Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells
Encyclopedia
The term Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells is a proverbial sign-off-name in the United Kingdom
for a letter to a newspaper
complaining (often excessively) about a subject that the writer feels is unacceptable.
The term apparently dates back to the 1950s. Historian and former newspaper editor
Frank Chapman attributes it to the staff of the former Tunbridge Wells
Advertiser. The paper's editor, alarmed at a lack of letters from readers, insisted his staff pen a few to fill space. One signed his simply "Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells".
The term was given a wide currency in the early 1950s by the BBC
radio comedy series Take it from Here
in which Disgusted, played by Wallas Eaton
, would make a ludicrous protest to give the cue for a sketch by Jimmy Edwards
and Dick Bentley
.
In 1978, Radio 4 called its new listener feedback programme, now called Feedback
, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells.
In recent times, some residents of Tunbridge Wells are calling the tag "inappropriate" and "stereotypical" and want the town to drop association with it in favour of "Delighted of Tunbridge Wells".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for a letter to a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
complaining (often excessively) about a subject that the writer feels is unacceptable.
The term apparently dates back to the 1950s. Historian and former newspaper editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
Frank Chapman attributes it to the staff of the former Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
Advertiser. The paper's editor, alarmed at a lack of letters from readers, insisted his staff pen a few to fill space. One signed his simply "Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells".
The term was given a wide currency in the early 1950s by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio comedy series Take it from Here
Take It From Here
Take It From Here was a British radio comedy programme broadcast by the BBC between 1948 and 1960. It was written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, and starred Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bentley and Joy Nichols...
in which Disgusted, played by Wallas Eaton
Wallas Eaton
Wallas Eaton , sometimes credited as Wallace Eaton or Wallis Eaton, was an English film, radio, television and theatre actor....
, would make a ludicrous protest to give the cue for a sketch by Jimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards DFC was an English comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as the headmaster 'Professor' James Edwards in Whack-O!-Biography:...
and Dick Bentley
Dick Bentley
Charles Walter "Dick" Bentley , born in Melbourne, Australia, was a comedian and actor. He starred with Jimmy Edwards in Take It From Here for BBC Radio....
.
In 1978, Radio 4 called its new listener feedback programme, now called Feedback
Feedback (radio series)
Feedback is a series broadcast on BBC Radio 4, presented by Roger Bolton.-History:Originally a 15 minute programme, it began in 1979 replacing Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells. Amongst its earlier presenters were Colin Semper, a former head of Religious Broadcasting, and Susan Marling. Mary Whitehouse,...
, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells.
In recent times, some residents of Tunbridge Wells are calling the tag "inappropriate" and "stereotypical" and want the town to drop association with it in favour of "Delighted of Tunbridge Wells".