The Next Programme Follows Almost Immediately
Encyclopedia
The Next Programme Follows Almost Immediately (TNPFAI) was a cult BBC
comedy of the 1970s, now almost completely forgotten.
The programme starred Bill Wallis
, David Jason
, Denise Coffey
, David Gooderson
and Jonathan Cecil
. The basic story revolved around a comedy factory, Allied British Comedy with the manager CMD (Wallis) and secretary/announcer Iris (Coffey).
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the late night Friday slot, as a summer replacement for Week Ending
. Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead
occupied the slot as well. A running joke was that Cecil, an actor with a very distinctive voice, played many character parts, all the same apart from a slight twang, which the actors in the programme would discuss before the story resumed. Cecil often dropped the accents, Welsh, American and so on, after a few lines. Jason and Gooderson played most of the voice parts, though Jason had a recurring role as Charlie, the sound effects man.
The series was not a success and was dropped, after 13 episodes being recorded, as too difficult, surreal and clever, the classic case of a programme that looked better on paper that it came across to listeners. Most editions are now thought lost though parts of one were broadcast on BBC 7, picked by late BBC producer David Hatch
as one of his favourite programmes.
Script was by Chris Langham
, Peter Spence
and David Renwick
and most episodes were produced by Simon Brett
. The piano was played by Peter Pontzen who has also written musical plays for children.
The audience frequently had lines and, in one episode, the entire factory and audience went on a day trip to Gravel Hall, a stately home in England.
Other: I know, I saw it on PanAroma
CMD: We'll go on a trip to Gravel Hall
Audience (in unison): Can we come too?
CMD: Yes, it's about time you all came to!
A: Lance Lieutenant Tooting reporting for duty sir.
FX: Beep beep
B: What was that?
A: Me sir, Tooting.
B: Well, don't let it happen again!
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy of the 1970s, now almost completely forgotten.
The programme starred Bill Wallis
Bill Wallis
Bill Wallis is a British character actor and comedian who has appeared in numerous radio and television roles, as well as in the theatre....
, David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
, Denise Coffey
Denise Coffey
Denise Coffey is an English actress, director, and playwright.After training at the Glasgow College of Dramatic Art, Coffey began a career in repertory at the Gateway Theatre in Edinburgh, then moved to the Palladium Theatre there...
, David Gooderson
David Gooderson
David Gooderson is a British actor who has appeared in several television roles. As well as portraying Davros, creator of the Daleks in the Doctor Who serial Destiny of the Daleks, he has appeared in Lovejoy, Mapp & Lucia and A Touch of Frost amongst other roles...
and Jonathan Cecil
Jonathan Cecil
Jonathan Hugh Gascoyne-Cecil , more commonly known as Jonathan Cecil, was an English theatre, film and television actor.-Early life:...
. The basic story revolved around a comedy factory, Allied British Comedy with the manager CMD (Wallis) and secretary/announcer Iris (Coffey).
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the late night Friday slot, as a summer replacement for Week Ending
Week Ending
Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch, and was originally hosted by Nationwide presenter Michael Barratt.The show's title was always announced as...
. Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead
Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead
Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead, a comedy sketch show for radio, was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 15 February 1971. Two series of eight episodes were broadcast, the second was transmitted from 21 July 1972. In addition, there were two "specials"...
occupied the slot as well. A running joke was that Cecil, an actor with a very distinctive voice, played many character parts, all the same apart from a slight twang, which the actors in the programme would discuss before the story resumed. Cecil often dropped the accents, Welsh, American and so on, after a few lines. Jason and Gooderson played most of the voice parts, though Jason had a recurring role as Charlie, the sound effects man.
The series was not a success and was dropped, after 13 episodes being recorded, as too difficult, surreal and clever, the classic case of a programme that looked better on paper that it came across to listeners. Most editions are now thought lost though parts of one were broadcast on BBC 7, picked by late BBC producer David Hatch
David Hatch
Sir David Hatch was involved in production and management at BBC Radio, where he held many executive positions, including Head of Light Entertainment , Controller of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 and later Managing Director of BBC Radio.- Education :He attended St John's School, Leatherhead and...
as one of his favourite programmes.
Script was by Chris Langham
Chris Langham
Christopher "Chris" Langham is an English writer, actor and comedian. He is most famous for playing MP Hugh Abbot in BBC Four sitcom The Thick of It and as presenter Roy Mallard in People Like Us, first on BBC Radio 4 and later on its transfer to television on BBC Two, where Mallard is almost...
, Peter Spence
Peter Spence
Peter Spence is an English journalist and writer. He is perhaps best known for creating and writing the British sitcom To the Manor Born.-Early life:...
and David Renwick
David Renwick
David Peter Renwick is an English television writer, best known for creation of the sitcom One Foot in the Grave and the mystery series Jonathan Creek....
and most episodes were produced by Simon Brett
Simon Brett
Simon Brett is a prolific writer of whodunnits. The son of a chartered surveyor, he was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first-class honours degree in English...
. The piano was played by Peter Pontzen who has also written musical plays for children.
The audience frequently had lines and, in one episode, the entire factory and audience went on a day trip to Gravel Hall, a stately home in England.
Sample humour
Iris: I see they've invented SmelloVisionOther: I know, I saw it on PanAroma
CMD: We'll go on a trip to Gravel Hall
Audience (in unison): Can we come too?
CMD: Yes, it's about time you all came to!
A: Lance Lieutenant Tooting reporting for duty sir.
FX: Beep beep
B: What was that?
A: Me sir, Tooting.
B: Well, don't let it happen again!