Ripping Yarns

[Cartman]

Anyone remember this? It was a series of half hour comedy films done by Michael Palin, still in monty python like mode, it was a sort of send up of the Boys Own paper, which was a comic type magazine which I understand was quite big in the early part of the 20th century up until about the 30s. It was a bit mixed, some episodes weren’t that good, but two were excellent, Tompkinsons Schooldays, which also featured Terry Jones, and Ian Ogilvy as school bully, and the best of the lot, the brilliant Testing of Eric Olthwaite, where Palin played a very boring man who was interested in shovels, rainfall and the colour of black puddings!

Clifford Kershaw, who was in Loving Arms, series three of The Sweeney, was also in it as the mayor. It was on again last night on the Yesterday channel and I love it!

[Sam Tyler]

I remember the series being on and enjoying some of the episodes but can't remember any of them.

I had thought that "The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash" about The Prefab Four, was part of the Ripping Yarns series but checking on IMDB it would appear not.

I've had a read-through of each episode on IMDB to try and refresh my memory but there's nothing that springs immediately to mind. 

Sam.

[Cartman]

Think there were two series, one in 1977 and the second one in 79. From memory, the first one was the better of the two

[Arthur Pringle]

I've seen repeats in the past, as you say a mixed bag but it was shot on film & had an authentic period atmosphere. I read that Clifford Kershaw was a local Oldham councillor ( Conservative )  in real life. I'll have a look at it on Yesterday if it's still running.

[DI Alex Drake]

Yes!! Some of them are fantastic.

“This is Mr R J Somethingorother. He cannot be seen”.