And it’s goodnight from him…

So there goes another national treasure. The Two Ronnies kept me in stitches in my teens despite the surreal chaos that was Monty Python being around at the same time. It says something for the genius of the Ronnies that they could capture a teenage audience when the Pythons were at large, although in many ways their humour and sketches were made of the same slightly surreal material.

Ronnie Corbett sat in his armchair, rambling on about pretty much nothing, was a fascinating thing to watch, a monologue that seemed completely off the cuff and so easily done. It couldn’t have been though could it? So at ease and so self depreciating, I challenge you to watch him without laughing. Then there was The Phantom Raspberry Blower, Four candles, their funny songs and my favourite F.U.N.E.X? - Swedish made simple.

It works just as well as a script, but it’s really worth watching. Here it is, say it aloud.

F.U.N.E.X?

Man: L.O.
Waiter: L.O.
Man: R.U.B.C.
Waiter: S.V.R.B.C.
Waitress: L.O.
Waiter: L.O.
Man: L.O.
Man: F.U.N.E.X.
Waiter: S.V.F.X.
Man: F.U.N.E.M.
Waiter: 9.
Man: I.F.C.D.M.
Waiter: V.F.N.10.E.M.
Waitress: A. V.F.M.
Man: R.
Waiter: O.
Waitress: C. D.M.
Waiter: O.S. V.F.M.
Man: O.K. M.N.X.
Waiter: M.N.X.
Man: F.U.N.E.T.
Waiter: 1 T.
Man: 1 T.
Waiter: O.K. M.X.N.T. M.X.N.T.4.1.
Waitress: V.F.N.10.E.X.
Man: U.Z.U.F.X.
Waiter: Y.F.N.U.N.E.X.
Waitress: I.F.E.10.M.
Waiter: S.I.L.L.Y. C.O.W.

So it’s goodnight from Ronnie, thanks for all the laughter. I don’t laugh enough these days, but you will always make me roar and that’s the mark of a true comic genius.