\|upright=1\|Feldman in 1972]]~~
	''Beyond Our Ken'' was written around the imperturbable establishment figure of Horne, while the other performers played a "spectrum of characters never before heard on the radio",{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=213}} including the exaggeratedly upper class Rodney and Charles (Williams and Paddick), the genteel, dotty pensioners Ambrose and Felicity (Williams and Marsden), the hoarse-voiced cook Fanny Haddock – a parody of the television cook [[Fanny Cradock]] (Marsden), the earthy gardening guru Arthur Fallowfield (Williams), the semi-articulate rock and roll singer Ricky Livid (Paddick) and Hankie Flowered, a parody of the comedian [[Frankie Howerd]] ([[Bill Pertwee]]).{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=138}}{{sfn\|"Beyond Our Ken". ''BBC''. 28 October 2014}}{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|pp=121–122}} The first episode was not well received by a sample audience,{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=181}} but the BBC decided to back Horne and his team, and the initial six-week contract was extended to 21 weeks.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=185–186}} Before the series came to an end, a second had been commissioned to run the following year.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=188}}{{refn\|''Beyond Our Ken'' ran for seven series and two Christmas specials, with the final edition broadcast on 16 February 1964.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|pp=211–216}}\|group=n}} After the first series Moody was succeeded by Pertwee; Took left after the second series, leaving Merriman to write the remaining programmes on his own.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|pp=212–213}}		''Beyond Our Ken'' was written around the imperturbable establishment figure of Horne, while the other performers played a "spectrum of characters never before heard on the radio",{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|p=213}} including the exaggeratedly upper class Rodney and Charles (Williams and Paddick), the genteel, dotty pensioners Ambrose and Felicity (Williams and Marsden), the hoarse-voiced cook Fanny Haddock – a parody of the television cook [[Fanny Cradock]] (Marsden), the earthy gardening guru Arthur Fallowfield (Williams), the semi-articulate rock and roll singer Ricky Livid (Paddick) and Hankie Flowered, a parody of the comedian [[Frankie Howerd]] ([[Bill Pertwee]]).{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=138}}{{sfn\|"Beyond Our Ken". ''BBC''. 28 October 2014}}{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|pp=121–122}} The first episode was not well received by a sample audience,{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=181}} but the BBC decided to back Horne and his team, and the initial six-week contract was extended to 21 weeks.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|pp=185–186}} Before the series came to an end, a second had been commissioned to run the following year.{{sfn\|Johnston\|2006\|p=188}}{{refn\|''Beyond Our Ken'' ran for seven series and two Christmas specials, with the final edition broadcast on 16 February 1964.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|pp=211–216}}\|group=n}} After the first series Moody was succeeded by Pertwee; Took left after the second series, leaving Merriman to write the remaining programmes on his own.{{sfn\|Foster\|Furst\|1996\|pp=212–213}}

Kurt: /* Main regular characters */

2022-12-30T01:09:30Z

Main regular characters

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:09, 29 December 2022
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	==Main regular characters==		==Main regular characters==
	'''{{main\|Round the Horne main characters}}'''		'''{{main\|Round the Horne main characters}}'''
			===Kenneth Horne===
	[[File:The cast of Round the Horne.jpg\|thumb\|upright=2\|The cast of ''Round the Horne'', 1968. Left to right: [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Kenneth Horne]], [[Betty Marsden]], [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]]]]		[[File:The cast of Round the Horne.jpg\|thumb\|upright=2\|The cast of ''Round the Horne'', 1968. Left to right: [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Kenneth Horne]], [[Betty Marsden]], [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]]]]

	~~===Kenneth Horne===~~
	The persona adopted by the writers for Horne was not greatly different from his real-life one,{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}} and largely the same as that of his ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' character: the urbane, unflappable, tolerant but sometimes surprised central figure, around whom the other characters revolved.{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|p=107}}{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=25}}{{sfn\|Alexander\|1997\|p=139}} ''[[w:The Times\|The Times]]'' called Horne the "master of the scandalous double-meaning delivered with shining innocence",{{sfn\|"Mr Kenneth Horne: Witty Radio and TV Entertainer". ''The Times''. 15 February 1969}}{{refn\|Horne was on record as saying, "If ever I see a double entendre, I whip it out".{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}}\|group=n}} and in ''Round the Horne'' he combined the role of straight man to the flamboyant [[Julian and Sandy]], [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]] and J.{{space}}Peasmold Gruntfuttock with that of genial host of the show. Feldman called him "the best straight man I had ever seen", who nonetheless had "a lot of funny lines".{{snf\|Feldman\|2016\|p=137}}		The persona adopted by the writers for Horne was not greatly different from his real-life one,{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}} and largely the same as that of his ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' character: the urbane, unflappable, tolerant but sometimes surprised central figure, around whom the other characters revolved.{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|p=107}}{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=25}}{{sfn\|Alexander\|1997\|p=139}} ''[[w:The Times\|The Times]]'' called Horne the "master of the scandalous double-meaning delivered with shining innocence",{{sfn\|"Mr Kenneth Horne: Witty Radio and TV Entertainer". ''The Times''. 15 February 1969}}{{refn\|Horne was on record as saying, "If ever I see a double entendre, I whip it out".{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}}\|group=n}} and in ''Round the Horne'' he combined the role of straight man to the flamboyant [[Julian and Sandy]], [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]] and J.{{space}}Peasmold Gruntfuttock with that of genial host of the show. Feldman called him "the best straight man I had ever seen", who nonetheless had "a lot of funny lines".{{snf\|Feldman\|2016\|p=137}}

Kurt: /* Contribution to British vocabulary */

2022-09-15T01:36:43Z

Contribution to British vocabulary

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:36, 14 September 2022
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	Julian and Sandy are cited among the sources for a range of [[polari]] words, including "bona" (Good, excellent; attractive),{{sfn\|"bona". Oxford English Dictionary}} "naff" (Unfashionable, vulgar; lacking in style, inept; worthless, faulty),{{sfn\|"naff". Oxford English Dictionary}} "nante" (Nothing),{{sfn\|"nante". Oxford English Dictionary}} "omee" (Man – spelled "omi" by Took and Feldman){{sfn\|"omee". Oxford English Dictionary}} and "palone" (A young woman. Also: an effeminate man).{{sfn\|"palone". Oxford English Dictionary}}		Julian and Sandy are cited among the sources for a range of [[polari]] words, including "bona" (Good, excellent; attractive),{{sfn\|"bona". Oxford English Dictionary}} "naff" (Unfashionable, vulgar; lacking in style, inept; worthless, faulty),{{sfn\|"naff". Oxford English Dictionary}} "nante" (Nothing),{{sfn\|"nante". Oxford English Dictionary}} "omee" (Man – spelled "omi" by Took and Feldman){{sfn\|"omee". Oxford English Dictionary}} and "palone" (A young woman. Also: an effeminate man).{{sfn\|"palone". Oxford English Dictionary}}

			===See also===
			*[[Round the Horne CDs]]

	==Notes and references==		==Notes and references==

Kurt: /* Kenneth Horne */

2022-09-14T03:08:33Z

Kenneth Horne

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:08, 13 September 2022
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	===Kenneth Horne===		===Kenneth Horne===
	The persona adopted by the writers for Horne was not greatly different from his real-life one,{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}} and largely the same as that of his ''Beyond Our Ken'' character: the urbane, unflappable, tolerant but sometimes surprised central figure, around whom the other characters revolved.{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|p=107}}{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=25}}{{sfn\|Alexander\|1997\|p=139}} ''[[w:The Times\|The Times]]'' called Horne the "master of the scandalous double-meaning delivered with shining innocence",{{sfn\|"Mr Kenneth Horne: Witty Radio and TV Entertainer". ''The Times''. 15 February 1969}}{{refn\|Horne was on record as saying, "If ever I see a double entendre, I whip it out".{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}}\|group=n}} and in ''Round the Horne'' he combined the role of straight man to the flamboyant Julian and Sandy, Rambling Syd Rumpo and J.{{space}}Peasmold Gruntfuttock with that of genial host of the show. Feldman called him "the best straight man I had ever seen", who nonetheless had "a lot of funny lines";{{snf\|Feldman\|2016\|p=137}}		The persona adopted by the writers for Horne was not greatly different from his real-life one,{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}} and largely the same as that of his ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' character: the urbane, unflappable, tolerant but sometimes surprised central figure, around whom the other characters revolved.{{sfn\|Hackforth\|1976\|p=107}}{{sfn\|Took\|1998\|p=25}}{{sfn\|Alexander\|1997\|p=139}} ''[[w:The Times\|The Times]]'' called Horne the "master of the scandalous double-meaning delivered with shining innocence",{{sfn\|"Mr Kenneth Horne: Witty Radio and TV Entertainer". ''The Times''. 15 February 1969}}{{refn\|Horne was on record as saying, "If ever I see a double entendre, I whip it out".{{sfn\|Massingberd\|2006}}\|group=n}} and in ''Round the Horne'' he combined the role of straight man to the flamboyant [[Julian and Sandy]], [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]] and J.{{space}}Peasmold Gruntfuttock with that of genial host of the show. Feldman called him "the best straight man I had ever seen", who nonetheless had "a lot of funny lines".{{snf\|Feldman\|2016\|p=137}}

	===Douglas Smith===		===Douglas Smith===

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:02, 10 February 2023
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	Horne's supporting cast comprised [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Betty Marsden]] and, in the first three series, [[Bill Pertwee]]. The announcer was [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], who also took part in the sketches. All except the last series featured music by Edwin Braden, played by the band "the Hornblowers", with a song in the middle of each show performed by the [[Close and open harmony#Vocal music\|close-harmony]] singing group the [[Fraser Hayes Four]]; in the fourth series, the music was by [[Max Harris (composer)\|Max Harris]] with a smaller group of players than the earlier series.		Horne's supporting cast comprised [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Betty Marsden]] and, in the first three series, [[Bill Pertwee]]. The announcer was [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)\|Douglas Smith]], who also took part in the sketches. All except the last series featured music by Edwin Braden, played by the band "the Hornblowers", with a song in the middle of each show performed by the [[Close and open harmony#Vocal music\|close-harmony]] singing group the [[Fraser Hayes Four]]; in the fourth series, the music was by [[Max Harris (composer)\|Max Harris]] with a smaller group of players than the earlier series.

	The show was the successor to ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'', which had run from 1958 to 1964 with largely the same cast. By the time the new series began, television had become the dominant broadcasting medium in Britain, and ''Round the Horne'', which built up a regular audience of 15 million, was the last radio show to reach so many listeners. Horne was surrounded by larger-than-life characters including the [[Camp (style)\|camp]] pair [[Julian and Sandy]], the disreputable eccentric J.{{space}}Peasmold<!--YES, IT IS SPELLED LIKE THIS: PLEASE SEE THE MAIN TEXT OF THE ARTICLE--> Gruntfuttock, and the singer of dubious folk songs, [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]], who all became nationally familiar. The show encountered periodic scrutiny from the BBC management for its [[double entendre]]s, but consistently received the backing of the [[~~director~~-~~general~~ of the BBC\|~~director~~-~~general~~ of the BBC]], [[Hugh Greene\|Sir Hugh Greene]]. Horne died suddenly in 1969; the BBC decided that ''Round the Horne'' could not continue without its star and they cancelled plans for a fifth series that year.		The show was the successor to ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'', which had run from 1958 to 1964 with largely the same cast. By the time the new series began, television had become the dominant broadcasting medium in Britain, and ''Round the Horne'', which built up a regular audience of 15 million, was the last radio show to reach so many listeners. Horne was surrounded by larger-than-life characters including the [[Camp (style)\|camp]] pair [[Julian and Sandy]], the disreputable eccentric J.{{space}}Peasmold<!--YES, IT IS SPELLED LIKE THIS: PLEASE SEE THE MAIN TEXT OF THE ARTICLE--> Gruntfuttock, and the singer of dubious folk songs, [[Rambling Syd Rumpo]], who all became nationally familiar. The show encountered periodic scrutiny from the BBC management for its [[double entendre]]s, but consistently received the backing of the [[Director-General of the BBC\|Director-General of the BBC]], [[Hugh Greene\|Sir Hugh Greene]]. Horne died suddenly in 1969; the BBC decided that ''Round the Horne'' could not continue without its star and they cancelled plans for a fifth series that year.

	Over the following decades ''Round the Horne'' has been re-broadcast continually, and all 67 shows have been published on CD. In 2019, in a poll run by the ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'', ''Round the Horne'' was voted the BBC's third-best radio show of any genre, and the best radio comedy series of all.		Over the following decades ''Round the Horne'' has been re-broadcast continually, and all 67 shows have been published on CD. In 2019, in a poll run by the ''[[Radio Times\|Radio Times]]'', ''Round the Horne'' was voted the BBC's third-best radio show of any genre, and the best radio comedy series of all.