This evening I was listening to “Round the Horne” on Radio 4 Extra when one of our favourite (and especially Laing’s) sketches came up.
It was where Dame Celia Molestrangler (Betty Marsden)and aging juvenile, Binky Huckerback (Hugh Paddick), were doing their weekly war time stiff upper lip film clip as ever as Charles and Fiona.
It had some of Laing’s favourite exchanges and I felt so happy hearing his favourite, part of which became his catchphrase.
Charles: “Do you like it? ... My uniform, that is.”
Fiona: “ You know I like it ... your uniform that is.”
The delivery and specific tones of voice for the additional phrase in each case were so well done. Laing would often ask me, “Do you like it?” and while I was thinking when an immediate “Yes” or “No” was not forthcoming, he would make me grin with a smutty schoolboy smirk understanding an adult double entendre. It would often be difficult not to say I liked it after that joke. Other times he would just say it to cheer me up. In those situations, I would respond with Fiona’s response. There is also the entire sketch that revolves around that exchange that remains unsaid, and that’s also part of the typical Charles and Fiona exchange, for those of you unfamiliar with the intensity of their weekly dramas.
You can always listen to the whole show for the next week. This week’s episode recorded in March 1967 is in an unusual format for the show, even though certain of the weekly themes are carried through, as it is devoted to the recently announced death of J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock and is a good humoured send up of gushing obituary styles that still prevail to this day. I haven’t read any of the tributes to David Frost, but I wouldn’t be surprised if even now, nearly 50 years later, the style and content has not changed much.
Anyway, you know, it’s banter, and especially the type of banter I’ve sketched, totally private between couples, not even the children are aware of it, that is part of the glue that keeps a relationship going. If ever I hear that episode of “Round the Horne” again, I will always think of Laing. Now I had better wipe the smutty schoolboy smirk off my face. It’s way past my bedtime.
In the interim, does anybody want to share a line or two from a show, comedy, play or film that was one of those things you shared, that was shorthand for so much more than the simple words uttered? Come on, don’t be shy. You know you want to. I know how to reel you in. I’ve started the first of the morning’s prize bingo at the old Blackpool Central Station. Many times. Many, many times. Many, many, many times.
