BIG-HEARTED ARTHUR AND MR. NASTY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 27, 29 December 1939, Page 20

BIG-HEARTED ARTHUR AND MR. NASTY

BBC’s Famous "Band Waggon" Reaches New Zealand

BBC programme has been amusing the multitude and making radio history in England. It has even been praised in the House of Commons, The programme is called "Band Waggon." Now it has reached New Zealand. A cavalcade of "Band Waggon" programmes was presented recently from 2YD, Wellington, and one will be heard from 2YA on January 2 (9.25 p.m.) RICHARD MURDOCH: Perhaps you could suggest what I should do to improve my broadcasting? ARTHUR ASKEY: Certainly I can. Get lockjaw . .. Okay-make your announcement. Big-Hearted Arthur — that’s me! That is how the first "Band Waggon" programme started; Askey adopted his famous " Big-Hearted-that’s me!" Since then, the programme has become probably the most popular humorous one over the English air. Anyway, on October 11, 1939, Sir Samuel Hoare, in the House of Commons, referred to "*Band Waggon, perhaps the most popular programme of ali .. ." High praise indeed from a place where usually nothing more entertaining than a new statute is discussed. Askey has a big head, spectacles, a heart-warmingly fatuous grin, and a shrill shriek. His partner, Richard MurS Be January, 1938, a _ certain

doch, colloquially known as "Stinker" is tall, debonair, and handsome. With them in the programme are special mythical creatures with fascinating names, such as Mrs. Bagwash, Nausea her daughter, Ernie Bagwash, Lucy and Basil the pigeons, and Lewis the goat. Lately there has been a new arrival, one "Mr. Nasty," of whom more anon. The large-headed and hearted comedian began as a chorister in Liverpool Cathedral. ("Hearing me sing, you'd never believe it, but I had a nice voice.") Only 5ft. 2ins. now, he used to stand on tip-toe so that his red head was at normal choirboy height. His voice broke, and he got a safe Civil Service job; but he wanted something different, and still sang comic songs when the boss was away from the office. Then came a real stage job, and safe work and pensions were forgotten. Askey went on the road, saw England and Scotland through a trouper’s eyes. Friends warned him to "keep off the radio, Arthur," when he started broadcasting in 1932. They said it would do him no good. Then came January, 1938. " Band Waggon" began, and two men met before the "mike." "My name’s Askey." "Mine’s Murdoch." And the first shows were stiffish. They soon began to unbend, however. An un-named genius thought of a mythical flat on top of Broadcasting

House, the various aforementioned mythical creatures were introduced, and "Band Waggon" was well on the way. How do they think up the jokes? Well, once a week, a notice goes up on the BBC board. It calls " Big-Hearted," "Stinker," and the producers together. Ensues the weekly "Band Waggon" conference. There, with the participants howling with mirth as one "crack" after another is made, the programme is built. Since war broke out, Askey, who is also known as "that silly little man,"

has keen delving as busily as a mole and bringing to light some really funny comments on the situation. The person who really worries " BigHearted" it would seem, is a certain "Mr. Nasty." Usually sweet-tempered and docile, despite the way he howls "I thang yow!" after every wisecrack, "Big Hearted" has now devised such schemes as putting 5,000 parrots in training to fly over old Nasty’s house at Birdsgarden, singing "We'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you!" We append to this story a cartoon (the true hall-mark of the programme’s fame).