# And it's goodnight from him **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717 "2005-10-04T10:32:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/1 "2005-10-04T10:32:55Z")
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. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/2 "2005-10-04T10:40:05Z")
Just saw that myself. He will be sorely missed. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/3 "2005-10-04T10:45:07Z")
His wordplay sketches and answering the qustion before it’s asked type skits with Corbett were brilliant. And “What? From here?” remains one of my favourite lines. ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/4 "2005-10-04T10:51:53Z")
“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. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gommsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@gommsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gommsn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/5 "2005-10-04T11:10:51Z")
There have been many great British comedies but I think my favorite was _Open all hours_ . I wish BBC-Canada would start showing more of these. There was a skit on _The Two Ronnies_ where he was a minister in the pulpit doing the entire sermon in Cockney rhyme. Pure gold! ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/6 "2005-10-04T12:15:18Z")
…oh bugger. ☹ The Fork Andles was a favourite of mine too, and I was genuinely scared that the Phantom Raspberry Blower would get me in my sleep. Rest In Peace Ronnie… ☹☹ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/7 "2005-10-04T14:57:04Z")
I touched the Woo Ronnies specifically for the spoonerisms… Apparently I didn’t learn a thing… Favourite recent appearance…a few years ago as the Two Fat Ladies arriving on stage for a British awards show… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/8 "2005-10-04T15:02:31Z")
He will be missed, but he leaves behind a fantastic legacy by which we may continue to admire him. His lifetime achievement award was truly deserved. ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/9 "2005-10-04T17:48:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/10 "2005-10-04T17:57:08Z")
> [@Bomzaway](#): > > F U N E M N X? S V F M. V F N N E X. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/11 "2005-10-04T18:04:35Z")
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. He truly was one of my all time favourites. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/12 "2005-10-04T18:10:39Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > S V F M. V F N N E X. Y F N U N E X? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/13 "2005-10-04T18:12:49Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Y F N U N E X? I 8 D X. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/14 "2005-10-04T18:29:45Z")
I hope this isn’t a breach of copyright but here is the four candles [script](http://www.angelfire.com/me/tvcomedy/fourcandles.html) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/15 "2005-10-04T20:49:06Z")
He will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/16 "2005-10-04T22:14:46Z")
I was just thinking of The Two Ronnies the other day. Our local PBS played them for a short time many years ago and I haven’t seen them since. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/17 "2005-10-05T00:00:35Z")
> [@gommsn](#): > > There have been many great British comedies but I think my favorite was _Open all hours_ . I wish BBC-Canada would start showing more of these. I love that show. I noticed recently that its now available on DVD here. Maybe it is in Canada too… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-its-goodnight-from-him/324717/18 "2005-10-05T08:08:23Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > I 8 D X. S.I.L.L.Y. C.O.W. :rolleyes: