The comedy act Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom ("Two minds with not a single thought") was a popular feature of BBC radio in the 1930s and 1940s. It was written and performed by Ronald Frankau (Murgatroyd) and Tommy Handley.[1]
Handley's biographer Barry Took describes the act as "a sophisticated crosstalk of quickfire word and idea association"; the combination of the Old Etonian Frankau's patrician tones as Murgatroyd and Handley's fast-talking Scouse patter as Winterbottom became one of the BBC's most popular comedy features.[2] Took quotes a typical example of Murgatroyd and Winterbottom's rapid cross-talk:
- Murgatroyd: How are you, Mr Winterbottom?
- Winterbottom: I feel a bit funny.
- Murgatroyd: Only a bit? Oh, I feel frightfully funny.
- Winterbottom: Well, it ought to be a good act tonight.
- Murgatroyd: It won't be appreciated by the audience in the studio.
- Winterbottom: Why not?
- Murgatroyd: Well, look at them – there's a fellow there eating a bit of cheese.
- Winterbottom: Yes, he got in on the strength of that. They certainly don't look an intelligent lot.
- Murgatroyd: No, obviously friends of the producer; but we must think of the listener.
- Winterbottom: I'm thinking of her. There won't half be a row when I get home.
- Murgatroyd: Why?
- Winterbottom: I threw a shoe at her.
- Murgatroyd: It isn't June yet.
- Winterbottom: What's that got to do with it?
- Murgatroyd: Ne'er cast a clout till May is out. Yes, Mr Winterbottom, we must always study the listener – the Mr and Mrs Everymans
- Winterbottom: The Jones and Smiths.
- Murgatroyd: The Robinsons and Browns.
- Winterbottom: The Gilbert and Sullivans.
- Murgatroyd: The Tristan and Isoldes.
- Winterbottom: The Hengists and Horsas.
- Murgatroyd: The Moodys and Sankeys.
- Winterbottom: And the Darbys and Joans.
- Murgatroyd: Cut out the Joans and let's think of the Derby. What have you backed?
- Winterbottom: My car into a shop window. Joan a car?
- Murgatroyd: Cut out the Joan and let's think of the Derby again.[3]
Murgatroyd and Winterbottom became so popular that the performers' wives – Jean Allistone and Renee Roberts – were invited to make several broadcasts of their own as "Mrs Murgatroyd and Mrs Winterbottom".[1] Frankau and Handley made more than 50 broadcasts as Murgatroyd and Winterbottom between 1935 and 1948.[1]
References edit
Sources edit
- Took, Barry (1998). Laughter in the Air: An Informal History of British Radio Comedy. London: Robson Books. ISBN 978-0-903895-78-1.