Molestrangler and Huckaback

Another radio broadcast treat today with an airing of Series 3, Episode 14 from 1967 of the  BBC production of Round the Horne featuring its main participants, Kenneth Horne, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick, Kenneth Williams and Bill Pertwee.

The script by Barry Took and Marty Feldman is a work of comic genius with superb dialogue, rich and deep characters and of course expert delivery by the very talented performers.

Amongst the regulars are Dame Celia Molestrangler (played by Betty Marsden) and the ageing juvenile Binky Huckaback (Hugh Paddick).

Their very hammy, plummy tones and over-acting characters appear as the rather vague and intense Fiona and Charles.

Here is a short sketch entitled "Where no Hippos Fly"


Fiona "Oh Charles, Charles. I'm frightened"

Charles " Steady Old Girl. They can smell fear"

F- Are you, are you sorry you brought me out here?"

C- "To the Bush?"

F- "Yes"

C "I know the Bush is no place for a woman but we've been happy here haven't we?"

F "Happy Charles?- Who knows what happiness is? It's giving and taking and having and holding and loving and needing and wanting and feeling"

C- "Yes Fiona. It's all of those things..........and yet ....none of them"

F- "And yet all of them"

C "And yet none of them"

F "AND YET ALL OF THEM"

C "Oh alright................some of them"

F "Charles.  Are we safe here in the Bush?"

C "Quite safe"

F "But look, look over there. There's another of those creatures"

C "Oh, he's an ugly brute. Look at that snout on him. Those little red eyes. Oh, I think he's seen us"

F "Oh Charles"

C "Don't worry. I'll take care of him. Stand your ground.... I think he's going to charge us.
     Good evening Constable, just leaving the Park. Come along Fiona"