The Burkiss Way - Revision history

Kurt: /* Releases and other media */

2023-02-09T04:59:33Z

Releases and other media

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	A book, ''Bestseller! The Life and Death of Eric Pode of Croydon'', was published by Allen & Unwin in 1981, loosely based on sketches from the series.<ref>Marshall A and Renwick D (1981), ''Bestseller: The Life and Death of Eric Pode of Croydon'', Allen & Unwin, London, {{ISBN\|0-04-827036-9}}</ref>		A book, ''Bestseller! The Life and Death of Eric Pode of Croydon'', was published by Allen & Unwin in 1981, loosely based on sketches from the series.<ref>Marshall A and Renwick D (1981), ''Bestseller: The Life and Death of Eric Pode of Croydon'', Allen & Unwin, London, {{ISBN\|0-04-827036-9}}</ref>

	A BBC Radio Collection in 1994 contained excerpts rather than complete episodes.~~{{citation needed\|date=September 2018}}~~		A BBC Radio Collection in 1994 contained excerpts rather than complete episodes.

	A BBC Radio Collection in 2010 contained the complete first series.~~{{citation needed\|date=September 2018}}~~		A BBC Radio Collection in 2010 contained the complete first series.

	==Reception==		==Reception==

Kurt at 04:53, 9 February 2023

2023-02-09T04:53:46Z

Show changes

Kurt at 19:50, 24 November 2022

2022-11-24T19:50:35Z

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	\| image =		\| image =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| format = [[w:Sketch comedy]]		\| format = [[w:Sketch comedy\|Sketch comedy]]
	\| audio_format = {{plainlist\|		\| audio_format = {{plainlist\|
	* [[w:stereophonic sound\|Stereo]] (Lessons 1–5, 28 onwards)		* [[w:stereophonic sound\|Stereo]] (Lessons 1–5, 28 onwards)

Kurt at 21:24, 28 October 2022

2022-10-28T21:24:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:24, 28 October 2022
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	'''''The Burkiss Way''''' is a [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] sketch [[w:comedy\|comedy]] series, originally broadcast between August 1976 and November 1980. It was written by [[w:Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]] and [[w:David Renwick]], with additional material in seasons 1 and 2 by John Mason, [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]], Tom Magee Englefield and Liz Pollock.		'''''The Burkiss Way''''' is a [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] sketch [[w:comedy\|comedy]] series, originally broadcast between August 1976 and November 1980. It was written by [[w:Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]] and [[w:David Renwick]], with additional material in seasons 1 and 2 by John Mason, [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]], Tom Magee Englefield and Liz Pollock.

	The first season of the show starred [[Denise Coffey]], [[w:Chris Emmett\|Chris Emmett]], [[w:Nigel Rees\|Nigel Rees]] and [[w:Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]. From season 2 onwards, the show starred [[Jo Kendall]], Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees and Fred Harris. The series had three producers, announced as "[[w:Simon Brett]] of [[w:Stepney\|Stepney]]", "[[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] of [[w:Europe\|Europe]]", and "[[David Hatch\|David 'Hatch of the BBC' Hatch]]".		The first season of the show starred [[Denise Coffey]], [[w:Chris Emmett\|Chris Emmett]], [[w:Nigel Rees\|Nigel Rees]] and [[w:Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]. From season 2 onwards, the show starred [[Jo Kendall]], Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees and Fred Harris. The series had three producers, announced as "[[w:Simon Brett\|Simon Brett]] of [[w:Stepney\|Stepney]]", "[[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] of [[w:Europe\|Europe]]", and "[[David Hatch\|David 'Hatch of the BBC' Hatch]]".

	The show's humour was based on [[w:surrealism\|surrealism]] and literary and media [[w:parody\|parodies]], sprinkled with puns.		The show's humour was based on [[w:surrealism\|surrealism]] and literary and media [[w:parody\|parodies]], sprinkled with puns.

Kurt: /* Reception */

2022-10-28T21:23:26Z

Reception

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	==Reception==		==Reception==
	In 2018, [[Rob Grant]] claimed he "really admired ''The Burkiss Way''," saying "it was a terrifically funny show and I loved it."<ref>Roberts, Jem; Grant, Rob; Marshall, Andrew [https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/the_quanderhorn_xperimentations/interview/rob_grant_and_andrew_marshall/ "Rob Grant & Andrew Marshall interview – The Quanderhorn Xperimentations – British Comedy Guide"], ''comedy.co.uk''. Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref>		In 2018, [[w:Rob Grant\|Rob Grant]] claimed he "really admired ''The Burkiss Way''," saying "it was a terrifically funny show and I loved it."<ref>Roberts, Jem; Grant, Rob; Marshall, Andrew [https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/the_quanderhorn_xperimentations/interview/rob_grant_and_andrew_marshall/ "Rob Grant & Andrew Marshall interview – The Quanderhorn Xperimentations – British Comedy Guide"], ''comedy.co.uk''. Retrieved 9 September 2018</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==

Kurt: /* Broadcast history */

2022-10-28T21:22:36Z

Broadcast history

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	''The Burkiss Way'' ran to 47 episodes in six series, but the episode and series numbering are derailed by "Lesson 31" and "Lesson 32", which are a single episode masquerading as two half-episodes, the first of which ends series 3 and the second of which begins series 4. There are two "Lesson 39"s, both entitled "Repeat Yourself the Burkiss Way", which have identical beginnings. The consequence is that "Lesson 33" to the first "Lesson 39" inclusive have lesson numbers that are one greater than the cumulative number; from the second "Lesson 39" onward the correct numbering is restored.		''The Burkiss Way'' ran to 47 episodes in six series, but the episode and series numbering are derailed by "Lesson 31" and "Lesson 32", which are a single episode masquerading as two half-episodes, the first of which ends series 3 and the second of which begins series 4. There are two "Lesson 39"s, both entitled "Repeat Yourself the Burkiss Way", which have identical beginnings. The consequence is that "Lesson 33" to the first "Lesson 39" inclusive have lesson numbers that are one greater than the cumulative number; from the second "Lesson 39" onward the correct numbering is restored.

	A sketch in Lesson 28 featuring unsubtle references to [[News anchor\|newscaster]] [[Reginald Bosanquet]]'s [[alcoholism]] was cut following the first broadcast and was never reinstated. The last episode was cut short by 6 minutes on its first repeat transmission, on the instructions of the controller of BBC Radio 4. The missing material lampooned the grovelling approach of Radio 4 to the Queen Mother's 80th birthday celebrations. Repeats on BBC7 remained censored until a restored version was first broadcast in ''Celebrate The Burkiss Way'' on BBC7 on Saturday 4 April 2009.		A sketch in Lesson 28 featuring unsubtle references to [[w:News anchor\|newscaster]] [[w:Reginald Bosanquet\|Reginald Bosanquet]]'s [[w:alcoholism\|alcoholism]] was cut following the first broadcast and was never reinstated. The last episode was cut short by 6 minutes on its first repeat transmission, on the instructions of the controller of BBC Radio 4. The missing material lampooned the grovelling approach of Radio 4 to the Queen Mother's 80th birthday celebrations. Repeats on BBC7 remained censored until a restored version was first broadcast in ''Celebrate The Burkiss Way'' on BBC7 on Saturday 4 April 2009.

	The show gained a cult following and has several [[rerun]]s on [[BBC 7]] / [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]]. Listeners complained about some omissions, which may indicate that episodes have been lost or [[Wiping (magnetic tape)\|wiped]] – notably Lesson 6 – and episodes 7 to 27 inclusive have been broadcast in mono, suggesting the original stereo masters were wiped. The suggestion is, however, false as the BBC is known to have all episodes in its archive, though it is unusual for the early shows to be made in stereo and then some later shows to be only in mono. Lesson 6 is unique in being only 15 minutes long, which makes it difficult to accommodate in R4 Extra's schedule.		The show gained a cult following and has several [[w:rerun\|rerun]]s on [[w:BBC 7\|BBC 7]] / [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra\|BBC Radio 4 Extra]]. Listeners complained about some omissions, which may indicate that episodes have been lost or [[w:Wiping (magnetic tape)\|wiped]] – notably Lesson 6 – and episodes 7 to 27 inclusive have been broadcast in mono, suggesting the original stereo masters were wiped. The suggestion is, however, false as the BBC is known to have all episodes in its archive, though it is unusual for the early shows to be made in stereo and then some later shows to be only in mono. Lesson 6 is unique in being only 15 minutes long, which makes it difficult to accommodate in R4 Extra's schedule.

	==Episode list==		==Episode list==

Kurt: /* Contributors */

2022-10-28T21:10:00Z

Contributors

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	==Contributors==		==Contributors==
	In the first series, Chris Emmett made several appearances as a dirty old man; in episode 2, his character became [[prime minister]] thanks to the ''Burkiss Way''. The fourth episode of series one, "Solve Murders the Burkiss Way", featured the voice as "Eric Pode of [[Croydon]]" as a disguise of mass-murderess "Beatrice Crint of [[Chingford]]". The same voice was used in the next episode, "Keep Unfit the Burkiss Way", as "Ron Pode of [[Hackney Central\|Hackney]]" and from series 2 this voice resumed as Eric Pode of Croydon, becoming one of the show's few recurring characters and the only one not a parody of a real person. He is a man with unsavoury habits, inspired by ''[[Round the Horne]]'s'' [[Kenneth Williams\|"J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock"]]. Each week he is interviewed by Fred Harris's character, who calls him Mister Croydon, is disgusted by his habits and puns, and always remarks, "isn't he a panic". This was one of the show's two catchphrases, the other being "there will now be a short intermission". There was usually a series of linked sketches through each episode, the intermission sketches providing a break.		In the first series, Chris Emmett made several appearances as a dirty old man; in episode 2, his character became [[w:prime minister\|prime minister]] thanks to the ''Burkiss Way''. The fourth episode of series one, "Solve Murders the Burkiss Way", featured the voice as "Eric Pode of [[w:Croydon\|Croydon]]" as a disguise of mass-murderess "Beatrice Crint of [[w:Chingford\|Chingford]]". The same voice was used in the next episode, "Keep Unfit the Burkiss Way", as "Ron Pode of [[w:Hackney Central\|Hackney]]" and from series 2 this voice resumed as Eric Pode of Croydon, becoming one of the show's few recurring characters and the only one not a parody of a real person. He is a man with unsavoury habits, inspired by ''[[Round the Horne]]'s'' [[Kenneth Williams\|"J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock"]]. Each week he is interviewed by Fred Harris's character, who calls him Mister Croydon, is disgusted by his habits and puns, and always remarks, "isn't he a panic". This was one of the show's two catchphrases, the other being "there will now be a short intermission". There was usually a series of linked sketches through each episode, the intermission sketches providing a break.

	The fact that Douglas Adams had written for the show did not prevent his becoming a target for satire. He was parodied as Mister Different Adams whose catchphrase is "I see comedy as a kind of...". Adams's ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' was also a target; the 1979 Christmas show (''Eric Pode of Croydon's Easter Special'') closes with [[Peter Jones (actor)\|Peter Jones]] as his [[HHGTTG]] character, ''The Book'', attempting to vilify [[BBC Radio 4]] for broadcasting ''The Burkiss Way'', but in typical fashion, he is cut off in mid-sentence.		The fact that Douglas Adams had written for the show did not prevent his becoming a target for satire. He was parodied as Mister Different Adams whose catchphrase is "I see comedy as a kind of...". Adams's ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' was also a target; the 1979 Christmas show (''Eric Pode of Croydon's Easter Special'') closes with [[Peter Jones (actor)\|Peter Jones]] as his [[w:HHGTTG\|HHGTTG]] character, ''The Book'', attempting to vilify [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] for broadcasting ''The Burkiss Way'', but in typical fashion, he is cut off in mid-sentence.

	==Broadcast history==		==Broadcast history==

Kurt: /* Format */

2022-10-28T21:08:08Z

Format

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	\|title=Burkiss Way, "Eric Von Contrick" sketch excerpt \|description=An excerpt from Douglas Adams's Burkiss Way sketch, "Eric Von Contrick" excerpt}}		\|title=Burkiss Way, "Eric Von Contrick" sketch excerpt \|description=An excerpt from Douglas Adams's Burkiss Way sketch, "Eric Von Contrick" excerpt}}

	The series had its roots in two half-hour sketch shows entitled ''Half-Open University'' which Marshall and Renwick had written with Mason for [[BBC Radio 3\|Radio 3]] as a parody of [[Open University]] programmes. The first, broadcast on 25 August 1975, spoofed [[science]], the second, on 1 January 1976 and repeated on 1 December that year, [[history]].		The series had its roots in two half-hour sketch shows entitled ''Half-Open University'' which Marshall and Renwick had written with Mason for [[w:BBC Radio 3\|Radio 3]] as a parody of [[w:Open University\|Open University]] programmes. The first, broadcast on 25 August 1975, spoofed [[w:science\|science]], the second, on 1 January 1976 and repeated on 1 December that year, [[w:history\|history]].

	In a similar vein, ''The Burkiss Way'' was styled around fictional [[correspondence course]]s by "Professor Emil Burkiss" entitled ''The Burkiss Way to Dynamic Living'', and each episode or "lesson" had a number and a title based on one of the course's subjects: "Lesson 1: Peel Bananas the Burkiss Way", "Lesson 2: Pass Examinations the Burkiss Way", and so on. Although the numbers and titles were maintained throughout the run, a significant change of style early in the second series saw the radio correspondence course become a hook rather than a narrative device, and it was mentioned only in passing.		In a similar vein, ''The Burkiss Way'' was styled around fictional [[w:correspondence course\|correspondence course]]s by "Professor Emil Burkiss" entitled ''The Burkiss Way to Dynamic Living'', and each episode or "lesson" had a number and a title based on one of the course's subjects: "Lesson 1: Peel Bananas the Burkiss Way", "Lesson 2: Pass Examinations the Burkiss Way", and so on. Although the numbers and titles were maintained throughout the run, a significant change of style early in the second series saw the radio correspondence course become a hook rather than a narrative device, and it was mentioned only in passing.

	From here on the programme continued in a more conventional sketch format, though it was to use increasingly [[Monty Python\|Pythonesque]] devices including surreal, [[Stream of consciousness (narrative mode)\|stream-of-consciousness]] linking, back-referencing and aggregation. Like the Pythons before them, the writers lampooned and tinkered with the medium on which the show was broadcast, including spoofs of Radio 4's continuity style. Many later episodes had false endings, sometimes disguised as genuine continuity announcements. The opening and [[closing credits]] might be anywhere within the show. One show ran backwards from the closing to the opening credits, while another was allegedly dropped, broken and glued together with a tube of BBC coffee, resulting in disjointed running order with many sketches beginning and ending in mid-sentence. For one pair of shows, one sentence was split over two programmes, with 'Eric..' ending lesson 37 and '..Pode of Croydon' starting lesson 38.		From here on the programme continued in a more conventional sketch format, though it was to use increasingly [[w:Monty Python\|Pythonesque]] devices including surreal, [[w:Stream of consciousness (narrative mode)\|stream-of-consciousness]] linking, back-referencing and aggregation. Like the Pythons before them, the writers lampooned and tinkered with the medium on which the show was broadcast, including spoofs of Radio 4's continuity style. Many later episodes had false endings, sometimes disguised as genuine continuity announcements. The opening and [[w:closing credits\|closing credits]] might be anywhere within the show. One show ran backwards from the closing to the opening credits, while another was allegedly dropped, broken and glued together with a tube of BBC coffee, resulting in disjointed running order with many sketches beginning and ending in mid-sentence. For one pair of shows, one sentence was split over two programmes, with 'Eric..' ending lesson 37 and '..Pode of Croydon' starting lesson 38.

	As time went on the show became increasingly surreal, and in several sketches, the writers seemed to see how many strange ideas they could cram into a sketch. For example, one later episode contains a sketch about an [[amoeba (genus)\|amoeba]] employed by the Department of Civil Service Staff Recruitment and Fisheries as a token [[Desmond Dekker\|Desmond Dekker and the Aces]] but who keeps [[asexual reproduction\|reproducing asexually]] by [[mitosis]] while singing a [[Lee Dorsey]] song.		As time went on the show became increasingly surreal, and in several sketches, the writers seemed to see how many strange ideas they could cram into a sketch. For example, one later episode contains a sketch about an [[w:amoeba (genus)\|amoeba]] employed by the Department of Civil Service Staff Recruitment and Fisheries as a token [[w:Desmond Dekker\|Desmond Dekker and the Aces]] but who keeps [[w:asexual reproduction\|reproducing asexually]] by [[w:mitosis\|mitosis]] while singing a [[w:Lee Dorsey\|Lee Dorsey]] song.

	==Contributors==		==Contributors==

Kurt at 21:05, 28 October 2022

2022-10-28T21:05:44Z

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	\| show_name = The Burkiss Way		\| show_name = The Burkiss Way
	\| image =		\| image =
	~~\| imagesize =~~
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| format = [[Sketch comedy]]		\| format = [[w:Sketch comedy]]
	\| audio_format = {{plainlist\|		\| audio_format = {{plainlist\|
	* [[stereophonic sound\|Stereo]] (Lessons 1–5, 28 onwards)		* [[w:stereophonic sound\|Stereo]] (Lessons 1–5, 28 onwards)
	* [[monaural\|Mono]] (Lessons 7–27)		* [[w:monaural\|Mono]] (Lessons 7–27)
	* Unknown (Lesson 6)		* Unknown (Lesson 6)
	}}		}}
	\| record_location = BBC [[Paris Studio]], Lower Regent Street, London		\| record_location = BBC [[Paris Theatre\|Paris Studio]], Lower Regent Street, London
	\| runtime = 30 minutes		\| runtime = 30 minutes
	\| creator =		\| creator =
	\| writer = {{plainlist\|		\| writer = {{plainlist\|
	* [[Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]]		* [[w:Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]]
	* [[David Renwick]]		* [[w:David Renwick\|David Renwick]]
	}}		}}
	\| producer = {{plainlist\|		\| producer = {{plainlist\|
	* [[Simon Brett]] (series 1–2)		* [[w:Simon Brett\|Simon Brett]] (series 1–2)
	* [[John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] (series 3–4)		* [[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] (series 3–4)
	* [[David Hatch]] (series 5–6)		* [[David Hatch\|David Hatch]] (series 5–6)
	}}		}}
	\| executive_producer =		\| executive_producer =
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	* [[Denise Coffey]] (series 1)		* [[Denise Coffey]] (series 1)
	* [[Jo Kendall]] (series 2–6)		* [[Jo Kendall]] (series 2–6)
	* [[Chris Emmett]]		* [[w:Chris Emmett\|Chris Emmett]]
	* [[Nigel Rees]]		* [[w:Nigel Rees\|Nigel Rees]]
	* [[Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]		* [[w:Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]
	}}		}}
	\| narrated =		\| narrated =
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	\| country = United Kingdom		\| country = United Kingdom
	\| language = English		\| language = English
	\| home_station = [[BBC Radio 4]]		\| home_station = [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]]
	\| syndicates = [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]]		\| syndicates = [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra\|BBC Radio 4 Extra]]
	\| first_aired = 27 ~~August 1976~~		\| first_aired = {{Date\|1976-08-27}}
	\| last_aired = 15 ~~November 1980~~		\| last_aired = {{Date\|1980-11-15}}
	\| num_series = 6		\| num_series = 6
	\| num_episodes = 47		\| num_episodes = 47
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	\| podcast =		\| podcast =
	}}		}}
	'''''The Burkiss Way''''' is a [[BBC Radio 4]] sketch [[comedy]] series, originally broadcast between August 1976 and November 1980. It was written by [[Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]] and [[David Renwick]], with additional material in seasons 1 and 2 by John Mason, [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]], Tom Magee Englefield and Liz Pollock.		'''''The Burkiss Way''''' is a [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] sketch [[w:comedy\|comedy]] series, originally broadcast between August 1976 and November 1980. It was written by [[w:Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]] and [[w:David Renwick]], with additional material in seasons 1 and 2 by John Mason, [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]], Tom Magee Englefield and Liz Pollock.

	The first season of the show starred [[Denise Coffey]], [[Chris Emmett]], [[Nigel Rees]] and [[Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]. From season 2 onwards, the show starred [[Jo Kendall]], Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees and Fred Harris. The series had three producers, announced as "[[Simon Brett]] of [[Stepney]]", "[[John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] of [[Europe]]", and "[[David Hatch\|David 'Hatch of the BBC' Hatch]]".		The first season of the show starred [[Denise Coffey]], [[w:Chris Emmett\|Chris Emmett]], [[w:Nigel Rees\|Nigel Rees]] and [[w:Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]. From season 2 onwards, the show starred [[Jo Kendall]], Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees and Fred Harris. The series had three producers, announced as "[[w:Simon Brett]] of [[w:Stepney\|Stepney]]", "[[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] of [[w:Europe\|Europe]]", and "[[David Hatch\|David 'Hatch of the BBC' Hatch]]".

	The show's humour was based on [[surrealism]] and literary and media [[parody\|parodies]], sprinkled with puns.		The show's humour was based on [[w:surrealism\|surrealism]] and literary and media [[w:parody\|parodies]], sprinkled with puns.

	==Format==		==Format==

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-24T02:18:15Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:18, 23 August 2022
(No difference)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:24, 28 October 2022
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	'''''The Burkiss Way''''' is a [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] sketch [[w:comedy\|comedy]] series, originally broadcast between August 1976 and November 1980. It was written by [[w:Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]] and [[w:David Renwick]], with additional material in seasons 1 and 2 by John Mason, [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]], Tom Magee Englefield and Liz Pollock.		'''''The Burkiss Way''''' is a [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] sketch [[w:comedy\|comedy]] series, originally broadcast between August 1976 and November 1980. It was written by [[w:Andrew Marshall (writer)\|Andrew Marshall]] and [[w:David Renwick]], with additional material in seasons 1 and 2 by John Mason, [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]], Tom Magee Englefield and Liz Pollock.

	The first season of the show starred [[Denise Coffey]], [[w:Chris Emmett\|Chris Emmett]], [[w:Nigel Rees\|Nigel Rees]] and [[w:Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]. From season 2 onwards, the show starred [[Jo Kendall]], Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees and Fred Harris. The series had three producers, announced as "[[w:Simon Brett]] of [[w:Stepney\|Stepney]]", "[[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] of [[w:Europe\|Europe]]", and "[[David Hatch\|David 'Hatch of the BBC' Hatch]]".		The first season of the show starred [[Denise Coffey]], [[w:Chris Emmett\|Chris Emmett]], [[w:Nigel Rees\|Nigel Rees]] and [[w:Fred Harris (presenter)\|Fred Harris]]. From season 2 onwards, the show starred [[Jo Kendall]], Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees and Fred Harris. The series had three producers, announced as "[[w:Simon Brett\|Simon Brett]] of [[w:Stepney\|Stepney]]", "[[w:John Lloyd (writer)\|John Lloyd]] of [[w:Europe\|Europe]]", and "[[David Hatch\|David 'Hatch of the BBC' Hatch]]".

	The show's humour was based on [[w:surrealism\|surrealism]] and literary and media [[w:parody\|parodies]], sprinkled with puns.		The show's humour was based on [[w:surrealism\|surrealism]] and literary and media [[w:parody\|parodies]], sprinkled with puns.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 28 October 2022
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	\|title=Burkiss Way, "Eric Von Contrick" sketch excerpt \|description=An excerpt from Douglas Adams's Burkiss Way sketch, "Eric Von Contrick" excerpt}}		\|title=Burkiss Way, "Eric Von Contrick" sketch excerpt \|description=An excerpt from Douglas Adams's Burkiss Way sketch, "Eric Von Contrick" excerpt}}

	The series had its roots in two half-hour sketch shows entitled ''Half-Open University'' which Marshall and Renwick had written with Mason for [[BBC Radio 3\|Radio 3]] as a parody of [[Open University]] programmes. The first, broadcast on 25 August 1975, spoofed [[science]], the second, on 1 January 1976 and repeated on 1 December that year, [[history]].		The series had its roots in two half-hour sketch shows entitled ''Half-Open University'' which Marshall and Renwick had written with Mason for [[w:BBC Radio 3\|Radio 3]] as a parody of [[w:Open University\|Open University]] programmes. The first, broadcast on 25 August 1975, spoofed [[w:science\|science]], the second, on 1 January 1976 and repeated on 1 December that year, [[w:history\|history]].

	In a similar vein, ''The Burkiss Way'' was styled around fictional [[correspondence course]]s by "Professor Emil Burkiss" entitled ''The Burkiss Way to Dynamic Living'', and each episode or "lesson" had a number and a title based on one of the course's subjects: "Lesson 1: Peel Bananas the Burkiss Way", "Lesson 2: Pass Examinations the Burkiss Way", and so on. Although the numbers and titles were maintained throughout the run, a significant change of style early in the second series saw the radio correspondence course become a hook rather than a narrative device, and it was mentioned only in passing.		In a similar vein, ''The Burkiss Way'' was styled around fictional [[w:correspondence course\|correspondence course]]s by "Professor Emil Burkiss" entitled ''The Burkiss Way to Dynamic Living'', and each episode or "lesson" had a number and a title based on one of the course's subjects: "Lesson 1: Peel Bananas the Burkiss Way", "Lesson 2: Pass Examinations the Burkiss Way", and so on. Although the numbers and titles were maintained throughout the run, a significant change of style early in the second series saw the radio correspondence course become a hook rather than a narrative device, and it was mentioned only in passing.

	From here on the programme continued in a more conventional sketch format, though it was to use increasingly [[Monty Python\|Pythonesque]] devices including surreal, [[Stream of consciousness (narrative mode)\|stream-of-consciousness]] linking, back-referencing and aggregation. Like the Pythons before them, the writers lampooned and tinkered with the medium on which the show was broadcast, including spoofs of Radio 4's continuity style. Many later episodes had false endings, sometimes disguised as genuine continuity announcements. The opening and [[closing credits]] might be anywhere within the show. One show ran backwards from the closing to the opening credits, while another was allegedly dropped, broken and glued together with a tube of BBC coffee, resulting in disjointed running order with many sketches beginning and ending in mid-sentence. For one pair of shows, one sentence was split over two programmes, with 'Eric..' ending lesson 37 and '..Pode of Croydon' starting lesson 38.		From here on the programme continued in a more conventional sketch format, though it was to use increasingly [[w:Monty Python\|Pythonesque]] devices including surreal, [[w:Stream of consciousness (narrative mode)\|stream-of-consciousness]] linking, back-referencing and aggregation. Like the Pythons before them, the writers lampooned and tinkered with the medium on which the show was broadcast, including spoofs of Radio 4's continuity style. Many later episodes had false endings, sometimes disguised as genuine continuity announcements. The opening and [[w:closing credits\|closing credits]] might be anywhere within the show. One show ran backwards from the closing to the opening credits, while another was allegedly dropped, broken and glued together with a tube of BBC coffee, resulting in disjointed running order with many sketches beginning and ending in mid-sentence. For one pair of shows, one sentence was split over two programmes, with 'Eric..' ending lesson 37 and '..Pode of Croydon' starting lesson 38.

	As time went on the show became increasingly surreal, and in several sketches, the writers seemed to see how many strange ideas they could cram into a sketch. For example, one later episode contains a sketch about an [[amoeba (genus)\|amoeba]] employed by the Department of Civil Service Staff Recruitment and Fisheries as a token [[Desmond Dekker\|Desmond Dekker and the Aces]] but who keeps [[asexual reproduction\|reproducing asexually]] by [[mitosis]] while singing a [[Lee Dorsey]] song.		As time went on the show became increasingly surreal, and in several sketches, the writers seemed to see how many strange ideas they could cram into a sketch. For example, one later episode contains a sketch about an [[w:amoeba (genus)\|amoeba]] employed by the Department of Civil Service Staff Recruitment and Fisheries as a token [[w:Desmond Dekker\|Desmond Dekker and the Aces]] but who keeps [[w:asexual reproduction\|reproducing asexually]] by [[w:mitosis\|mitosis]] while singing a [[w:Lee Dorsey\|Lee Dorsey]] song.

	==Contributors==		==Contributors==