To continue our focus and conversation about the writers, our friends over at the British Comedy Guide in a recent programming alert about an upcoming special on Channel 4 in London, remind us that buried in the brilliant writing of our favorite British comedy shows are some priceless and timeless catchphrases. As they point out, the nature of the catchphrase is that, by themselves, they aren’t funny at all. However, the classic ones find a way to enter into everyday vocabulary. Many times, you aren’t even aware of it. Interestingly, a catchphrase may be only uttered once in a series, but it’s so classic it remains forever.

Here are some of my favorites in no particular order. Anyone else?

• Don’t Mention the War – Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers
• I’m Free – Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries in Are You Being Served?
• And Now for Something Completely Different – John Cleese in Monty Python’s Flying Circus
• Are You Being Served? – Captain Peacock in, what else, Are You Being Served?
• It’s BOUQUET! – Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances
• He’s from Barcelona – almost everyone in Fawlty Towers
• Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once – Michelle Dubois in ‘Allo ‘ Allo

That’s all I got from here. Anyone else have a favorite?

Interview with Bob Larbey, writer of The Good Life, Mulberry and As Time Goes By early, early in the AM. Will report back asap.

In: Comedy

Related posts:

British comedy legend, Dad's Army, AYBS co-creator, David Croft dies at 89 War as seen through the eyes of British comedy The minds behind the brilliance of British comedy