The Phantom Raspberry Blower
Encyclopedia
The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town was a serial
written by Spike Milligan
and Ronnie Barker
that ran every week on The Two Ronnies
sketch show in 1976 on BBC One
. It featured a Jack the Ripper
style madman stalking the streets of Victorian
London
, who killed or stunned his victims by blowing them a raspberry
.
The title was preceded by the words "Chopper Films Presents", a parody
of Hammer Films, and the writing of the serial was credited to "Spike Milligan and a gentleman".
The story originated in an episode of Six Dates with Barker
, broadcast on 15 January 1971, with Alan Curtis
playing the role of The Phantom.
The voice providing the raspberry of the title is attributed to David Jason
who starred with Barker in Open All Hours
although some sources claim the noise effect was supplied by Milligan himself.
At least one episode featured an appearance by Ronnie Corbett
as the diminutive yet domineering Queen Victoria and Barker as her browbeaten son "Edward, Prince of Wales" (sic - in reality the future King Edward VII was known to his family as "Bertie"), who were familiar characters to TV audiences in 1976 after the recent TV series
starring Timothy West
.
The series also provided the name of the Tong of the Black Scorpion, used in the Doctor Who
serial The Talons of Weng Chiang.
The 'Gentleman' listed as the co-writer was Gerald Wiley, the pseudonym used by Ronnie Barker
as a comedy writer.
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
written by Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
and Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
that ran every week on The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies is a British sketch show that aired on BBC1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.-Origins:...
sketch show in 1976 on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
. It featured a Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
style madman stalking the streets of Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, who killed or stunned his victims by blowing them a raspberry
Blowing a raspberry
Blowing a raspberry or strawberry or making a Bronx cheer is to make a noise signifying derision, real or feigned. It is made by placing the tongue between the lips and blowing, making a sound redolent of flatulence. In the terminology of phonetics, this sound can be described as an unvoiced...
.
The title was preceded by the words "Chopper Films Presents", a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of Hammer Films, and the writing of the serial was credited to "Spike Milligan and a gentleman".
The story originated in an episode of Six Dates with Barker
Six Dates With Barker
Six Dates with Barker is a series of six one-off, half hour situation comedies showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. All were broadcast by London Weekend Television early in 1971.Writers on the series included John Cleese and Spike Milligan...
, broadcast on 15 January 1971, with Alan Curtis
Alan Curtis (British actor)
-Background:He was born in Coulsdon, Surrey and he has led a long career in the cinema, television and theatre.He has also acted for the MCC as an announcer at Lord's Cricket Ground.Alan now lives in West London.-Cinema appearances:...
playing the role of The Phantom.
The voice providing the raspberry of the title is attributed to David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
who starred with Barker in Open All Hours
Open All Hours
Open All Hours is a BBC sitcom written by Roy Clarke which ran for four series a first run in 1976, a second run in 1981, third in 1982 and finally with a fourth run in 1985, with a pilot episode from the Seven of One series in 1973...
although some sources claim the noise effect was supplied by Milligan himself.
At least one episode featured an appearance by Ronnie Corbett
Ronnie Corbett
Ronald Balfour "Ronnie" Corbett, OBE is a Scottish actor and comedian of Scottish and English parentage who had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the British television comedy series The Two Ronnies...
as the diminutive yet domineering Queen Victoria and Barker as her browbeaten son "Edward, Prince of Wales" (sic - in reality the future King Edward VII was known to his family as "Bertie"), who were familiar characters to TV audiences in 1976 after the recent TV series
Edward the Seventh (television)
Edward the Seventh is a 1975 television drama series, made by ATV in 13 one-hour episodes.Based on the biography of Edward VII by Philip Magnus, it starred Timothy West as the elder Edward VII and Simon Gipps-Kent and Charles Sturridge as Edward in his youth, Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria,...
starring Timothy West
Timothy West
Timothy Lancaster West, CBE is an English film, stage and television actor.-Career:West's craggy looks ensured a career as a character actor rather than a leading man. He began his career as an Assistant Stage Manager at the Wimbledon Theatre in 1956, and followed this with several seasons of...
.
The series also provided the name of the Tong of the Black Scorpion, used in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
serial The Talons of Weng Chiang.
The 'Gentleman' listed as the co-writer was Gerald Wiley, the pseudonym used by Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
as a comedy writer.