The Official Goodies Rule - OK! Fan Club Website

THE GOODIES CLARION AND GLOBE

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF 'THE GOODIES RULE - OK' FAN CLUB

Issue No. 23 12th October 1997

1. THE TIM BROOKE-TAYLOR INTERVIEW - Part 1

2. BOFFO IDEAS - Club happenings and ideas.

3. SPOTTED!!! - The latest Goodies sightings.

4. GOODIES TRIVIA QUIZ - More brain teasers from David McAnally

1. THE TIM BROOKE-TAYLOR INTERVIEW

As you probably know, Tim Brooke-Taylor contacted the club by e-mail last month and has kindly allowed us to bombard him with any questions we have. And since you sent us so many questions for him to answer, we will be publishing his answers to your questions over the next couple of months. Here's the first lot:

WHO OR WHAT WERE YOUR EARLY FILM, RADIO AND TV INFLUENCES? AND WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE COMEDIANS?

I'll take "influences" as referring to comedy. My love for Grace Kelly is and was a personal thing and has nothing to do with anyone but me and my probation officer.

As a little person I loved all cartoons, especially Bugs Bunny. Still do. Buster Keaton was big visual influence, subtle and funny. Not so Charlie Chaplin. Jaques Tati's 'Monsieur Hulot's Holiday' was for years my favourite film.

Radio comedy was important, from 'Much Binding In The Marsh', via 'Take It From Here', to 'Round the Horne'. I "quite liked" the Goons, but only quite.

But my biggest hero by far was Peter Cook. Quite simply, for me, the funniest and most creative person that has ever lived.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DELETING OF EPISODES OF THE GOODIES AND AT LAST THE 1948 SHOW AND THE WHOLE SERIES OF BROADEN YOUR MIND?

Very sad about the 1948 Show as the only copies I have seen are some sort of tele-cine which makes it look as if it was made in the silent film era.

There was an accountant at the BBC who thought that by taping over programmes he would save money. By this time the tapes were only 50 pounds. We were always having arguments with him about budgets. Somebody has to

keep an eye on the books but he was a prat. I didn't know that any of the Goodies had been wiped. Which were they?*

I'd love to see Broaden Your Mind again. At least I think I would.

I've just remembered another comic influence. Alan Bennett whose brilliant series 'On The Margin" was also wiped.

(* The episodes of The Goodies which were deleted by the BBC are 1.4 'Caught In The Act', 2.2 'The Commonwealth Games', 2.7 'Kitten Kong' [original version] and 2.8 'Wicked Waltzing'. Black and white copies of 1.4, 2.2 and 2.8 have since been found in Australia and were returned to the BBC. 2.2 and 2.8 have since been broadcast on cable TV in Australia and the UK. 1.4 has not been broadcast since the early 70s - Ed.)

DID YOU KEEP COPIES OF YOUR WORK IN SHOWS LIKE AT LAST THE 1948 SHOW AND BROADEN YOUR MIND?

Sadly there were no personal video recorders then. I do now have some aforementioned 1948 shows, but the quality is appalling.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GOODIES EPISODE (OR EPISODES)?

This keeps changing. But at the moment it's The End and Ecky Thump. But I saw String the other day, which made me laugh, as did Scoutrageous. You must remember I am not sad enough to watch them very often and some of them I have not seen since they originally went out. I've only just (in the last 12 months) got copies.

At the time I was very proud of Kitten Kong and The Beanstalk. And I have soft spots for Pirate Radio (a walk in the Black Forest). I'd love to re-edit some shows now. Some of the speeded up sequences go on a bit I think. And I am not proud of some of my haircuts.

DID YOU EVER GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE GOODIES' CHIEF TARGETS LIKE ROLF HARRIS, MAX BYGRAVES, DAVID FROST, NICHOLAS PARSONS AND THE OSMONDS? WHAT DID THEY THINK ABOUT BEING LAMPOONED ON THE SHOW? OBVIOUSLY OTHER ONES LIKE TONY BLACKBURN AND EDDIE WARING MUST HAVE ENJOYED IT, AS THEY ACTUALLY APPEARED IN EPISODES.

Rolf Harris lives near me and we meet occasionally at fairly large gatherings. We talked about it years ago. He wasn't a very happy bunny. Nicholas Parsons I know very well and I honestly don't think it occurs to him that we were being rude. But we certainly were. He is like a BBC accountant. See above.

David Frost gave me my first break. He backed At Last The 1948 Show. John Cleese and I were editors (smart word for researchers ) of his live chat show in the mid sixties. They were brilliant. But it gave me an ulcer. We made fun of his self importance but we liked him. Still do. The Osmonds would probably not have known and everyone attacked Max Bygraves, quite rightly.

MARY WHITEHOUSE CRITICIZED THE UNDERPANTS, WITH THE CARROT MOTIF, WHICH YOU WORE IN 'SATURDAY NIGHT GREASE'. BUT WHAT DID SHE THINK ABOUT THE EPISODE 'SEX AND VIOLENCE' WHICH SATIRIZED HER CLEAN UP TV CAMPAIGN?

The most painful moments of our lives was when, at the party at the end of the first series, our producer stood up and read out a telegram from Mary Whitehouse congratulating us on making a good, clean show, or words to that effect. We were deeply ashamed and never made the same mistake again. She was a very bad influence on British TV and I certainly hope the episode upset her.

THE BBC ORIGINALLY DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE THE PUNK EPISODE, BUT THEY AGREED TO A RE-WRITTEN VERSION. WHAT CUTS WERE MADE TO MAKE IT ACCEPTABLE?

I don't remember this being so. I'll ask Bill and Graeme, they might remember.

We were censored on our South Africa show. Believe it or not they thought we were too tough on the South African police! My character was beaten up for being anti apart height (standing up for short people e.g. Bill). They said the audience would not like to see me beaten up. We had recorded the show and the audience were screaming with laughter. They said it was nothing to do with politics. So we rewrote it and made it more of an attack on the pro apartheid SA government. This went out.

IN THE 1980S THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION BROADCAST REPEATS OF THE GOODIES IN THE CHILDREN'S HOURS. FOR THIS THEY DELETED SUCH THINGS AS BILL SAYING "BLOODY", THE DODO'S FARTS IN DODONUTS AND ANY SEQUENCE REMOTELY INVOLVING THE DISCUSSION OF SEX. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THIS SORT OF THING? AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE GOODIES BEING EDITED DOWN TO 22 MINUTE SHOWS FOR BROADCAST ON AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL TELEVISION?

I think you can imagine my reaction to this, especially cutting shows down to fit a slot. It's not Shakespeare, but the shows were carefully constructed. When I went to Australia to promote the Goodies, in 1976, I said that 6 o'clock was too early for the show because a lot of kids would not understand it. We're having the same problem here with The Simpsons which is being put out too early as a kid's show.

I went on the Norman Gunston show and managed to protect myself, until I got to the bit when I said 6 o'clock was too early, as only kids would watch it. Gunston turned to his personal camera and said "He hates kids". Which was brilliant and made me laugh.

The BBC made me re dub a bloody to ruddy, and the whole point of my saying bloody in the first place was because Bill and Graeme had never heard me say anything so naughty. Oh dear. The best time in England for us, was when it went out at 9 o'clock. Kids (I hate the word kids, but it's a useful short cut) could then 'stay up to watch'. Kids enjoyed it on one level and adults on two, that was our theory.

Having said all that I'm grateful to Australian TV for putting it out at all. At least it's more than here.

IF YOU WERE STILL DOING THE GOODIES TODAY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO A SHOW ABOUT?

That's a very good question and deserves a good answer in time. Off the top of my head I think joining up with Europe would be a useful topic. And I dare say there'd be the Spice Boys. Boys!

HOW DID THE SERIES 'ASSAULTED NUTS' EVER GET OFF THE GROUND? WAS IT

DIFFICULT DOING A UK/US CO-PRODUCTION WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT STYLES OF

It was an American cable company who set it up at HBO. It was difficult as everything had to fit American taste and knowledge And the fact that we had no audience, which is vital for me. It could have been very good. I did a lot of sketches by David Renwick and Andrew Marshall (Who wrote 'One Foot In The Grave' and '2.4 Children'), but they always seemed to be edited out. I couldn't do the second series and was replaced by Emma Thompson (natch), but that series was never shown in England. We got on very well with the American performers though. One of them incidentally was the interrogator of Sharon Stone in the 'Is she wearing them or not' . The name of the film escapes me.

I replaced Olivia Newton-John in a Cliff Richard 'made for TV' film. So everything is equal. And does this explain why I play the women's parts? No.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WARNING ABOUT WHAT THE ROUND WILL BE ON 'I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T A CLUE?', AS IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT YOU ARE BEING VERY FUNNY ON THE SPOT?

A little on some rounds, but not enough. A little warning for the late Arrivals for example.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THAT PROGRAMMES LIKE 'WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?' HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY 'I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T A CLUE?'

I refuse to be bitter.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN MORNINGTON CRESCENT TO US? OR IS IT A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET?

Oh come on, everyone knows the original rules. Didn't you play it at Christmas when you were little. Have you seen the Mornington Crescent web pages?

DO YOU REMEMBER APPEARING ON KENNY EVERETT'S 'WHAT DO YOU GOO' SEGMENT?

Certainly, the goo was disgusting.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF A REUNION SPECIAL, SERIES OR FILM?

We would love to do one if offered. Probably just a one-off Christmas special.

* Bonus Question for English Football Fans *

ARE YOU STILL A BIG DERBY COUNTY FAN AND IF SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THEIR NEW STADIUM AND WERE YOU SORRY TO SEE THE END OF THE BASEBALL GROUND?

Of course. The Rams are simply the best. Actually they are pretty damn useful at the moment. And I bought a Derby County Lavatory lid a few weeks ago and it is splendid. I'm thinking of having the bowl painted red - Forest's colours.

I was at the opening of Pride Park by the Queen. It's wonderful.

I do miss the Baseball Ground and wish we could have retained the name at least. But this is all pure sentiment. The new ground is a fabulous leap forward. Up the Rams.

If you have any more questions for Tim Brooke-Taylor, please e-mail them to carrot@auslink.net or post them to Goodies-L, as soon as possible.

You can make it happen here. Liven up the club with a boffo idea for bob-a-job week. Mail carrot@auslink.net with your comments, ideas or suggestions.

OK, hit me with a black pudding, or rather hit my computer with a black pudding (I swear my computer is psychic, it always goes spango when the newsletter is due!). I was all ready to send out details of the meeting, except that I can't get on to IRC and check out some servers and I can't get on the WWW to check out some chat rooms. But never fear people, within the week, either I or someone else will bash some sense into this computer and you will know when the Goodies IRC/Chat Room Extravaganza is happening.

GOODIES T-SHIRTS

Over the past month, I've received a few suggestions for t-shirt designs. Here are several:

In regards to the T-shirts, I think a simple white t-shirt maybe with black or dark blue around the arms and collar with the Goodies logo (the funky yellow bubble letters) across the front and maybe a quote on the back would sell best and be most appealing to Goodies fans (I'd sure buy one). If someone were willing to invest in the making of maybe just 100 or so shirts, I'm sure the profits would make up for the investment and any future production costs.

by Jay, mojo@netspace.net.au

A simple T-shirt design for one of the Goodies T-shirts could be a copy of those worn by the Goodies (as in the start of the show in the 1st series) with funky colours and funky lettering fonts.

If you have any further suggestions, please let me know.

WEBSITE REVIEWED IN INTERNET MAGAZINES

Thanks to Darren, darrenn@one.net.au and John Melville, melville@senet.com.au who informed us that our website was reviewed in two Australian internet magazines, Internet net.au and the Australian Internet Directory. We received a three star review in both mags, for old site at Demon, which is closing down soon.

Meanwhile our new site at Geocities, was voted Best Goodies Homepage on the WWW by Britcoms. If you visit our homepages, you can check out our 1st prize banner, which links to Britcoms.

More exciting than getting your wig-spotters badge! If you've seen a Goodie recently, e-mail carrot@auslink.net with the details. Here's where we've Spotted!!! The Goodies this month:

THE GOODIES ON 'WHERE ARE THEY NOW?'

Unfortunately I still can't tell you when The Goodies interview will screen on the 'Where Are They Now?' (on Channel 7, Australia); but I received e-mail from the producer recently, who said that the interview went well and it's very interesting.

Among the things revealed in the interview are how The Goodies was written. Tim Brooke-Taylor e-mailed us this preview:

"We'd all sit round before a series and write down headings of things we'd like to deal with. This could range from feminism to Rollerball by way of cricket, South Africa and Nuclear War. For example we had on page one "The North Of England" all cloth caps and black puddings (actually we all came from the North). and on page three we had Kung Fu which was very popular at the time. Page 7 had Eisenstein films as a bonus. Mix them together and you get Ecky Thump which was a clean, traditional Northern expletive."

And for those who want to know everything, I can tell you that the interview with was done in a London pub, called The Churchill, at 12 noon (GMT) on Monday 22nd September.

GOODIES GRAMOPHONE BLOOPER

by Linda Kay, lknafc@aol.com.

I recently dug up a real treasure in my video collection, which is a blooper from The Goodies. It aired on one of the Dick Clark NBC Blooper Shows (Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes or one of those things) over ten years ago, and I didn't think until looking at it recently that it might be a real rarity (whether or not it ever aired on anything overseas is unknown to me). It was shown in a segment of British bloopers and was hosted by Lynn Redgrave.

The blooper, specifically, was compiled of three separate takes. The first shows Tim getting ready to make his typical "God Save the Queen" speech and goes to set the needle down on the phonograph record, but the playback starts before he can put it down, so he says to the sound man "I haven't put it on yet!" The second take shows him successfully putting the needle on the record and starting his speech when Bill steps in front of him, pointing to the record and saying that the record isn't even spinning (even though the playback was going). On the third take, Tim sets the needle down, starts his speech, and Bill crosses to grab the record and smash it against the table, but it simply will not break! The audience is howling and Tim grabs the record away from Bill and acts as if he's threatening him with it, then turns and also starts trying to break the record, which still will not break.

I wish I could say which episode this was from, but since I haven't seen them in a while, it's hard for me to know. I can say Tim is wearing his British flag vest and his speech starts out "We will build..." and of course Bill most likely eventually did smash the record. (Sounds like 'The End' to me. - Ed)

BILL IN THE DETECTIVES

by Sandy Scherger, schergs@netconnect.com.au

About six or so months back, my hubby and I were watching an episode of Jasper Carrott's series 'The Detectives', which featured Bill Oddie as a bird watcher. It basically showed what Bill does these days and incorporated it into an episode. Very funny, too, it was!

I'm really not sure whether Bill played himself or just a birdwatcher as he didn't have a name in the show. He WAS a birdwatcher as well as environmentalist (try that first thing Monday morning!), in that he was protecting the eggs of a rare bird to protect the species and hired Jasper Carrott's and Robert Powell's characters to watch the nest and eggs. He may have been playing Bill Oddie, birdwatcher or he could have been Fred Bear birdwatcher.

We get 'The Detectives' on Galaxy Pay TV (it's also on Foxtel Pay TV -Ed) and it is currently screening at around 4.30-ish in the mornings on the Arena channel.

CAN'T GET THE GOODIES CD? TRY CD EUROPE

by Michele, ghost@loop.com

I found The Goodies' CD (Yum Yum - The Very Best Of The Goodies) at CD Europe http://www.cdeurope.com/ , for $18.95 (US dollars, I think - Ed).

THE MAKING OF…BILL ODDIE

by David Balston, david.balston@virgin.net

As part of their Learning Zone series of programmes, the BBC launched a series called 'The Making Of...', which explores how famous people achieved their success and the first subject was Bill Oddie. Four programmes featuring Bill went out over four nights at 12.30am.

The first programme went out on Monday 6th October (or Tuesday 7th October, to be more accurate) and looked at Bill's interest in birds (which began in the forties in Rochdale) and why he chose to become a Goodie. Programme two looked at the first three records he owned., programme three looked at the various career paths of the former Goodie and programme four looked at writing comedy.

David Balston, david.balston@virgin.com

Gideon was a children's cartoon about a yellow duckling with a very long neck. It was basic pre-teens fare, but Tim's narration made it a must see for me. I seem to remember the animation was very basic, but I enjoyed it. I think only 2 series were made, but with all this type of stuff they've repeated them many times.

by Keith Topping, keith@tooon.demon.co.uk

On September 25th, Bill was in Chester-Le-Street, Tyne and Wear, in the North East of England, helping to launch the Northumbrian Water Environmental Trust, in a rather bizarre photo opportunity involving himself being dumped into a rubbish bin whilst holding a bag with "one million pounds" written on it (this is, apparently, the amount of money the NWET have received to help them set themselves up from a recent tax windfall).

Bill appeared in the local papers and on the North East local news that evening being interviewed about the subject. There was also an amusing bit where he was asked how to catch Guinea-Fowl (there's been a recent silly-season news story in the area concerning a pair of very loud birds who have been causing a village sleepless nights, but have been able to avoid capture). Bill replied "How the hell should I know?!" and then told the interviewer a little bit about why Guinea-Fowl were such loud birds (it has to do with mating rituals, apparently!).

TIM IN CALL MY BLUFF

By David Balston, david.balston@virgin.net

Tim's always been a popular guest on daytime quiz shows (well, all quiz shows really). He was on Call My Bluff on the 15th of September.

BILL IN SHOOTING STARS

by Keith Topping, keith@tooon.demon.co.uk

On Sunday 21st September, Bill appeared, for about ten seconds (!) in the BBC's Omnibus documentary "The Film of Reeves and Mortimer", about the remarkable comedy duo. Bill was seen along with several other guests on Shooting Stars in what appeared to be a pub somewhere!

RADIO ONE ANNIVERSARY NIGHT

by Keith Topping, keith@tooon.demon.co.uk

On the 20th of September, the BBC held a 30th Anniversary Night for Radio One. The opening programme was a documentary called 'The Radio One Story' and in a lengthy interview with John Peel, the clip of him from the Goodies episode 'Superstar' (impersonating Jimmy Saville) was shown.

by Keith Topping, keith@tooon.demon.co.uk

I recently dug out an excellent Bill Oddie interview from Radio Times from the period when he was introducing the BBC series 'Festival' (it was a Sunday night show which, according to the Radio Times was "filmed at

different festival locations, the six part series uses music - secular, religious, communal and professional - local interviews and travelogue to convey the unique spirit of each community".) The interview can be dated exactly by a line that says Bill "will be 49 on Saturday" (1990 - Ed).

Bill began the series by visiting the Bredon village fair, then went to Clydebank, Glastonbury, Leeds, Stretford and Cheltenham. "It's primarily a celebration of music and life, not intended to be exclusively Christian. I'll be talking to people of other faiths, or of no particular faith where appropriate". There's a lovely bit where Bill describes himself as "a self confessed 'ageing-hippie'" and was particularly looking forward to Glastonbury "I'm a child of the 60s but I never went to any open-air festivals. I associated them with traffic jams, getting stuck in the mud and not knowing when your favourite group was on. But this time I'll be in a privileged position. I may even know when Ry Cooder is on!"

The piece (by one Nicki Household) entitled "IN ALL GOODIE FAITH", notes after ISIRTA "Oddie went on to The Goodies where he joined forces with the irrepressible Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor to bring their zany humour to a family audience. Sketches like Ecky Thump, songs such as The Funky Gibbon, and capers on their three-man bike kept the show at the top from 1970 to 1982. Bill Oddie would love to make a Goodies 'special', and continues to write and present television series for children. "Youngsters have an in-built morality about nature; it gets knocked out of them as they grow up. We've at last persuaded governments and big business that environmental considerations are cost-effective and essential for the planet's survival. It's also an aesthetic and spiritual argument: a tree is beautiful, and that's a good reason for preserving it".

Bill Oddie. What a Guy!

GRAEME IN DO GO ON

by Thomas Cullen, tcullen@microsoft.com

Graeme Garden was involved with a Radio Show recently on BBC Radio 4 called 'Do Go On'. It also features Griff Rhys-Jones of 'Not the Nine O Clock News' and 'Smith and Jones' fame. It was a spoof discussion going on about anything. Quite relaxing to listen to.

GOODIE NEWS WEEK

by Matthew K. Sharp, kirseval@werple.net.au

On 10 October, at the end of a particularly chaotic episode of 'Good News Week' (which is Australian for 'Have I Got News For You?'), the following ensued. The team of Julie McCrossin, Colin Lane and Gabby Milgate had to identify a news story, given the clues of a leek, a microphone and a picture of GNW host Paul McDermott and opposing team leader Mikey Robbins (who do a radio show together on JJJ-FM). They correctly identified that it had something to do with whales (Leeks - Wales - whales!) - in fact, a radio station that broadcasts only whale song. Having been awarded the points for a correct answer...

GABBY: I watched an episode of The Goodies and that's where I found out that Wales was a national thing, 'cause they went to Wales for the Eisteddfod and ate leeks.

COLIN: And everything that was in The Goodies was true.

[Applause from audience]

PAUL McDERMOTT: Well maybe everyone else should watch The Goodies - I mean, normally for this show people read a newspaper!

GABBY: I thought it was Goodies New Week though.

The McCrossin / Lane / Milgate team ended up winning the game 14 points to 13.

Astute media watchers will note that Colin Lane, with Frank Woodley (who was on the opposing team) starred in the just-ended 'The Adventures Of Lano And Woodley', two episodes of which were directed by Bob Spiers, whose directing skills also graced Series 7 to 9 of The Goodies. You see, it all connects!

THE GOODIES INSPIRE WALLACE AND GROMIT

posted to Goodies-L by Nick McCarthy, nm@deakin.edu.au

During 'The Making of Wallace and Gromit', creator Nick Park revealed that the Wallace character was based on the Goodies vision of a Lancashire type northener who enjoys black puddings (referring of course to 'Kung-Fu Kapers').

MY FAVOURITE FIVE - LISA McCUNE

In today's Sunday Age TV Guide, Australian actress Lisa McCune (from Blue Heelers) listed her favourite five TV programmes as Dr Who, Bewitched, Time Tunnel, Lost In Space, Dynasty and The Goodies (hang on, that's six!). Anyway, the reason she liked The Goodies is "It was on after Dr Who on the ABC every weeknight. It was a great show with terrific sight gags and awesome comic timing." Nice one.

4. GOODIES TRIVIA QUIZ

by quizmaster David McAnally dsm@maths.uq.edu.au

1. What were The Lost Tribe of the Orinoco doing in Kent?

2. What kept Bill awake in 'Snooze'?

3. Which lethal weapon did Bill employ in 'Kung Fu Kapers'?

4. Who won the "Nicest Person In The World" award?

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH'S QUESTIONS

1. What is the first step in cooking Shepherd's Pie?

A: Peel two shepherds.

2. How much did the Goodies charge to tour the middle ages in "Camelot"?

3. What ancient game was restored in "2001 and a Bit"?

4. When three pretty girls, in very short mini-skirts, joined the Goodies in their home at the end of "Sex and Violence", it was obvious that they all anticipated an enjoyable evening ahead of them. Mrs. Desiree Carthorse, in fact, would have been shocked had she known. But how did the Goodies really spend their evening with these girls?

That's it for this month. Don't forget, more of the Tim Brooke-Taylor interview next month!

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This is an archive newsletter of The Goodies Rule - OK! International Fan Club (copyright The Goodies Rule - OK! 1997). Some of the information in this newsletter may now be incorrect. Current information can be obtained from http://www.goodiesruleok.com

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