Feedback: Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show
Post categories: Feedback,ÌýRadio 4,ÌýRoger Bolton
09:04, Friday, 30 March 2012
Feedback's presenter Roger Bolton
When I was a schoolboy I used to think that the world was divided into those who loved the Goons and those who were baffled by their alleged humour. Indeed I first began to worry about Prince Charles when I watched him go into hysterics in the presence of Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe.
I remained stone faced.
Later on I experienced the same sense of disengagement when readers raved about P G Wodehouse.
At this point I can see some readers of this blog rolling their eyes in disbelief. Don't like the master!
No, sorry, don't. Prefer David Lodge or Reginald Hill any day.
I have another confession. It took me two series to appreciate the genius of Fawlty Towers. I watched the first series from behind the sofa, covered in embarrassment. Is any comedy universally loved?
I find it difficult to believe that anyone could fail to recognise that Hancock's Half Hour, Round the Horne, and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue are in the comedy Premiership, and I would nominate The Now Show for promotion from the Championship.
But some comedies still divide the country, none more so than Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show.
On Feedback last week we broadcast emails from highly critical listeners who couldn't understand how the Count was ever commissioned in the first place and who called for his immediate decommissioning - "Rubbish", "drivel," and "a waste of space" were among the politer descriptions of the show.
After our programme Elizabeth Messenger emailed us to say "I am sitting here in stunned rage over the comments in tonight's Feedback. How can anyone NOT find Arthur anything but hilarious? In fact I think this is the best series yet.
HOW CAN ANYONE NOT ENJOY THE SHOW ??????
More than 100 other correspondents wrote in similar vein.
So we thought we should bring together some fans and critics of Count Arthur and let them battle it out.
Mike Saunders and Stephen Brain are in the Count's corner. Ian Green and Rachel Jones are trying to knock him out of the ring. We asked all four to listen to the final episode of the series.
This was Ian's assessment:
Next week on Feedback Caroline Raphael, Radio 4's Commissioner of Comedy, is coming into our studio to explain why she commissioned the Count and whether he has a future. Please let me know what else you would like me to ask her about any Radio 4 comedy.
Roger Bolton
- Listen again to this week's Feedback, produced by Karen Pirie, get in touch with the programme, find out how to join the listener panel or subscribe to the podcast on the Feedback web page.
- Read all of Roger's Feedback blog posts.
- Feedback is on Twitter. Follow .
Comment number 1.
At 31st Mar 2012, newlach wrote:"Long John Saliva" is just not funny. Perhaps it is for old people? It is unbearable.
A Kitchen Supper
"What's your name?" (Strong)
"Roger." (Roger)
"Roget. Well, you'll never be lost for words, then." (Strong)
"Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!" (Roger)
"What's your surname?" (Strong)
"Bolton." (Roger)
"I did a show there last week." (Strong)
"Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!" (Roger, collapsing on floor)
"Here's some oxygen, darling. Get off him Larry and go and catch some mice." (Samantha)
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Comment number 2.
At 8th Apr 2012, Kirth Gersen wrote:I find Ö÷²¥´óÐã 4's comedic output generally pretty woeful but once in a while you come across a solitary gem that stands head and shoulders above the rest - Count Arthur is one such programme.
I was VERY surprised to hear on Feedback last week some listeners trying to whip up a bit of anti-Arthur feeling - but I hope their efforts fall on stony ground at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã.
In my experience, I've seen no evidence of the "Marmite effect" with Count Arthur - everyone I know LOVES him.
My friends and family aren't "Radio 4 people", I'm sad to say, and in the normal course of their daily lives would never have come across the Count without my direct intervention - but now, having been given the opportunity to hear recordings of the earlier series, they're big fans.
So much so that when he played live in town last year, we got a bit of a party together to attend the show. I'm generally of a world-weary cynical frame of mind and you will have to work hard - often unsuccessfully - to raise a smile from me if I'm in your audience, but at the Count's show that night I can honestly say that I very nearly lost control of my bladder - VERY nearly....
I'm not saying the shows are all perfect - he has ups and downs - I thought series 5 and 6 weren't up to his usual standard (they had their moments though), and I had been wondering if he had over-worked the seam possibly, but this latest series has been back on track.
And - for me - when Count Arthur Strong in on track, all's right with the world...
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