OBIT: Barry Took - RIP

Subject: Barry Took - RIP
From: Fiolar
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 07:20 AM

Just to round off the rather sad week for the entertainment world, the death has been announced of the comedian and scripwriter Barry Took aged 73. On television he had a success with "Points of View" and on radio with "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue." His greatest legacy however was as co-writer with the great Kenneth Williams for the radio show "Round the Horne" which to my mind was one of the greatest comedy shows of all time. He also was responsible for bringing together the Python team. Barry say "Hello" to Dudley and Milton.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: alanabit
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 07:21 AM

I'll second that.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Les from Hull
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 08:23 AM

I thought it was Marty Feldman that he co-wrote with. Kenneth Williams appeared in the shows. A great show though. A really nice bloke. We'll miss him.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 09:56 AM

Barry Took definitely wrote with Marty Feldman. Barry Cryer was the team member in I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.
Barry Took was a fine comic writer responsible for many good pieces of work over many years. He was always interesting when he appeared as himself on both radio and television. The newer generations of scriptwriters do not fill the space left by the likes of Barry Took.
Quack"!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Cappuccino
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 02:22 PM

True. Extremely clever and inventive man. - Ian B

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 04:21 PM

On 'Round the Horne' he probably was co-writer with Kenneth Horne whose show it was. I heard Barry on 'Just a Minute' a few times, which I listened to mainly to hear Kenneth Williams. Barry was well able to hold his own there! Up there (or down there, maybe) must have a marvellous comedy department by now!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Lanfranc
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 04:30 PM

A genuine wit and a nice guy. Sad that he's gone.

Is there no end to the mortality of my heroes?

Alan

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Les from Hull
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 04:40 PM

Well the book in front of me, Round the Horne (scripts), says Barry Took and Marty Feldman. The show ceased with Kenneth Horne's death in 1969. To keep the folk music angle alive I'll post one or two Rambling Syd Rumpo gems.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 04:48 PM

Took also helped Feldman with his own TV series, which included a Battle of Britain parody in which cabbies replaced air aces as our saviours. I don't question that the scripting of Round the Horne (and Beyond Our Ken) was down to the Feldman/Took combination, but I hav always assumed the Rambling Syd Rumpo lyrics came from Kenneth Williams. Is that not the case?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Les from Hull
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 05:08 PM

The rambling Syd bits were all scripted by Took and Feldman. Kenneth Williams was the performer. Here's my favourite -

RAMBLING SYD: (SPOKEN) Now my dearios I'll tether my nadgers to a grouting pole for the old grey mare is grunging in the meadow. Well, better there than here—It makes so much work for the char. 'Tis about a fabled horse, the Somerset Nog so called because it's a cross between a nag and a dog. Half Suffolk Punch and half Dachshund. It gets very foggy on the moors. Anyway, the Nog is a strange looking creature — three-hands high and eighteen-foot long. They're not pretty to look at but the rhubarb in that part of the world be magnificent. My song tells of a man who wants to go to the great fair at Ganderpoke Bog — so he asks the farmer for a loan of the Nog, so he can take all his friends with him, and it proceeds in this fashion.
To the tune of Widdecombe Fair

Rambling Syd: (SINGS) Reg Pubes, Reg Pubes Lend inc your great Nog.
Rollock me £ussett and griddle me nodes.
For I want to go~o to Ganderpoke Bog, with —
Len Possetr, Tim Screevy, the Reverend Phipps, Peg Leg Loombucket, Solly Levy. Ginger Epstein. Able Seaman Truefitt, Scotch Lill, Messrs. Cattermole, Mousehabit, Neapthigh and Trusspot Solicitors and Commissioners for Oaths, Father Thunderghast, Fat Alice, Con Mahoney, Yeti Rosencnrnz, Foo Tong Robinson and Uncle Ted Willis an' all - and Uncle Ted Willis and all.

(SPOKEN) So they all get on - except Fat Alice, who don't get on with anybody, and off they go, but sad to relate - the horse snaps in two and expires - but they do say as how its ghost walks abroad - in two halves, and if you be passing Ganderpoke Bog at midnight they say you can hear the two ghostly halves of the Nog singing in duet… RAMBLING SYD: (SINGS)
Reg Pubes, Reg Pubes you lent your great Nog
Rollock me fussett and grindle me nodes, And now my remains are in Ganderpoke Bog — with
(as quick as possible)
Len Possett, Tim Screevy, the Reverend Phipps, Peg Leg Loombucket, Solly Levy, Ginger Epstein, Able Seaman Truefitt, Scotch Lill, Messrs. Cattermole, Mousehabit, Neapthigh and Trusspot Solicitors and Commissioners for Oaths, Father Thunderghast, Fat Alice, Con Mahoney, Yeti Rosencranz, Foo Tong Robinson and Uncle Ted Willis an' all - and Uncle Ted Willis. (First broadcast 6th February 1967)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 05:14 PM

Barry Took also chaired the News Quiz before Simon Hoggart, and also of course introduced Points of View for many years. I don't think Feldman-Took were responsible for Beyond our Ken though.

Kitty

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Les from Hull
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 05:21 PM

Beyond our Ken was Barry Took again, co-written with Eric Merrimen, who later wrote them alone, after they fell out.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 08:57 PM

Lanfranc Quote:
"Is there no end to the mortality of my heroes? "
At this rate of mortality I shall end up as my own hero.
What a horrendous thought!
Annraoi

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Moleskin Joe
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 02:15 PM

The Took/Feldman line I always remember is "And here come our midget comedians with their feats of tiny patter"

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: HuwG
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 07:41 AM

He was also presenter of "The News Quiz" on Radio 4 for many years, IMHO the funniest current-affairs quiz ever. Much of the humour came from guest panellists such as Alan Coren and (the late) Rachard Ingrams, but Took kept the continuity going with his own gems between questions.

Simon Hoggart, who succeeded him, certainly gives a competent performance in the same style, but hasn't quite the same spark.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Barry Took - RIP
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 08:54 AM

Marvelous! And thanks Les for the Ramblin Syd bit.

Rick