My parents owned a hardware shop exactly like this with the drawers and everything for over 25 years and they used to love this sketch as they had customers like Ronnie Barker every week. Brilliant brilliant observation comedy
My late Grandma used to love this so much! I have vivid memories of her laughing uncontrollably with tears streaming down her face. This is iconic British comedy!
If you don't understand comedy, in its purest format, then this is lost on you I cry with laughter, every time I watch this It's just the expression on their faces, and the interaction between them. It's just pure comedy gold
Oh you understand it so you cry with laughter, well aren't you the special one, lol. The rest of us mere mortals just laughed because two brilliant comedians acted out a very funny sketch, excuse us.
Ronnie C is absolutely brilliant in this - Ronnie B too but anyone who remembers these hardware stores - which sold everything seen in this sketch, including tinned peas and plimsolls - will probably also identify with the shop assistant whose patience progressively wears thin due to the trying nature of ignorant or awkward customers. Ronnie C carried this off superbly. His irritated ranting when Ronnie B asks for "p's" after he had just put the letters away was so brilliant
The shop and the costumes are a reminder of how things were in the seventies through to the early nineties. Remember visiting such shops getting boards for the model railway. (And its subsequent extensions)
Definitely one of the best, but I also loved the Morecambe and Wise sketch, no dialogue, where they made breakfast, in time to a musical number. Does anyone else remember it?
Great sketch Corbet in this reminds me so much of me dad who had a shop like this his look is my dad to a tee especially the hair, cap and coat and the looks he used to give some of the awkward customers that came in lol, comedy legends!
I never got the last joke and to have it finally explained to me, by the Amazing Ronnie Barker himself, after all these years, is truly wonderful! Thanks for the upload x
A billhook is a long agricultural implement, while a bill hook would be a hook that you can fasten to the wall and spike bills (invoices) on for safe keeping. Billhooks' is pronounced 'billooks' which sounds a bit like 'bollocks'. Or at least it's close enough for the audience to make the required mental leap to arrive at the joke.
dont du just miss them..2 brilliant comedians ...doing there what turned out to be the never forgotten sketch "four candles" brilliantly funny! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Have to say Ronnie C took the acting honours on this one, but can anyone explain why, knowing every single word and move in this script by heart, it still reduces me to tears of laughter?
Interesting to think how this sketch would have worked or not worked with Ronnie Corbett playing the shopper, and Ronnie Barker playing the ironmonger? Maybe it would have got the same laughs, but I think Corbett having to go up and down the ladder is funnier than Barker having to do it...
100% agree. Obviously it's a legendary sketch, and Barker is as great as ever. But Corbett does the bulk of the work here to maximise the laughs. It's a masterclass in how the straight man's reactions make the joke even funnier.
The problem is though that “four candles” has overshadowed everything else that the two ronnies have done to such an extent that most people pretty much regard them as “one sketch wonders”. You ask 100 people on the street to name as many of their sketches as possible and I’d wager at least 90 of them could only think of this one sketch,it’s the same for the monty python team with the “dead parrot sketch”,they are regarded as one sketch wonders too by most people!
Nah, I think Spam, Gorrrrn and silly walks were quite prolific as well. But you're right about Two Ronnie's. Perhaps the awful society of Pismrununciations too
@@semajttam Spam has definitely had the biggest cultural impact, but I doubt most people know that the reason why you get spam mail or spam calls is because early computer nerds loved “spamming” Monty Python quotes to pre-internet bulletin boards
Mon Repos is French for "My Rest" and was the name of the homestead built in 1884 by Augustus Purling Barton, a Queensland sugar industry pioneer. It became popular in England in the mid-1900s with people who wanted to give their house a name. Hence Ronnie B wanted two 'O's for the name of his house.
BBC since 2011 have been switching between 1080i and 1080p on a GOP (Group of Pictures) by GOP basis and UHD HDR since the beginning of this year (2021) via iPlayer Ultra HD 'trial'. Not suggesting the original source is 1080p, just that the re-broadcast was a 1080p source for capture. Cheers.
A billhook is a long agricultural implement, while a bill hook would be a hook that you can fasten to the wall and spike bills (invoices) on for safe keeping. Or could be something close to bar locks.
Remember the concept of the sketch: the accent changes what the shopkeeper thinks of the item wanted. That means that the "billhook", in the ironmonger's thick accent, could spoken as to become a _“billock”_ (bollocks/testicles)
The time & trouble that they took in those days was extraordinary. The English Language is the only one to allow this confusion, is it? Could it be done in any other?
makes to confiscate his list) Look, I've had just about enough of this, give us that list. (He mutters) I'll get it all myself! (Reading through the list) What's this? What's that? Oh that does it! That just about does it! I have just about had it! (calling through to the back) Mr. Jones! You come out and serve this customer please, I have just about had enough of 'im. (Mr. Jones comes out, and Ronnie Corbett shows him the list) Look what 'e's got on there! Look what 'e's got on there! JONES (who goes to a drawer with a towel hanging out of it, and opens it): Right! How many would ya like? One or two? (He removes the towel to reveal the label on the drawer - 'Bill hooks'!)
That's how people think in today's throwaway society, if the wooden shaft snaps while the sharp business end is still OK, why not just replace what's damaged. 🙂
That's what people did years ago. If the wooden handle snapped, you didn't throw the whole fork away (like you would now), you just replaced the handle
The Gold Standard of British comedy. Simply unbeatable.
so true, simply amazing
Up there with the dead parrot
My parents owned a hardware shop exactly like this with the drawers and everything for over 25 years and they used to love this sketch as they had customers like Ronnie Barker every week. Brilliant brilliant observation comedy
My late Grandma used to love this so much! I have vivid memories of her laughing uncontrollably with tears streaming down her face. This is iconic British comedy!
Such a fantastic duo, one of the best double act sketches ever, such a shame neither are any longer with us 😢
It's because of all that cocaine Corbett used to do in the toilets at awards ceremonies
Ronnie Barker wrote this...Absolutely fantastic and brilliant comedy acting and timing 😂😂
Genius 😂
Brilliantly scripted. They don't write them like that anymore. The pauses and silences/looks are timed to perfection.....😂😂😂 love it ❤
To be fair they're dead
If you don't understand comedy, in its purest format, then this is lost on you
I cry with laughter, every time I watch this
It's just the expression on their faces, and the interaction between them. It's just pure comedy gold
Ya I don't get it
I enjoyed most part, but I don’t get the bill hook part at the ending.
Oh you understand it so you cry with laughter, well aren't you the special one, lol. The rest of us mere mortals just laughed because two brilliant comedians acted out a very funny sketch, excuse us.
@@philips170t It's implied that on the piece of paper, the first shop keeper misread it as "bollocks"
@@TonyEnglandUK really? Are you that sad ? Attack me for making an opinion?
Jesus wept.
Aaron
Absolute Diamonds of British comedy
RIP Ronnie and Ronnie
Their Mastermind sketch was also brilliant!!😂
Seen this a thousand times and never gets old, still hilarious after 50 something years.
Ronnie was absolutely brilliant in this sketch
Naw, Ronnie was better.
Q: Which one?
A: Yes.
😂😂😂😂
Both of them are good, but Ronnie is my favourite.
Ronnie C is absolutely brilliant in this - Ronnie B too but anyone who remembers these hardware stores - which sold everything seen in this sketch, including tinned peas and plimsolls - will probably also identify with the shop assistant whose patience progressively wears thin due to the trying nature of ignorant or awkward customers. Ronnie C carried this off superbly. His irritated ranting when Ronnie B asks for "p's" after he had just put the letters away was so brilliant
What bloody good old fashioned English humour eh a real timeless classic!
Absolutely genuine hunour. No vulgarity. Just simple observation
I come here every time a need a real laugh - if you are feeling tired and blue this skit will do.
The shop and the costumes are a reminder of how things were in the seventies through to the early nineties.
Remember visiting such shops getting boards for the model railway. (And its subsequent extensions)
The old world shops. 😊
Still one of the funniest ever sketches written
Yes it's pure gold ✨️ Ronnie Barker was so funny this sketch has me laughing all the time 😂😂
I was really depressed yesterday....and this morning played this vid....😂😅
Absolutly brilliant....just wat i needed...a good laff.
You just can't get that genius anymore....lololool ..." What kind of knockers you looking for" .... hahahahaha
Quite simply, the greatest television sketch ever.
Definitely one of the best, but I also loved the Morecambe and Wise sketch, no dialogue, where they made breakfast, in time to a musical number. Does anyone else remember it?
@@michelez715 One of my favourites too. Done to the music of The Stripper. The egg whisking bit always has me in stitches :)
Legends, the tv background to a lot of my childhood. And love it as an adult
Thank you for finding this in 1080. Best sketch ever and so superbly performed.
Great sketch Corbet in this reminds me so much of me dad who had a shop like this his look is my dad to a tee especially the hair, cap and coat and the looks he used to give some of the awkward customers that came in lol, comedy legends!
I never got the last joke and to have it finally explained to me, by the Amazing Ronnie Barker himself, after all these years, is truly wonderful!
Thanks for the upload x
Thank you for this 1080p version PLUS should have been ending. They both performed to their best. Two Ronnie's in our hearts forever.
You’ve made my night! Thank you! Reminds me of my late grandfather! He loved these two
Absolutely brilliant.
Ahhh! This was already a priceless piece of comedy, but if that last bit made it in, that would of been the cherry on the icing on the cake!
The best sketch ever
A billhook is a long agricultural implement, while a bill hook would be a hook that you can fasten to the wall and spike bills (invoices) on for safe keeping.
Billhooks' is pronounced 'billooks' which sounds a bit like 'bollocks'. Or at least it's close enough for the audience to make the required mental leap to arrive at the joke.
Makes you cry !!
Sore tips!? What dya want some ointment or something!This sketch is a masterpiece.
That extra tag at the end is fantastic.
Absolutely the kings of comedy especially this particular sketch as it took them a while to get it without either of them smirking or laughing.
dont du just miss them..2 brilliant comedians ...doing there what turned out to be the never forgotten sketch "four candles" brilliantly funny! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Have to say Ronnie C took the acting honours on this one, but can anyone explain why, knowing every single word and move in this script by heart, it still reduces me to tears of laughter?
@michelez715 I think it's because the sketch is a classic, and nothing like it will ever be seen again. This is my favourite sketch by them.
Ah, the old storeman. How the world has changed. Notice how protective the storeman was over his box of plugs. Just how it was.
Timeless classic, 😊
LOL the perfect ending did exist!!!
Brilliant x
Excellent stuff.
I did get the bill hooks part
Classic 😆. Thinking this sketch wouldn't work now because you rarely get this type of shop now, it's all self-service.
"No Tim's of peas!" Gets me everytime
You know at that moment when Ronnie Barker is starring at him walking up the ladder you know he is fucking with him
Replaying in April 2024 😂😂😂 classic!
Take A Moment
Relax 1:01
🎉
1:09
Genius at play
Forever 1:29
Stay Safe Stay Silly and Stay Free 😘 1:50
Interesting to think how this sketch would have worked or not worked with Ronnie Corbett playing the shopper, and Ronnie Barker playing the ironmonger? Maybe it would have got the same laughs, but I think Corbett having to go up and down the ladder is funnier than Barker having to do it...
Ronnie B wrote it that way.
100% agree. Obviously it's a legendary sketch, and Barker is as great as ever. But Corbett does the bulk of the work here to maximise the laughs. It's a masterclass in how the straight man's reactions make the joke even funnier.
Really funny and says a lot about English (language too) ;)
"Got any caulk?" "Now look!"
The essence is that Ronnie Barker does not laugh through out the sketch
Yep, that deadpan expression throughout really goes a long way, alongside Corbett getting increasingly agitated by contrast
Brilliant
I went to a General Store. They wouldn't let me buy anything specific.
The problem is though that “four candles” has overshadowed everything else that the two ronnies have done to such an extent that most people pretty much regard them as “one sketch wonders”. You ask 100 people on the street to name as many of their sketches as possible and I’d wager at least 90 of them could only think of this one sketch,it’s the same for the monty python team with the “dead parrot sketch”,they are regarded as one sketch wonders too by most people!
Nah, I think Spam, Gorrrrn and silly walks were quite prolific as well. But you're right about Two Ronnie's. Perhaps the awful society of Pismrununciations too
@@semajttam Spam has definitely had the biggest cultural impact, but I doubt most people know that the reason why you get spam mail or spam calls is because early computer nerds loved “spamming” Monty Python quotes to pre-internet bulletin boards
What does he mean when he mentions "mon repos for the gate letters?
Mon Repos is French for "My Rest" and was the name of the homestead built in 1884 by Augustus Purling Barton, a Queensland sugar industry pioneer. It became popular in England in the mid-1900s with people who wanted to give their house a name. Hence Ronnie B wanted two 'O's for the name of his house.
Abosoluty the best xxx
I heard that there is a pub named after them, the Four Candles.
What disc is on I've got all the boxset . I dont know which series or episode. I cant find it.
Series 5
One of the funniest sketches ever made
That's one well stocked store.
Yeah always wondered why a hardware store would have tins of peas lol
@@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome shops like this did exist but supermarkets killed them a tiny few manage to survive in rural towns.
I mean a general store is gonna have general stuff.
I worked in an Ironmongers and it is exactly like that
BBC broadcast in 1080i.
BBC since 2011 have been switching between 1080i and 1080p on a GOP (Group of Pictures) by GOP basis and UHD HDR since the beginning of this year (2021) via iPlayer Ultra HD 'trial'. Not suggesting the original source is 1080p, just that the re-broadcast was a 1080p source for capture. Cheers.
What’s the kicker at the end with “bill hooks” I’m lost can someone explain it please?
Bollocks
A billhook is a long agricultural implement, while a bill hook would be a hook that you can fasten to the wall and spike bills (invoices) on for safe keeping. Or could be something close to bar locks.
Bollocks or bullocks, which might subtly sum the whole confusion up in the end
Got any plugs what size 13 amp
Is this the best two Ronnie's sl
Of all time
How come this is the ònly REALY funny sketch of theirs i can find...?
❤❤❤❤
😂 the best sketch
I'd love to have seen this acted the other way around with Arkwright dealing with the customer.
Imagine if they had comedy supergroups the way they have musical supergroups.
These two paired up with Morecambe & Wise.....
Or Bob & Ray.
Got any Ps?
I'm not English but fck me,English humour is top class, Mr bean,2 Ronnies, little Britain,I love them all
Silly but brilliant
Did he want four candle's or fork handles
Fork handles. Handles for forks.
Very funny video, however, I am an American and they lost me on the last item. Billhooks? Yeah, ok? What?
Remember the concept of the sketch: the accent changes what the shopkeeper thinks of the item wanted.
That means that the "billhook", in the ironmonger's thick accent, could spoken as to become a _“billock”_ (bollocks/testicles)
@@nairocamilo Thanks, that play was lost on me over here, bollocks is not a word we use, but it was still funny. Love these guys.
The time & trouble that they took in those days was extraordinary. The English Language is the only one to allow this confusion, is it? Could it be done in any other?
3.29 Ronnie C nearly loses his composure
Omg its harry Maguire with the woolly hat 🤣⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
As an American.... A few of these are a little lost on me lol
makes to confiscate his list) Look, I've had just about enough of this, give us that list. (He mutters) I'll get it all myself! (Reading through the list) What's this? What's that? Oh that does it! That just about does it! I have just about had it! (calling through to the back) Mr. Jones! You come out and serve this customer please, I have just about had enough of 'im. (Mr. Jones comes out, and Ronnie Corbett shows him the list) Look what 'e's got on there! Look what 'e's got on there!
JONES (who goes to a drawer with a towel hanging out of it, and opens it): Right! How many would ya like? One or two?
(He removes the towel to reveal the label on the drawer - 'Bill hooks'!)
Originally called 'Annie Finkhouse'.
How did they keep a straight face 😂
Is this really what British hardware stores were like?
Yes absolutely typical of a hardware store in the 1950s and 1960s
People would still be offended at something here
Someone has to recreate this sketch and do the alternative ending.
Jeeesus what a spastick XDDDDD
Basic x
Monty python cockroach assortment
You're spoiling the whole sketch with the fucking title, mate! Change it!
But what the fuck is the point in buying/selling fork handles as opposed to a complete fork?? Sorry to burst the bubble.....
That's how people think in today's throwaway society, if the wooden shaft snaps while the sharp business end is still OK, why not just replace what's damaged. 🙂
@@jansoltisik8208 This isn't in today's society you!! This clip is several decades old!!!!
@@carlhughes9584 That's right, sir, but your comment is only two weeks old, isn't it?🙂
That's what people did years ago. If the wooden handle snapped, you didn't throw the whole fork away (like you would now), you just replaced the handle
what size..13 amp lol