How Ronnie Barker played the joker
By Chris Moncrieff, PA
Here are some of Ronnie Barker's most memorable lines:
* "The man who invented the zip fastener was today honoured with a lifetime peerage. He will now be known as the Lord of the Flies."
* "The toilets at a local police station have been stolen. Police say they have nothing to go on."
* "In a packed programme tonight we will be talking to an out-of-work contortionist who says he can no longer make ends meet."
* "The search for the man who terrorises nudist camps with a bacon slicer goes on. Inspector Lemuel Jones had a tip-off this morning, but hopes to be back on duty tomorrow."
* "Have you heard the one about the retired general who said he had not had sex since 1956? His friend said, 'That's a long time ago.' 'I don't know,' the general replied, 'it's only 20.27 now."
* A famous Spoonerism from Open All Hours: "Don't just crit their siticising".
* Ronnie Corbett, as an ironmonger: "There you are, four candles." Ronnie Barker, the customer: "No, fork 'andles. 'Andles for forks!"
* As a prisoner in Porridge, when playing Monopoly: "Would you Adam and Eve it? Go to jail!"
* Again from Porridge: "What have I learned, Mr Mackay? Three things. One - bide your time. Two - keep your nose clean. And three - don't let the bastards grind you down."
* "Come on, you aren't there to play the Warsaw Concerto" - to his assistant Granville (David Jason) who is toying nervously with the cash register in Open All Hours.
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP logged and may be used to prevent further submission. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by the Independent Minds Terms of Service.
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Limited

