Following on from our look at five famous television catchphrases that became part of everyday British life in the 1960s and 70s. Here are five more that many people of a certain age will remember instantly.
Catchphrases from television programmes which became a part of the language of the time.
Love them or hate them, a catchphrase once heard almost had a life of its own. And if you were in the business of show business and were the one who came up with the catchphrase that took off, you would be remembered forever.
So, let’s get started.
“I didn’t get where I am today…” — C.J. from the BBC comedy series The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin is the story of a burnt-out and very bored executive, Reginald Perrin. Written by David Nobbs, it tells the story of Reginald Iolanthe Perrin.
Simply known as Reggie, Perrin was played by Leonard Rossiter. The series follows Reggie as he faces a midlife crisis and decides to fake his own death. He leaves behind his old life and searches for something better. He ends up working on a farm looking after pigs and soon realises that the grass is not always as green on the other side.
His boss, C.J., was played by John Barron. C.J. is the pompous managing director of Sunshine Desserts who sees himself as above all those around him. Whenever he disapproved of or questioned anyone, he would always use his favourite expression:
“I didn’t get where I am today by …”
He would then offer his opinion — a supposedly wiser observation about business or life that questioned the proposition. The humour was in the repetition. C.J. was completely convinced of his own self-importance, while everyone around him either feared him or took no notice.
The phrase was one to use as a joke. As a putdown, it could be adapted to almost any situation.
“Eat your greens.” Mam might chastise me across the dinner table.
“I didn’t get where I am today by eating greens …”
You didn’t even need to finish the sentence. Everyone knew what was coming.
“I’m free!” — Mr Humphries, from the BBC comedy series Are You Being Served?
Another phrase that became part of British popular culture came from the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? Mr Humphries was played by John Inman. He worked on the menswear counter at the fictional Grace Brothers department store.
His famous cry of “I’m free!” was delivered with a knowing, flamboyant and somewhat camp flourish that raised the inevitable question about Mr Humphries; was the character gay? I can’t remember it ever being mentioned in the series, and Mr Humphries did occasionally mention girlfriends. No answer was given.
There was no doubt that the character of Mr Humphries was camp, though. His reply of “I’m free!” became one of the show’s most recognisable jokes. The character and catchphrase reflected the risqué, innuendo-filled style of British sitcom comedy that followed in the tradition of the Carry On films. It became increasingly popular during the 1970s.
Like many successful catchphrases, “I’m free!” was short enough to be instantly memorable and could be used outside its original context. Someone finished work early? “I’m free!” Someone finally escaped an awkward situation? “I’m free!” It was often delivered in the very same camp way as the character.
It was another example of television giving people a ready-made line to add to everyday conversations.
“Shut that door!” and “What a Gay Day” — Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson became a major television star in the 1970s, particularly as the host of The Generation Game. He followed in the footsteps of Bruce Forsyth and brought with him his own bag of catchphrases that would take off across Britain.
His warm, camp and slightly chaotic style of presenting made him very popular with audiences. And unlike the character of Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served, Grayson was gay but also never mentioned it. He didn’t need to. All he had to do was to turn to the camera, give a cheeky look, and say “What a Gay Day”.
“What a Gay Day” also became a widely used catchphrase in the 1970s.
But he is also known for saying, “Shut that door!” Often delivered whenever he was telling a story, it was a very ordinary thing to say, but as a catchphrase, helped by Grayson’s delivery, it took off.
Most of us had probably heard something similar time and time again from our parents when we were growing up. A door left open, often followed by “Shut that door! You weren’t born in a barn.” Or, “Shut that door and put the wood in the hole.” I don’t think even Grayson could have got away with that one back then.
And, naturally, it had to be said in a Larry Grayson voice.
But Grayson turned it into entertainment.
It also fitted perfectly with the television culture of the time. There was something very familiar about his style. He could appear on the television screen and seem less like a distant celebrity and more like somebody you might know. Grayson was in the tradition of the old variety show entertainers, a comedian, storyteller, and game show host. He was an expert in innuendo and set the stage for others later, like Julien Clary.
As for the catchphrase, Grayson even had a TV series named “Shut that door!”
And a song.
“Ooo, Betty!” — Frank Spencer, from the BBC comedy series Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em
Another television comedy character that could come across a little camp was Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em. Except that he wasn’t. In the series, he was married to his long-suffering wife, Betty. How they ever got together is anyone’s guess.
Played by Michael Crawford, Frank was the accident-prone central character. He was well-meaning, optimistic about life and almost completely incapable of getting through the day without something going spectacularly wrong. If there was one character who seemed to have an ability to turn a simple everyday task into a complete disaster, it was Frank Spencer.
Frank was one of life’s losers, but one who always seemed to find a way to look on the brighter side of life.
And then there was Betty (played by Michele Dotrice).
She was frequently on the receiving end of his latest disaster, and his high-pitched cry of “Ooo, Betty!” became one of the most recognisable sounds of 1970s television. The phrase was usually accompanied by Frank’s worried expression and distinctive voice.
“Ooo, Betty! Next door’s cat has done a whoopsie in the garden.”
It became an easy one to imitate. Whenever something went wrong, or a minor disaster had occurred, there was always an opportunity for an exaggerated “Ooo, Betty!”
The
programme was also well known for its physical comedy, with Frank’s
mishaps often escalating into chaos. Remarkably, Crawford did all his
own stunts in the series, and some of them were incredibly dangerous. Like, hanging off the top of a building or cliff — or rollerskating.
For viewers at the time, part of the fun was wondering what he was going to destroy next.
Talking of always looking on the bright side of life, we have Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
When it arrived at the end of the 1960s, it was unlike anything most British television viewers had seen before. Surreal sketches, strange characters, animations and a complete disregard for conventional television comedy made it difficult to know what was coming next.
It appealed to a younger generation that was looking to move on from traditional comedy. Like music, that younger generation wanted something it could call its own. Enter the likes of Monty Python, Spike Milligan, and, in 1979, Not The Nine O’Clock News. What became known as “alternative” comedy arrived slowly at first but then with a bang.
In Monty Python, one phrase became particularly useful:
“And now for something completely different.”
It was often used to introduce an abrupt change of subject or a completely unrelated sketch. And with that, it entered everyday language. Someone could be talking about football one minute and suddenly announce: “And now for something completely different …” Then change the subject completely. It became a phrase for those moments when conversation took an unexpected turn.
Looking back, it is interesting to consider why these particular catchphrases became so memorable. The words themselves weren’t particularly clever. What made them work was the character(s) behind them. And the fact that television had one big advantage in those days.
We were all watching the same thing.
Frank Spencer’s “Ooo Betty!” would not have been nearly as funny without Michael Crawford’s voice and mannerisms.
“Shut that door!” belonged to Larry Grayson.
“I’m free!” will forever be associated with Mr Humphries and John Inman.
And I can imagine C.J. saying “I didn’t get where I am today by using catchphrases.”
But they aren’t simply words from old television programmes. For many, they are a reminder of the past. One that takes us straight back to a particular character, programme, and period of British life. They are little pieces of a shared cultural memory.
And now for something completely different.
'Shut that door': Larry Grayson in Nuneaton by A J Paxton - Wikimedia Commons
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