The Two Ronnies

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The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies famous spectacles logo
Format	Sketch show
Starring	Ronnie Barker Ronnie Corbett
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of series	12
No. of episodes	98
Production
Running time	45 mins
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One
Original run	10 April 1971 – 25 December 1987
Chronology
Followed by	The Two Ronnies Sketchbook

The Two Ronnies was a British sketch show that aired on BBC 1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.

Contents 1 Origins 2 Format 3 Influence 4 Revival 5 DVD releases 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Origins

Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett met for the first time at the Buckstone Club, The Haymarket, London, England, where Ronnie Corbett was serving drinks between acting jobs. They were invited by David Frost to appear in his new show, The Frost Report, with John Cleese.^[1]

But the pair's big break came when they filled for a few minutes during a technical hitch at an awards ceremony in 1970. Amongst the audience was Bill Cotton, the then BBC Head of Light Entertainment and Sir Paul Fox, the then Controller of BBC One. Bill was so impressed by the duo that he turned to Paul and said "How would you like those two on your network?" and they were subsequently given their own show by the BBC. The programme quickly became one of the most successful and long running television comedy shows ever on British television, broadcast at the prime-time slot of 8pm on a Saturday night averaging around 22 million viewers a show at its peak.

[edit] Format

The show was based on the complementary personalities of Barker and Corbett, who never became a formal pairing, but continued to work independently in television outside of the editions of the Two Ronnies. The show was produced annually between 1971 and 1987. It had many notable writers including Ray Alan, John Cleese, Barry Cryer, Spike Milligan, David Nobbs, David Renwick, John Sullivan, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Ravenscroft and Gerald Wiley (a pseudonym used by Ronnie Barker when writing sketches). The show revolved around comic sketches in which Barker and Corbett appeared together and separately, with various additions giving the programme the feeling of a variety show.

The sketches often revolved around complex word-play, much of it written by Barker under the pseudonym of Gerald Wiley. Barker also liked to parody officialdom and establishment figures, as well as eccentrics. Corbett appeared quieter, more often acting as a foil for Barker, but remained an important part of the "chemistry". Many of the jokes revolved around his lack of height, with him delivering many of them himself: when Barker said that the next part "does suit Ronnie C. right down to the ground", Corbett replied "Mind you, that's not far is it?". Other jokes could be of a sexual nature of the sort found on seaside postcards, similar in tone to Benny Hill.

One of the most popular sketches was "Four Candles" (a sketch written by Barker under the "Gerald Wiley" pseudonym) where Barker walks into an old-fashioned general store and asks for "four candles" and (after much trouble finding the articles) Corbett gives him the candles. What Barker wanted, however, was "fork handles - 'andles for forks" (as in pitchforks). Other popular sketches include a parody of the quiz show Mastermind with Barker as host Magnus Magnusson and Corbett as a contestant named Charlie Smithers, whose specialist subject was "answering the question before last" and the famous optician sketch ("No, No, You're reading all the furniture").

Both Barker and Corbett had their own solo sections of each show. Barker would have his own heavily wordplay-based sketch, often as the head of some ridiculous organisation or other, which often proved to be the highlight of the show. Likewise, Corbett always had a solo monologue in each show, when he sat in a chair, facing camera, attempting to tell a simple joke, but constantly distracting himself into relating other humorous incidents. The joke itself was normally deliberately corny; the humour came from Corbett's wild tangents, as well as the anticlimax when he finally reached the punchline.

An example of Ronnie Corbett's sense of humour follows: "I was lying in bed with my wife last Sunday morning when she called me by a special pet name she has for me, a loving and endearing term that only she uses. 'Hey Shorty' she said, 'would you like to hear the patter of little feet?' Somewhat taken aback, I replied 'Yes, I would.' She said 'Good. Run down to the kitchen and get me a glass of water.'"

It soon became a tradition of the shows to have a continuing "serial" story which progressed through the eight episodes of a series. These were often fairly bawdy tales with special guest stars. The very first serial was Hampton Wick (1971) written by Ronnie Barker, which began as a pastiche of costume dramas about a governess called Henrietta Beckett, played by Madeline Smith, with the Ronnies playing a wide variety of other characters, but had a neat twist ending that turned this notion on its head.

There were four modern-day mystery serials featuring the comic detective characters "Piggy Malone" (Barker) and "Charley Farley" (Corbett). Done to Death (1972), a mystery about a murdered family, featuring Sue Lloyd; Death Can Be Fatal (1975), in which the duo are sent in search of the formula for the Clumsy Drug, alongside Cyd Hayman; Stop! You're Killing Me (1977-8), in which Devon's yokels are murdered and dumped in London, with support from Kate O'Mara; and Band of Slaves (1981-2), where an all-girls orchestra is sold into white slavery by a demented Chinaman.

One of the most famous serials was The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town (1976), written by Spike Milligan and Ronnie Barker but credited as "Spike Milligan and a Gentleman". Set in Victorian times, it is a Jack the Ripper parody in which a mysterious figure goes around blowing raspberries at members of the upper classes. The raspberries were done by Barker's friend David Jason. This entire section of sketches was included in Spike's book "I Told You I Was Ill".

Another memorable serial was The Worm That Turned (1980); Diana Dors guest-starred in this spoof piece of dystopian fiction in which women rule England while men are housekeepers and wear women's clothes and law and order is managed by female guards in boots and hot pants.

The Two Ronnies also starred in two spin-off silent films labelled The Two Ronnies Present..., By the Sea and The Picnic, written by Barker under a pseudonym, mainly silent comedies featuring a squabbling upper-class family with a 1930s feel about them.

Another regular feature of the shows was an elaborate musical segment in which Barker and Corbett (often in drag) and company would sing a medley of songs in character, in barbershop, music hall, Gilbert and Sullivan or other styles, with the original words altered to suit whatever comic situation they were portraying. There would also be a cabaret musician or group appearing as a special guest, including Dana, Elkie Brooks, Manhattan Transfer, Pan's People, Michel Legrand, Barbara Dickson, Tina Charles, New World, Elaine Paige and Phil Collins, the last of whom also took part in a few sketches.

The show always opened and closed at the newsdesk, which featured the Ronnies as newsreaders, reading spoof news items. This gave rise to the famous catchphrase at the end of each show:

• Corbett: So it's "Goodnight" from me.
• Barker: And it's "Goodnight" from him.
• Both: Goodnight!

These lines were recently used in the second series of the BBC production of Robin Hood.

Following the departure of Morecambe and Wise from the BBC in 1978, The Two Ronnies became the BBC's flagship comedy programme, regularly gaining the top viewing figures in the critical Christmas Day audience battle. A memorable Radio Times cover for the double Christmas issue in 1973 had both double acts appearing side by side.

In 1979 a series was made for the Nine Network in Australia under the title of The Two Ronnies in Australia followed by another series in 1986

The pair also made a number of adverts that appeared on ITV most noteably for British Leyland (Austin/Morris) in 1979 where Corbett played a villan on the run and "needng some wheels" gets salesman Barker to show him round the Austin Morris range.They did a second in 1981, for the "BL Double Bonus" campain Corbett playing a tax inspector as to why Barkers running 4 cars..

They also did a series of adds for Hertz car rentals too in the 1980's

The pairing made no new shows after Christmas 1987, following Barker's sudden decision to retire from show business. This was unknown to the audience and even the production team — the only person Barker told was Corbett, and they and their wives all went for a meal straight after the recording, keeping it a very low-key affair.

Corbett tried to continue on his own, but The Ronnie Corbett Show only lasted one season in 1987.

[edit] Influence

The show was parodied by the Not The Nine O'Clock News team in 1981, as "The Three Ronnies" including footage of then U.S. president Ronald Reagan. There was also another sketch called "The Two Ninnies" which featured a direct parody of several of the pair's musical routines, using exaggerated innuendo, e.g., "Oh vagina, oh vagina, over Chinatown!" This sketch in particular was thought to have caused both Corbett and Barker some annoyance^{[citation needed]}, though Peter Brewis — who composed much of the music in Not the Nine O'Clock News — had briefly worked on The Two Ronnies.

In many respects, The Two Ronnies was ahead of its time as a flagship comedy^{[citation needed]}. Whilst hardly bordering on what would become alternative comedy, the show featured many surreal sketches and continuing storylines which were a far cry from the more traditional approach adopted by peers, such as Morecambe & Wise, Little & Large and Cannon & Ball. There was a genuine intelligence within the comedy writing^{[citation needed]} and both Ronnies were highly believable character actors in their own right^{[citation needed]}, both enjoying highly successful side projects (Porridge, Open All Hours, Sorry! etc) with the BBC throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

[edit] Revival

In 2004 Barker announced that he and Corbett would return to make new episodes, entitled The Two Ronnies Sketchbook. This involved the two sitting at the newsdesk, introducing their classic sketches. A Christmas special was recorded in July 2005, due to Barker's failing health.

Whilst the Sketchbook series was transmitted, The Two Ronnies were also the subject of an episode of the BBC documentary Comedy Connections. Ronnie Corbett, producers James Gilbert, Terry Hughes (film director) and Michael Hurl, and writers Ian Davidson, Peter Vincent, David Renwick and Barry Cryer all spoke about the making of the series. Ronnie Barker did not appear, but excerpts from an interview he gave in 1997 were included.

On Ronnie Barker's death on 3 October 2005 Ronnie Corbett is reported to have said that throughout their many years of association there was never an angry word between them.

In September 2006, they were voted by the general public as number 6 in a poll of TV's Greatest Stars.

As of 2008, full shows of The Two Ronnies are repeated on ITV3 and G.O.L.D., and on the 24, 25 and 26 December 2006 ITV3 channel devoted the whole three days to the show, interspersed with Ronnie Corbett's reminiscences of the show and Ronnie Barker. 28 May 2007 included many more episodes new to ITV3 as well a showing of The Picnic and By the Sea.

[edit] DVD releases

The Best of The Two Ronnies was released on DVD on 1 October 2001, The Best of The Two Ronnies - Volume 2 was released on 29 September 2003 in Region 2 (UK). Series One was released on 30 April 2007. Series Two was released two months later on 2 July 2007. The next Two Ronnies' DVD was a definitive collection of their Christmas specials, with segments from Christmas Night with the Stars, the Old-Fashioned Christmas Mystery and three other Christmas shows. This was released on 29 October 2007. Series Three was released on 17 March 2008 and Series Four was released on 19 May 2008. Series Five was released on 15 June 2009, with Series Six in for 21 September 2009. Five complete series and all Christmas specials have been released so far. The remaining series of the show are expected to be released before 24 December 2011^{[citation needed]}.

The Two Ronnies (BBC) were released in Region 4 (Australia) on the following dates - The Best of The Two Ronnies Volume 1, 4 March 2002. The Best of The Two Ronnies Volume 2, 17 March 2003. The Two Ronnies Series 1, 4 July 2007. The Two Ronnies Series 2 (2 DISCS), 8 May 2008.

The Two Ronnies in Australia was released on 28 June 2008 with an all region coding.

Title	Year	Release dates
		Region 2	Region 4
The Best of The Two Ronnies - Volume 1		01 Oct 2001	04 Mar 2002
The Best of The Two Ronnies - Volume 2		29 Sep 2003	17 Mar 2003
Complete Series 01	1971	30 Apr 2007	04 Jul 2007
Complete Series 02	1972	02 Jul 2007	08 May 2008
Complete Series 03	1973 - 1974	17 Mar 2008	05 Mar 2009
Complete Series 04	1975	19 May 2008	06 Aug 2009
Complete Series 05	1976	15 Jun 2009
Complete Series 06	1977 - 1978	28 Sep 2009
Complete Series 07	1978 - 1979	TBA
Complete Series 08	1980	TBA
Complete Series 09 and By the Sea	1981 - 1982	TBA
Complete Series 10	1983 - 1984	TBA
Complete Series 11	1985	TBA
Complete Series 12	1985 - 1986	TBA
Complete Sketchbook	2005	TBA
Christmas Specials	1971 - 1987	29 Oct 2007	07 Nov 2008
The Two Ronnies in Australia	1986		28 Jun 2008
Complete Collection	1971 - 2005	TBA

[edit] References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008)

[edit] External links

• The Two Ronnies at BBC Online Comedy Guide
• The Two Ronnies at the Internet Movie Database
• The Two Ronnies at TV Heaven
• The Two Ronnies at the British Film Institute