Ray's a Laugh
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| Genre | Sitcom, variety show |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | |
| Syndicates | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
| Starring | Ted Ray Kitty Bluett Patricia Hayes Peter Sellers Kenneth Connor Bob and Alf Pearson |
| Written by | Ronnie Hanbury (series 1) Eddie Maguire (series 1-5) Ted Ray (series 1-6) George Wadmore (series 1-7) Sid Colin(series 6-7) Talbot Rothwell (series 7) Charles Hart and Bernard Botting (series 8-12) |
| Original release | 4 April 1949 – 13 January 1961 |
| No. of episodes | 383 (including specials) |
Ray's a Laugh was a BBC Radio comedy series starring Ted Ray which ran from 1949 to 1961.
Background
Ted Ray's alter ego, Nedlo, the Gypsy Violinist, started his own variety show in 1949 and made a success of it. Ray's a Laugh did not include Nedlo's name in the credits, however, nor indeed that of Charlie Olden (Ray's real name). Nedlo/Olden was, by 1949, calling himself Ted Ray (after the golfer);[1] this was how he billed himself for his radio series. It was devised by BBC producer George Inns.[2]
Ray's a Laugh was a domestic comedy, with Ray's wife played by Kitty Bluett. Fred Yule played his brother-in-law. Patricia Hayes also appeared, as did Kenneth Connor as Sidney Mincing. In later series, Ray had left the Cannon Enquiry Agency and joined the Daily Bugle as a reporter. Jack Watson and Charles Leno joined the cast and new characters included Mrs Dipper and Roger Curfew, the paying guest with songs by John Hanson and the King's Men.
Another early member was Peter Sellers, then 23 and billing himself as an impressionist. He appeared as Soppy, a small boy criticised by the nation's watchdogs for his catchphrase, "Just like your big red conk!" Another of his characters was a strange woman, Crystal Jollibottom ("Stop it you saucebox!" he would cry in a crazy falsetto). Laidman Browne, as Ray's boss Mr Trumble, Pat Coombs as Ursula Prune, Charles Leno and Graham Stark were also present. Percy Edwards, the animal impersonator, played Gregory the chicken. There was also the glamour girl who would do anything, but "Not until after six-o'clock!"
Songs came from the Beaux and the Belles, who were actually The Keynotes.[2] Bob and Alf Pearson provided another musical interlude, their signature tune being "We bring you melodies from out of the sky, my brother and I". Bob also played the little girl, Jennifer who, when asked her name, would coyly reply: "Jen-ni-fer!"
One feature of the show was its catchphrases: Ivy's (Ted Ray) devotion to Mrs Hoskins, was illustrated with: "You're a lovely woman, Mrs Hoskins!" It was she to whom Mrs Hoskins would remark weakly: "It was agony, Ivy!" Whenever Ivy felt poorly, Mrs Hoskins would say, "I'll have to send for young Dr Hardcastle", to which Ivy would reply, "He's lovely, Mrs Hoskins, He's loooooovely!" This role was also played by Bob Pearson.
In addition, there was the adenoidal "If you haven't been to Manchester, you haven't lived" from Tommy Trotter (Graham Stark).
Ray's a Laugh ran from April 1949 until January 1961, eventually dropping the musical items.[2][3]
Repeats
Since 2010, archive episodes have been repeated on BBC Radio 7 and its successor Radio 4 Extra.[4][5]
References
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra – How Tickled Am I?, Series 2, Ted Ray". BBC.
- ^ a b c "PERFORMERS: TED RAY". Laughterlog.com. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Ray's A Laugh, 1949". 3 September 2015.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Ray's a Laugh, From 6/12/1949". BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Ray's a Laugh". BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2024.