1969

S2.E1 ∙ Show 5

Tue, Oct 27, 1970

Benny starts off with a song involving a hippie and a suitcase on a train, and then shows us examples of what he calls "Look #7"; a dance involving masks at a boutique; another set of examples of things that go wrong on television, including the now-famous Shakespearean blooper with Hill as Romeo (and Rona Newton-John as Juliet); TV executive Fred Scuttle introduces "The Underworld Water of Jacques Custard"; the first appearance of Chow Mein in "East Meets West"; and a reading of the poem "Ted." Also: Los Zafiros performs "Maria Isabel," Two's Company sing "Try To Remember," and both groups join Benny on "José's Cantina."

7.2 /10

S2.E2 ∙ Show 6

Tue, Dec 22, 1970

Benny leads off with "Broken-Hearted Lovers' Stew," then gives more examples of "Look #7"; travel agent Fred Scuttle offers new holiday package tours; the Lower Tidmarsh volunteer fire brigade is called to put out a fire; and a parody of "Opportunity Knocks" with Benny as host Hughie Green and all the contestants, featuring an early rendition of "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)." Also: Trisha Noble performs "Leaving on a Jet Plane," and Hill as a tall tale-telling country bumpkin sings "Rachel."

7 /10

S2.E3 ∙ Show 7

Tue, Jan 26, 1971

Benny leads off with "Flying South", then shows examples of "Shameful Moments of Sport"; musical performances by guests Petticoat and Vine ("Welcome to the World of Love and Laughter") and Kiki Dee ("You've Made Me So Very Happy"); two couples swap partners in "Henry and Alice and Bob and Mary"; more examples of TV bloopers; a look at crime in Britain; an unsuccessful actor tries to woo a married woman behind her old husband's back in "Love Will Find a Way"; and for the close, "Top of the Tops" with Benny impersonating Jimmy Savile, Tony Blackburn, and many of the musical acts.

6.8 /10

S2.E4 ∙ Show 8

Tue, Feb 23, 1971

Benny starts off the show with "Pretty Greek Girl," then an undercover sanitary inspector gets into some misadventures in Istanbul; more TV and advertising bloopers; a "foreigner" meets a pretty girl sitting on an outdoor bench; and for the close "Uplift with Humphrey Bumphrey," featuring an interview with St. John Bossom (Benny) and a performance of "Pepy's Diary." Also: musical guest Nanette performs "Everybody's Singing Like Now."

6.8 /10

S2.E5 ∙ Show 9

Tue, Mar 23, 1971

Benny starts off the program with "The Egg Marketing Board Tango," then takes part in a "French for Starters" language lesson; a messenger in 17th-century England is sent on a dangerous mission; Mervyn Cruddy is interviewed on "The Grass Is Greener"; two people in a supermarket perform a ballet; The Ladybirds perform "(They Long To Be) Close to You"; a "Cinema: The Vintage Years" screening of an old movie, "Passengers of Love" starring Ray Hilland and Loretta Bung; Bettine Le Beau introduces a series of foreign TV bloopers from Spain, France and Germany; a puppet show with political figures of the day (Edward Heath, Harold Wilson and Enoch Powell); and Chow Mein serves an Indian in a Chinese restaurant.

6.9 /10