Ronnie Barker, TV funnyman and occasional serious actor, has died aged 76.
An entire generation will remember his double-act with Ronnie Corbett, noted for its atrocious wordplay, occasional mild smuttiness, memorable sketches and enough catchphrases for any three lesser acts. Then there was Porridge, unquestionable the funniest and best-characterised sitcom ever set in a prison, and Open All Hours which featured Barker as a stuttering, miserly shopkeeper hopelessly smitten with the tolerantly-unreceptive district nurse. He was given a lifetime achievement award not too long ago and deserved it richly.
The world got slightly smaller and less funny today.
“Fork 'andles” remains one of my most memorable. They did a sketch in a hardware store that centred around misconceptions such as four candles come out as fork handles. They even used it as a training vid at work.
That and the phantom raspberry blower.
I saw very little of the Two Ronnies, but one thing stands out in my memory:
F U N E M N X?
That’s what you ask the waitress at breakfast. I irritate my kids with this whenever we hit the IHOP.
Ah, shite.
I always try to do the “Its goodnight from me…” with my G.F. as we leave parties/occasions, but she always leaves me hanging for the punchline, which she never delivers, leaving me looking like a tool.
