Rooted in an authentically working-class British comedic tradition –

[barryqwalsh]

– that went back to music hall routines featuring men dressed as women, and women dressed in very little – this seemingly inexhaustible supply line of highly popular entertainment came grinding to a halt in the 1980s.

Humourless bearded ideologues had dared to point out that there was something creepy about middle-aged men chasing scantily-clad young women up and down piers, and that it wasn’t particularly funny in the first place.

Before you could say “Mrs Slocombe’s *****”, the whole comedy game had been taken over by Smiths fans with media studies degrees who wanted to “deconstruct” the form – whatever the hell that meant.


Brendan O’Carroll: How Dubliner found UK public’s funnybone

 

[BULLDOG]

I never understood why people laughed at Mrs Slocombe's *****. She really loved her ***** and talked about it all the time. Disappointing that it was never shown on the show. I don't think Hyacinth Bucket 'Bouquet' ever had a *****.