British Radio Comedy: I’m Sorry I’ll Read that Again

My name is Angus Prune
and I always listen to I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again
My name is Angus Prune
and I never miss I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again
I sit in my bath
And I have a good laugh
Cause the theme tune is named after me
My name is Angus Prune
And this is my tune
It goes I-S-I-R-T-A
I’m Sorry I’ll Read That AGAIN!

 This was the idiotic theme song that kept me awake listening to weekly BBC radio broadcast during my youth. The show starred Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Graeme Garden, David Hatch, Jo Kendall and Bill Oddie and provided the stepping stone for the classic Monty Python Flying Circus, At Last the 1948 Show  and The Goodies TV shows. The name of the show was lifted from the words used by radio broadcasters who had misread the news. The show originated from a stage show named the Cambridge Circus and went into full broadcasting in October 1965 lasting ten seasons thru 1973 by which time the program had formed a large cult following. Many of the jokes were repeated gags that kept reoccuring  throughout the episodes to the cheers of the audience.

Here is one of their most popular dialogues between John (john Cleese) and Mary (Jo Kendall) from season 2.

John: Ah, how I love to be alone in the country.
Mary: John?
John: Yes?
Mary: I’m with you.
John: How I love to be alone in the country.
Mary: But John, you brought me with you.
John: I didn’t, you hid in the back.
Mary: But you must have noticed.
John Not at all – it’s a very large tandem.
Mary: But John, when we fell of going down the stairs, you must have seen me.
John: I thought you were a hitch-hiker.
Mary: But I’m your wife. You must have recognized me.
John: I didn’t Mary.
Mary: Why not?
John:  Because you were disguised as a cactus.
Mary:  Oh John, why don’t you admit it, you don’t love me anymore?
(pause)
John: Allright I admit it.
Mary: John, once we had something that was pure and wonderful, and… and good. What happened to it
John:  You spent it.

 The sketch became so popular that a similar encounter was enacted in season 3.

MARY: Goodnight, darling.
JOHN: Goodnight.
(bed creaking and bedsprings twanging)
MARY: John – how much longer is this going to go on? This lying awake at night, tossing and turning, talking and arguing, never knowing what you’re thinking, what’s on your mind, John? Why can’t you sleep? Why can’t you rest? Oh John, where’s the sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care? Oh John  if there’s anything I can do or say that’ll help you rest a little. John? – wake up!
JOHN: What is it , what is it?
MARY: Oh, John, can’t you see what I’m doing to you? … Why are you laughing?
JOHN: I always laugh when you do that to me.
MARY: Oh John, talk to me!
JOHN: I’m sorry, I’ve got things on my mind, I’m tired, I’m worried about the chickweed. It was thoughtless of me, I know, but God knows I haven’t had much sleep skinning that bison last night …
MARY: Which bison – not George?
JOHN: No, Henry.
MARY: So Henry’s dead.
JOHN: Yes.
MARY: I can’t say I’m sorry, he was mean, even for a bison.
JOHN: I’m going to sleep.
MARY: John – talk to me – say something to me – say you hate me, say I’m ugly …
JOHN: Which?
MARY: Say I’m ugly.
JOHN: You’re ugly.
MARY: You’re only saying that – you don’t really mean it! You don’t care – you never think about me, u
p and down all night, warming the milk, mashing the rusks, all the crying and the bedwetting
JOHN: Yes I know …
MARY: I wouldn’t mind if we had a baby.
JOHN: I’m sorry, but I prefer bisons – good night.
MARY: John – what’s happening to us?
JOHN: I know you know.
MARY: You know?
JOHN: Yes.
MARY: Oh God. John
JOHN: Yes?
MARY: What do you know?
JOHN: Well I could be wrong.
MARY: You mean about me and Nigel?
JOHN: Oh, I was wrong! I thought it was Rupert.
MARY: You’re right, it is Rupert, I can never remember names.
JOHN: Anyway I know about last Friday.
MARY: Last Friday?
JOHN: Yes – he was in my bed wasn’t he.
MARY: How did you know?
JOHN: He kept pushing me out.
MARY: You mean you were there too?
JOHN: You didn’t even notice? Oh, God!
MARY: Well, you’ve been having your little bit of fun, too. I noticed the lipstick on your cheek, and I suppose it was you who took my mascara.
JOHN: I was playing circuses.
MARY: All right – but I’ve something else to say – I don’t want Mother in the front room any longer.
JOHN: But, Mary -
MARY: It’s no good – you’ve got to bury her.
JOHN: But she’s still useful – she still feeds the dogs.
MARY: No, no – they haven’t touched her for weeks.
JOHN: But, Mary – can’t you see …
MARY: She’s not my mother.
JOHN: Well, she’s not my mother.
MARY: Oh!
JOHN: Mary?
MARY: Yes?
JOHN: What’s your second name?
MARY: Cleethorpes.
JOHN: Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I seem to have made some sort of silly mistake – I’m awfully sorry about this …