They've Done It Again!

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 799, 12 November 1954, Page 7

They've Done It Again!

almost here again. On Saturday of next week the new seriés will have its first broadcast from 2ZA, and it will be on the air from all ZB stations before the end of the month. Although the scriptwriters modestly deny that the new TIFH is a Landmark in- Radio, others associated with the show are less inhibited in their comments. "This series,’ says Professor Jimmy Edwards, "is refurbished, revitalised, and crammed with novelty and ingenious new twists." The Professor himself is no doubt refurbished, Bentley presumably belongs to the revitalised category, and portraits of two of the novelties appear at the foot of this page. ‘ Among the new twists are such variations in the interludes as those provided by "Disgusted" of Tunbridge Wells, an inveterate writer of letters to the papers, who suggests remedies for some of the "petty swindles and insidious hypocrisies of everyday Life"; and by the Glum family’s weekly discussion of National Problems. Frank Muir and Denis Norden, that notoriously irresponsible pair who hatch the TIFH scripts, have described the genesis of the new series (in terms which stretch credulity to cracking Point) in the rash of dialogue which follows. IT FROM HERE is "(COME man, out with it. You did not summon us here merely to pass the time of day." : Producer Charles Maxwell did not reply at first. He remained with his back to us, staring sombrely through the French windows at the bleak Buckinghamshire landscape painted on the garage wall. When he finally turned, his face was grey. "Gentlemen." His voice was low, but then he stands five foot one at the best of times. His hand shook a little as he poured himself a whisky-and-soda from the bottle of whisky-and-soda on the walnut whatnot. "Gentlemen, they-they are bringing back Take It From Here." Although it was warm in that library a sudden chill seemed to descend. That this should happen yet again in our lifetime.

"Are you-are you certain beyond all reasonable doubt?" "Quite certain. The chancellories of Europe have been agog with the rumour for some time. This morning it was confirmed by a telephone call from A Certain Lofty Personage." "What did Lofty say?" Choosing his words carefully Maxwell recounted to us the whole bitter story-a_ story which would need the pen of a Liddell Hart. It would need ink as well. When he had finished speaking, he rose, and climbing on to a chair, placed his hands impressively on our shoulders. "So you see, men, we are fighting not for a mere principle, but for TIFH itself!" An amused chuckle caused us to spin round. Leaning negligently against the door jamb was the tall, smiling figure of Dict Bentley, eyes reckless: at the scent ot danger, a cigarette drooping lazily from behind his eaf, s "Bentley!" Maxwell cried. "You were listening? You heard?" Bentley’s teeth showed white as he opened his gold cigarette case. "Yes," he said. "I heard. So these devils want Take It From Here back, do they? By George, we'll show ’erf the stuff we’re made of!" "They won't find me afraid," he cried, and quietly slipped to the carpet in a dead faint. We looked aghast at his prostrate form. What to do? "Leave this to me," said a new voice. "Here, old friend, sniff this." It was Jimmy Edwards, efficiently coupling up a length of gas tubing. He took Bentley’s head into his hands as tenderly: as a Welsh fly-half picking up a pass. Now that Edwards was here everything seemed, somehow, less _ sinister. Quietly he took command. Opening Bentley’s cigarette case he forced brandy between his teeth. Bentley stirred. ; "I’m sorry, chaps," he gasped. "I came over funny." ~~ Ignoring this wild boast, Maxwell began to outline the plan of campaign for the long gruelling weeks that lay ahead. "Fortunately," he said, "we shall not be alone in this struggle. I am disposing Wallas Eaton on the right flank and the Keynotes will énfilade in echelon.

In addition there are’’-he flushed with embarrassment-‘"two girls: June Whitfield and Alma Cogan." "Girls?" said Bentley thickly, lurching to his feet. "Where?" "Steady on!" muttered Edwards, twisting his engagement ring nervously. He addressed himself to Maxwell. "I think, Guv’nor, you know by now that we'll never let the BBC down as long as theres money in it." "Sentimental old ass," said Maxwell uncomfortably. "IT knew I could rely on you two. Our only weak link is-" The three of them turned and looked at us through narrowed eyes. "Frank and Denis," said Maxwell soberly. "The script is our last line of defence. Can you make the script of this forthcoming Take It From Here a Landmark in Radio? Can you write us a script that will not only be funny in itself but, by the acuteness of its observation and satiric pungency of its comment, teflect our times in the distorting mirror of laughter?" We answered him with quiet confidence, ‘ "No."

And, by thunder, we’ve been as good as our vrs ES * HE TIFH veterans Edwards and Bentley are, as you have heard, supported in the new series by two newcomers, Alma Cogan and June Whitfield, as well as by such regulars as Wallas Eaton, the mysterious Herbert Mostyn and the Keynotes. Also involved are Harry Rabinowitz conducting the Augmented BBC Revue Orchestra, and (of course) Charles Maxwell, the producer. Alma Cogan, who began in variety when she was 15, first broadcast in the Gently. Bentley series in 1952. June Whitfield made her stage début as assistant stage manager at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre after leaving the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1944, She first met the microphone in 1947 as a crying baby in a Focus on Nursing programme. Listeners may joyfully tune their radios to 2ZA on Sunday, November 14, at 8:30 p.m., for the first programme in the new Take It From Here series. The four ZB stations will begin their T/FH broadcasts on November 28 at the same hour.