Haha good old fashioned British comedy. The Mastermind one where the little Ronnie gives answers to the previous question is absolutely hilarious! This was great 👍🏼
We adored the two Ronnie's in the 70s. The humour was both clever and witty. Ronnie Barker, the heavier man was a genius at wordplay. The "Os" was a play on " hoes", "hose" and the letter "O" s. He wanted two of the letter " O". Then he wanted "P"s. It sounded like the letter but it was "Peas", the vegetable.
@@girlsdrinkfeck I don't know what kind of pedantic world you live in but it's not a protein or a carbohydrate or dairy or metal. For the purpose of the joke, it's something edible in a tin, not some plastic letters.
@@annedunne4526 relax lol, you're right it is a legume ,but theyre not not a vegetable ,peanuts are also a legume ,makes it funny its the most common nut allergy when its not a nut :p
That was what we call a hardware shop, they sold everything! Sadly, few left in existence now and sorely missed by us older people. The shops had a distinctive smell ranging from animal feed to oil. They sold firelighters, nuts and bolts, teapots... anything you wanted. First stop, always try the hardware store. Love your reactions😊
There was a village shop just like this, when I was a child. It sold everything, basically if they didn’t have it then you didn’t need it. Loved the two Ronnie’s. You should also check out Morcombe and Wise. Love seeing your reactions.
We did this sketch (minus the bull hooks😂) in a school production about 4 years ago. Had two brilliant 12-year-old girls as the Ronnies who got it spot on! We’d watched the original sketch a few times and while they thought it was funny they didn’t really get how iconic and famous it was. But the moment they said the first line ‘four candles’ all the audience started absolutely howling with laughter! They were putty in the girls’ hands for the rest of the sketch! The best part is that I had to sort the props for it and actually had to go into a local hardware store - a really old-fashioned one just like in the sketch - and ask for a fork handle! It made the staff and my day!
@@softshallow7435 that's what i thought. but you don't keep them in a box, do you? or purchase a new set? assuming you have any in the first place. all of them i have ever seen were firmly attached. i'm so confused!
@@mta4562 because it’s play on words and everytime the words are mistaken for other words. Probably on the sheet it said bollocks ( miswritten as the customer couldn’t spell it) so the manager went straight to bill hooks and asked one or two. 🤷🏽♂️
Grew up watching The Two Ronnies. I cried when Ronnie Corbett died. "Good night from me....and goodnight from him" LOVED these two! British humor/humour at its best!
I love them! Great old show that ran on PBS when I was growing up. I used to watch it on Saturday nights when my parents were having their poker game. My favorite sketch of them was about a cat who died while one of them was supposed to be watching it, and how they could break the news. I was probably 10 or so when I saw it for the first time, and I laughed so hard I was crying. I’d love to find that one again!
Two Rs absolute genius, Ronnie Baker was the wordsmith, I remember the whole family would sit and watch together and laugh all the way through even though I wasn't really old enough to understand it all. My dad loved them. Monty python and the Benny Hill Show.
There's still an old Ironmongers shop just like this one in my town here in the UK. They sell just about everything, but you have to ask the clerk for it.
The Two Ronnie's are probably the most famous comedy duo over here in Britain. I grew up watching them with my great grandad in the 90s. This is probably the most famous sketch. But they have years of great sketches. Think they made 12 series from 1971 to 1987. Then they re hosted all of them again later in life shortly before Ronnie Barker died. I'm certain in 2000 then 2005 as The two Ronnie's Sketchbook. As you can see at the end of your video. They are both quite old sat at the desk hosting the show. Ronnie Barker passed away in 2005 before all the episodes were broadcasted but had already been filmed and Ronnie Corbett it 2016. But their work is still very much alive and broadcasting on the TV today.
The sketch is mostly about how us British do have similar-sounding words for different things - but yeah, accents can be confusing, even for us natives. I moved from Devon in the south-west to Kent in the south-east, and I can still remember a conversation with a colleague at work where she was recommending a pub to me, which she said was called "The Three Squirls." It sounded so weird to me that I got her to repeat it to me three times, and repeated it back to her each time, and each time she confirmed it "Yeah, the Three Squirls." I just kind of left it there, but in my head I was thinking "What the HECK is a 'squirl?'" It was only when I was driving that way with my husband days later, and we passed a pub called 'The Three SQUIRRELS' that it finally clicked! In my Devonshire accent, 'squirrel' would be pronounced more like it's written - i.e. "skwi-rue'w" (us Devonshires tend to pronounce l's at the ends of words as w's) but in a Kentish accent they kind of slur the i-double-r to create "squir'l."
This sketch is roughly 50 years old and it was portraying quite an old-fashioned type of shop, even for the 70s. It's definitely not a portrayal of contemporary British life, lol. :)
You're totally correct about accents being different. I was at a family party a few years ago and there was about 8-9 different accents at the same party! I'm from Durham, my uncle is from Newcastle, my cousins are from Manchester, their mother is from Liverpool. My other cousins are from North London. There were people from South London. Then there were friends of my uncle from Somerset. And my mother's partner is from elsewhere in Durham and speaks differently! It was strange when there was no music on!
Fair play to you for giving this a go......I would imagine this wasn’t as easy to grasp as this is classic “Dry British Humour” and the accent would be hard to understand slightly especially along side the “ playing with words” Well done and respect to you for giving appreciation to such iconic Bristish figures 👏🏽👏🏽
You should of watched the last part where they’re set at the desk they explain the last joke Bill Hooks and Mention a even funnier ending that they would of used .
'Four candles' sketch was 1st broadcast in September 1976, they done many sketches in each show, a brilliant comic duo, Ronnie Corbett, the little one, used to do a sketch where he sat in a big chair and done a monologue, very popular part of the show, Ronnie Barker was a brilliant writer, who wrote exceptional comic series, one of which was 'Porridge' that's what they called doing time in prison, some of the best comic sketches you'll see
The Two Ronnies are national treasures .. this sketch is from the 1970’s but still as funny today .. both have sadly passed away now but they were incredibly funny comic heroes !
Loved them used to watch with my dad , check out the public telephone sketch , two innocent conversations but together making a dirty one ( in a good way)
Ronnie Barker was born in my old hometown back in the UK. He is still loved and greatly admired. I highly recommend the programme Porridge...absolutely brilliant.
Glad you enjoyed this one 🤗 British humour and, more especially, vintage British humour has so many unique references that you have not encountered before which makes it hard for non-Brits to understand. The Two Ronnie were on tv SO much that they seem like old friends to me and are Always worth watching 😁. Try Morcambe and Wise next....Just as funny as the Two Ronnies . I recommend “the Andre Previn Sketch” to start with. Enjoy 😄👍💕
I used to love this when I was living in Belfast The Two Ronnies we're on the BBC and we always look forward to watch them because they were so hilarious to me. And then when I got a little older I learn to appreciate Dave Allen at Large. Now that man is absolutely a riot! He just sits on a chair and she talks and he has a scotch and one hand and a cigarette and the other handy rubs his leg back and forth and you can see that he's missing his finger. Now that I got to stay as a little kid freaks me out LMFAO but please try and watch him as well
I think it was approximately 1975. I was 18. I'm now 64 and it's still funny. It's a joy to see your reactions to this stuff. God bless you lad. Love from England
Those guys were massive back in the day. They worked with each other from 1966 on the frost report to 2005. Had the great pleasure of seeing their last recorded show in 2005, and also the year before. Legends. Glad you like it Jovaughn.
The two Ronnies were greatly loved here in the UK. So much so that when Ronnie Barker died his coffin was decorated with four candles. If for no other sketch they are remembered for that one.
This skit is a classic! Loved your reaction! They kept you guessing with what they were saying. The accents are tricky, and their terminology is slightly different depending on the region, so it's easy to confuse things. The last joke written on the box, 'bill hooks', is a play on the slang 'bullocks'. Please check out WKRP in Cincinnati - "Turkeys Away". It's classic American TV comedy history.
There used to be shops like this, we had one till very recently, guys used to wear those coats and everything had to be asked for separately. (Before self-service). Usually hardware - like tools, household stuff. It's a play on words, words that sound similar but mean different things. The last box that said "Billhooks" (a garden cutting blade with wooden handle) is a play on the swearword "Bollocks". (er, testicles..) Easy to get confused with hoes( garden tool) /hose (hose pipe) "O's" (letter O) etc.
Dot Spendiff. The Hardware shop that Ronnie B got the idea from is still open and remains just the same as the old days and the guy serving in the shop wears one of those coats.
This was the 70's I think so you got it right I think sweetheart. I have to admit I laughed all the way through it thank you. We moved to a small town in Essex in the mid 50's and on market day people would come in from nearby villages, every village had its own accent and it was amazing to a small child. Even in our town the next village was so close that you could walk to it, but they spoke differently!! It's not so noticeable nowadays as so many people have moved into big estates from London but the little town where I live near you can still hear the difference between those who were born here and those who have moved here. The Two Ronnie's were so popular and they were both in different comedy programs but together they were amazing. One of my favourite duo's along with Morcombe and Wise who were about at the same time. Thank you so much for reacting to this, you have made my day bless you. Take care and stay safe please everyone God bless you all love hugs and peace Mary-Ellen UK
One of the greatest if not the greatest Two Ronnies sketch. There was a copy of the sketch found a several years ago. Ronnie Corbett the one behind the counter said it was an original it sold for thousands.
This was back in the 70s. Local shops weren't really like this by then but in the decades before it was normal to have a corner shop like this in your neighborhood/village and they would stock all kinds of household things as well as groceries. You have to remember too that choices were far more limited, you didn't have fifty different versions of the same product by fifty different companies, you just had one that was usually made in the UK. It's a legendary skit, but it does often need some explaining for American audiences who usually don't get it lol
They performed this act on stage once. Instead of mr jones they got a lady who had two large well you know. The guy asked for two knockers and she handed him two door knockers
This reminds me of a friend who moved to Cardiff in Wales from South Africa when she was a teenager and got a job in a café. In a lot of UK accents, Cardiff included, you pronounce ”th” as more of an F or V sound. This fella comes in to the café and asks for ”free teas”. My friend said ”but they’re not free, you’ve gotta pay for them!” And he says ”no, love. FREE teas, 1, 2, 3!” 😂
So pleased that you watched this classic clip 👍& the two Ronnie's are legends & I loved watching this as a kid with my family & still do & ronnie barker was a genius writer & check him out in porridge as that's another classic aswell.
A bit of context: The Two Ronnies were Ronnie Barker (the larger man) and Ronnie Corbett. Sadly, both are now no longer with us. However, this sketch, which takes place in what used to be called a haberdashery store, is widely considered to be one of the greatest sketches on British television. Written by Ronnie Barker, using the name Gerald Wiley, it was based on a true story which was told to Barker, involving four candles/fork 'andles. Interestingly, the punchline (bill hooks for bollocks [nuts or testicles]) doesn't really work, as Barker himself explains at the end of the video. When they were going to perform it live, Barker hit on a more satisfying ending. Instead of Mr Jones, a young buxom lady takes over and asks "what sort of knockers were you looking for?"; knockers being slang for breasts, as well fittings for a door. The partnership ended in 1987 when Barker retired, but reunited with Corbett for a celebration of their comedy shortly before his death in 2006. Corbett died ten years later. There are plenty of sketches from them on RUclips, of which I recommend The Ice Cream Parlour, The Royal Society for Pismronunciation and The Optician Sketch.
Flying back to Britain from the US many years ago, I overheard a man asking the American flight attendant what time the duty-free opened, only he spoke with a Kent/cockney accent and dropped his Ts: "joo-'y-free". She couldn't understand him, so I "translated" for her using my own relatively posh diction, and I couldn't help smiling when she exclaimed, "Oh! You mean doody-free!" To each their own... :-)
Very funny! I agree,they reminded me of Tim Conway and Harvey Korman from the Carol Burnett show. You should check out the original "Whose Line Is It Anyway" from Britain. It had Colin and Ryan and some of the others we see on the US versions but it started the franchise! Of course there is also Mr. Bean but you may already have reacted to one or both of these. The Mr. Bean Nativity sketch will have you crying with laughter.
The shop in the sketch was old fashioned and starting to become very rare even by the time the sketch was shown in the 70s, but yes, basically it sells all sorts of things, with possibly an emphasis on tools and things for home repairs. The two Ronnies are actually using the same accent, a low class London type accent, often called Cockney (but that's a very specific thing and may not apply to these characters) but Ronnie B (the customer) is playing dumb and Ronnie C is making assumptions based on (if this was a real shop lol) the things he gets asked for most often. After that, it's a play on how similar lots of different words can sound. And yes, billhooks is supposed to be bollocks. :) It's a legendary sketch in the UK.
Very famous sketch in the UK, Jay, it's like a play on words and how accents are from region to region. Every time I see this it makes me laugh so much. It was a sketch show in the 70's. 😂😂😂👌
If you think of the quote, “England and America are two countries separated by one language” it’s that king of thing. We’re small, a town 10 miles down the road can have a very different accent & idiomatic use of language can be very different. I like the two Ronnies, very much, but that particular sketch doesn’t really travel well. You should certainly check out “Morecambe & Wise” They had amazingly famous people queuing up to be in the plays “what I wrote” - that’s Ernie Wise, but to be fair, he was the straight man, Eric Morecambe could make you howl with just a raised eyebrow. Try them with Shirley Bassey, André Previn, they are all so good, I swear you’ll love them. The André Previn one travels particularly well.
I grew up watching the two Ronnie’s There are many accents in the U.K, not just Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English. But in each Country accents vary. Thankyou for reacting 🏴😊
I'm from North East England, and went down to London for a work trip. Whilst there, for lunch I decided to get some fish and chips, and asked for scraps with it. They looked at me right weird, didn't have a clue what I was on about. Got even weirder looks when I asked for a pot of gravy with it too. Feckin southerners.
After Ronnie B died, Ronnie C did a sketch with Harry Enfield called blackberry. Although it’s not a long sketch, it’s a modern twist to the sketches the two Ronnies did.
This is exactly what it's like in the UK. I worked there for over 16 years. I'm English speaking from British stock, but it took me AGES to have conversations at work over the phone... I would have to get them to repeat a million times... Eventually you get used to it though.
Where I live in Essex there's a hardware store called Fork ' andles. The sketch is so famous that anyone who is over 40 is guaranteed to know the sketch. You should watch the modern version.... See how it compares. One Ronnie - I've got a problem with my Apple
There used to be an old fashioned hardware store identical to this one with all the metal cabinetry where I used to live. Awkward customers suck and they can have you running around and they are unclear as to what they want because they know it by a different name to you. The Two Ronnies were brilliant and Ronnie Barker (the large gent) used to write the jokes, he was in a tv comedy series called Porridge based in a prison and he used to write scripts for that too.
You're right Jayvee different accents. I'm crying with laughter. 😂😂😂 It's from the 70s when I was to young to appreciate the humour but it's great to see again as an adult and appreciate the humour.
Later on, Ronnie Barker said he wanted to finish with "Knockers" with a busty shopkeepers assistant coming at the end but was rushed into writing a quick line cause they were pushed for time.
They did their show together for years, but they were not really a double act, they did far more seperately, Ronnie Barker (the customer) was a brilliant comedy writer and actor, see Porridge (a prison sitcom) and Open All Hours (About a grasping shopkeeper). Ronnie Corbett was more of an all round entertainer, his best solo project was Sorry (sitcom about a middle aged man, living with his tyrannical mother). They loved the comedy of word play and confusion. About ten years ago Ronnie Corbett teamed up with Harry Enfield teamed up to do a similar sketch, Ronnie Barker had died by then. It's based on the observation of use of fruit in technology terminology, it's called "My Blackberry isn't working" ruclips.net/video/kAG39jKi0lI/видео.html
@JayveeTV Reacts The Two Ronnies were a brilliant double act back in the day on British telly - Four Candles is a hilarious work of wordplay by Ronnie Barker (who wrote the majority of the show's content under a pseudonym). I think the British/Cockney accent you probably might struggle with, but once the first gag starts thats when the fun begins 🤣
The accents are like working class Londoners, the punchline is a play on the British curse word 'bollocks' so for an American that's easy to miss! This sketch was actually written by Ronnie Barker, the larger of the two, he often submitted sketches to the team under a pseudonym, 'Gerald Wiley', so they would be judged completely on their own merits, he kept the secret for years! They were a beloved comedy team throughout the 70's and 80's, both no longer here. If you haven't seen yet, watch Morecambe and Wise with conductor Andre Previn!
Happy days from when I was a kid. I also liked Ronnie Barker in Porridge (UK slang for prison). To make it more realistic at the time the writers had to come up with another word for the eff bomb. They settled on Naff Off. Immediately this term became part of our lexicon.
The sketch was from 1976. They improved UK electrical safety standards in the early 1980s, because having 13 amp mains sockets in a bathroom represented a serious hazard.
I'm from the UK and you got it spot on! There are different regional accents. For example a Birmingham (Brummie) accent is very different from a Bristolian one. Check out Morecambe and Wise with the late Des O'Connor. You'll laugh.
A lot of people are mistaken thinking the billhooks reference is a rude reference but it isn't. A lot of people are under the impression that billhooks are a mess about items like skyhooks or long weights or spotted paint but billhooks are actually a real tool used for hedging and forestry purposes hence why the simple assistant was offended but the shop owner who knew better wasn't fazed at all.
The funniest British comedy of all-time is called Blackadder. Season 1 was a complete write-off. Begin watching at season 2. Edmund Blackadder is the most sarcastic man EVER. 🙂
The different accents are frequently heard across the USA. You’d have trouble having a conversation with me possibly, because I have a heavy Southern accent. Southern ladies regularly use terms of endearment with strangers. We are quietly bold. Annie/Tennessee
Haha good old fashioned British comedy. The Mastermind one where the little Ronnie gives answers to the previous question is absolutely hilarious! This was great 👍🏼
Ah yes! I remember that one! Sooooo funny!! 😂
Did love watching these two as a kid. Good, clean, comedy, and they were two geniuses with it
I actually think the Mastermind one is way better than this one.
We adored the two Ronnie's in the 70s. The humour was both clever and witty. Ronnie Barker, the heavier man was a genius at wordplay. The "Os" was a play on " hoes", "hose" and the letter "O" s. He wanted two of the letter " O". Then he wanted "P"s. It sounded like the letter but it was
"Peas", the vegetable.
peas isnt a vegetable
@@girlsdrinkfeck Ok it's a legume, part of the vegetable family.
@@annedunne4526 nope, fruit, well the pods are ,the peas are the seeds within the fruit ,but its not a vegetable
@@girlsdrinkfeck I don't know what kind of pedantic world you live in but it's not a protein or a carbohydrate or dairy or metal. For the purpose of the joke, it's something edible in a tin, not some plastic letters.
@@annedunne4526 relax lol, you're right it is a legume ,but theyre not not a vegetable ,peanuts are also a legume ,makes it funny its the most common nut allergy when its not a nut :p
R.I.P. to these legends.
They made it look so simple but this is comedy timing at it's finest , love it J
The bit at the end bill hooks is a play on the word bollox- testicles , that's why he asked if he wanted 1 or 2.
And why Mr Corbitt was so offended.
so bollocks DOES mean what i thought it did.
@@mta4562 mhm.
Love the Two Ronnies. British humour and comedy is definitely different than US.
That was what we call a hardware shop, they sold everything! Sadly, few left in existence now and sorely missed by us older people. The shops had a distinctive smell ranging from animal feed to oil. They sold firelighters, nuts and bolts, teapots... anything you wanted. First stop, always try the hardware store. Love your reactions😊
I think it’s less about the accent, but more of a play on words. They have many similar sketches.
The accent element involves dropping the letter h at the beginning of words, which increases the opportunities for misunderstanding.
Took the words off my thumb 👍
The two of them were epically funny
There was a village shop just like this, when I was a child. It sold everything, basically if they didn’t have it then you didn’t need it. Loved the two Ronnie’s. You should also check out Morcombe and Wise.
Love seeing your reactions.
There's a store in York called Barnitts and it has everything you can imagine in hardware.
I grew up with The 2 Ronnies, they were always on in our house in the ‘70’s, a family favorite. Two very talented men.
Ah the great two Ronnie's.. watched these guys as a kid
I have a book of their sketches, written by Ronnie Barker under a pseudonym. His faculty for word play was phenomenal. Pure genius!
These two were what we call national treasures. They were absolutely genius
We did this sketch (minus the bull hooks😂) in a school production about 4 years ago. Had two brilliant 12-year-old girls as the Ronnies who got it spot on! We’d watched the original sketch a few times and while they thought it was funny they didn’t really get how iconic and famous it was. But the moment they said the first line ‘four candles’ all the audience started absolutely howling with laughter! They were putty in the girls’ hands for the rest of the sketch!
The best part is that I had to sort the props for it and actually had to go into a local hardware store - a really old-fashioned one just like in the sketch - and ask for a fork handle! It made the staff and my day!
It is not bull hooks, it is "Bill hooks"
Possibly their most famous sketch. They also do some hilarious musical sketches. Also check out Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough as Cissie and Ada 🤣🤣💙✊
It’s play on words. Bill hooks suppose to mean bollocks.
well, then bollocks doesn't mean what i thought it did..
@@mta4562 it means testicles.
@@softshallow7435 that's what i thought. but you don't keep them in a box, do you? or purchase a new set? assuming you have any in the first place. all of them i have ever seen were firmly attached. i'm so confused!
@@mta4562 because it’s play on words and everytime the words are mistaken for other words. Probably on the sheet it said bollocks ( miswritten as the customer couldn’t spell it) so the manager went straight to bill hooks and asked one or two. 🤷🏽♂️
@@softshallow7435 why would...never mind. that just brings up more questions i'm not sure if i'm prepared for.
Grew up watching The Two Ronnies. I cried when Ronnie Corbett died. "Good night from me....and goodnight from him" LOVED these two! British humor/humour at its best!
Ronnie Barker was an incredible ‘wordsmith’ putting most rappers today to shame!
Check out his “mispronunciation sketch”
He did a brilliant Cockney Rhyming Slang sketch too. So clever!
@@goldencherry9033 Haha that was brilliant! Another was “Name Droppers” where he manages to drop the other Ronnie’s name during the skit..
I love them! Great old show that ran on PBS when I was growing up. I used to watch it on Saturday nights when my parents were having their poker game. My favorite sketch of them was about a cat who died while one of them was supposed to be watching it, and how they could break the news. I was probably 10 or so when I saw it for the first time, and I laughed so hard I was crying. I’d love to find that one again!
That cat sketch is and was hysterical
Two Rs absolute genius, Ronnie Baker was the wordsmith, I remember the whole family would sit and watch together and laugh all the way through even though I wasn't really old enough to understand it all. My dad loved them. Monty python and the Benny Hill Show.
There's still an old Ironmongers shop just like this one in my town here in the UK. They sell just about everything, but you have to ask the clerk for it.
Love those shops. Our local sadly closed a few years back, not many left nowadays.
There's one across the road from me. A lifesaver when I found I'd lost the fixings to my bed in the move!
The Two Ronnie's are probably the most famous comedy duo over here in Britain. I grew up watching them with my great grandad in the 90s. This is probably the most famous sketch. But they have years of great sketches. Think they made 12 series from 1971 to 1987. Then they re hosted all of them again later in life shortly before Ronnie Barker died. I'm certain in 2000 then 2005 as The two Ronnie's Sketchbook. As you can see at the end of your video. They are both quite old sat at the desk hosting the show. Ronnie Barker passed away in 2005 before all the episodes were broadcasted but had already been filmed and Ronnie Corbett it 2016. But their work is still very much alive and broadcasting on the TV today.
The sketch is mostly about how us British do have similar-sounding words for different things - but yeah, accents can be confusing, even for us natives.
I moved from Devon in the south-west to Kent in the south-east, and I can still remember a conversation with a colleague at work where she was recommending a pub to me, which she said was called "The Three Squirls." It sounded so weird to me that I got her to repeat it to me three times, and repeated it back to her each time, and each time she confirmed it "Yeah, the Three Squirls." I just kind of left it there, but in my head I was thinking "What the HECK is a 'squirl?'"
It was only when I was driving that way with my husband days later, and we passed a pub called 'The Three SQUIRRELS' that it finally clicked! In my Devonshire accent, 'squirrel' would be pronounced more like it's written - i.e. "skwi-rue'w" (us Devonshires tend to pronounce l's at the ends of words as w's) but in a Kentish accent they kind of slur the i-double-r to create "squir'l."
So glad you decided to react to this. Its a classic. Thank you. 👍😂.Great reaction. Well done. 👍
For me, this is THE best comedy sketch in British TV history!!!
Omg, I cannot believe you did the 4 candles!! My favourite for years!! My kids wonder what I'm laughing at!!
This sketch is roughly 50 years old and it was portraying quite an old-fashioned type of shop, even for the 70s. It's definitely not a portrayal of contemporary British life, lol. :)
Yes it’s around 44 years old I remember watching it when I was ten. Some shops used to be laid out like that years ago.
You're totally correct about accents being different. I was at a family party a few years ago and there was about 8-9 different accents at the same party! I'm from Durham, my uncle is from Newcastle, my cousins are from Manchester, their mother is from Liverpool. My other cousins are from North London. There were people from South London. Then there were friends of my uncle from Somerset. And my mother's partner is from elsewhere in Durham and speaks differently! It was strange when there was no music on!
Fair play to you for giving this a go......I would imagine this wasn’t as easy to grasp as this is classic “Dry British Humour” and the accent would be hard to understand slightly especially along side the “ playing with words”
Well done and respect to you for giving appreciation to such iconic Bristish figures 👏🏽👏🏽
You should of watched the last part where they’re set at the desk they explain the last joke Bill Hooks and Mention a even funnier ending that they would of used .
I did I just edited it out
@@JayveeTVReacts Why did you edit it out?
Like you that you reacted to the first understanding of 'fork handles', @JayveeTV. So real and heartfelt.
English has one word for about fifty different things...
In UK this sketch is probably the top funny sketch of all time...
'Four candles' sketch was 1st broadcast in September 1976, they done many sketches in each show, a brilliant comic duo, Ronnie Corbett, the little one, used to do a sketch where he sat in a big chair and done a monologue, very popular part of the show, Ronnie Barker was a brilliant writer, who wrote exceptional comic series, one of which was 'Porridge' that's what they called doing time in prison, some of the best comic sketches you'll see
The Two Ronnies are national treasures .. this sketch is from the 1970’s but still as funny today .. both have sadly passed away now but they were incredibly funny comic heroes !
Loved them used to watch with my dad , check out the public telephone sketch , two innocent conversations but together making a dirty one ( in a good way)
Ronnie Barker was born in my old hometown back in the UK. He is still loved and greatly admired. I highly recommend the programme Porridge...absolutely brilliant.
Morecambe & Wise with Andre Previn next please. Every time I see it I laugh like it’s the first time I’ve seen it.
Glad you enjoyed this one 🤗 British humour and, more especially, vintage British humour has so many unique references that you have not encountered before which makes it hard for non-Brits to understand. The Two Ronnie were on tv SO much that they seem like old friends to me and are Always worth watching 😁. Try Morcambe and Wise next....Just as funny as the Two Ronnies . I recommend “the Andre Previn Sketch” to start with. Enjoy 😄👍💕
I used to love this when I was living in Belfast The Two Ronnies we're on the BBC and we always look forward to watch them because they were so hilarious to me. And then when I got a little older I learn to appreciate Dave Allen at Large. Now that man is absolutely a riot! He just sits on a chair and she talks and he has a scotch and one hand and a cigarette and the other handy rubs his leg back and forth and you can see that he's missing his finger. Now that I got to stay as a little kid freaks me out LMFAO but please try and watch him as well
I think it was approximately 1975. I was 18. I'm now 64 and it's still funny. It's a joy to see your reactions to this stuff. God bless you lad. Love from England
Those guys were massive back in the day. They worked with each other from 1966 on the frost report to 2005. Had the great pleasure of seeing their last recorded show in 2005, and also the year before. Legends. Glad you like it Jovaughn.
The two Ronnies were greatly loved here in the UK. So much so that when Ronnie Barker died his coffin was decorated with four candles. If for no other sketch they are remembered for that one.
The four candles sketch is from 1976.... Loved watching The Two Ronnies as well as another favourite duo of mine, Morecambe and Wise.
This skit is a classic! Loved your reaction! They kept you guessing with what they were saying. The accents are tricky, and their terminology is slightly different depending on the region, so it's easy to confuse things.
The last joke written on the box, 'bill hooks', is a play on the slang 'bullocks'.
Please check out WKRP in Cincinnati - "Turkeys Away". It's classic American TV comedy history.
Actually I think the "bill hooks" joke was on the word "pillocks" meaning "idiots"
@@simonround2439 That makes sense too!
You're both wrong. It's a play on the word "bollocks" as that is how it would sound with Ronnie B's accent.
@@MarcusBritish
So sorry. I spelled bollocks wrong (I'm not British), but I think I was pretty clear on what was meant.
@@Sotto_ Well, since you put "bullocks" I did think you meant the animal, lol.
There used to be shops like this, we had one till very recently, guys used to wear those coats and everything had to be asked for separately. (Before self-service). Usually hardware - like tools, household stuff. It's a play on words, words that sound similar but mean different things. The last box that said "Billhooks" (a garden cutting blade with wooden handle) is a play on the swearword "Bollocks". (er, testicles..) Easy to get confused with hoes( garden tool) /hose (hose pipe) "O's" (letter O) etc.
Dot Spendiff. The Hardware shop that Ronnie B got the idea from is still open and remains just the same as the old days and the guy serving in the shop wears one of those coats.
An absolute classic from my childhood 😂
This was the 70's I think so you got it right I think sweetheart. I have to admit I laughed all the way through it thank you. We moved to a small town in Essex in the mid 50's and on market day people would come in from nearby villages, every village had its own accent and it was amazing to a small child. Even in our town the next village was so close that you could walk to it, but they spoke differently!! It's not so noticeable nowadays as so many people have moved into big estates from London but the little town where I live near you can still hear the difference between those who were born here and those who have moved here. The Two Ronnie's were so popular and they were both in different comedy programs but together they were amazing. One of my favourite duo's along with Morcombe and Wise who were about at the same time. Thank you so much for reacting to this, you have made my day bless you. Take care and stay safe please everyone God bless you all love hugs and peace Mary-Ellen UK
One of the greatest if not the greatest Two Ronnies sketch. There was a copy of the sketch found a several years ago. Ronnie Corbett the one behind the counter said it was an original it sold for thousands.
This was back in the 70s. Local shops weren't really like this by then but in the decades before it was normal to have a corner shop like this in your neighborhood/village and they would stock all kinds of household things as well as groceries. You have to remember too that choices were far more limited, you didn't have fifty different versions of the same product by fifty different companies, you just had one that was usually made in the UK.
It's a legendary skit, but it does often need some explaining for American audiences who usually don't get it lol
They performed this act on stage once. Instead of mr jones they got a lady who had two large well you know. The guy asked for two knockers and she handed him two door knockers
this is such an iconic sketch from them...even though you have seen it so many times, it still makes you lol
This reminds me of a friend who moved to Cardiff in Wales from South Africa when she was a teenager and got a job in a café. In a lot of UK accents, Cardiff included, you pronounce ”th” as more of an F or V sound. This fella comes in to the café and asks for ”free teas”. My friend said ”but they’re not free, you’ve gotta pay for them!” And he says ”no, love. FREE teas, 1, 2, 3!” 😂
So pleased that you watched this classic clip 👍& the two Ronnie's are legends & I loved watching this as a kid with my family & still do & ronnie barker was a genius writer & check him out in porridge as that's another classic aswell.
A bit of context: The Two Ronnies were Ronnie Barker (the larger man) and Ronnie Corbett. Sadly, both are now no longer with us. However, this sketch, which takes place in what used to be called a haberdashery store, is widely considered to be one of the greatest sketches on British television. Written by Ronnie Barker, using the name Gerald Wiley, it was based on a true story which was told to Barker, involving four candles/fork 'andles.
Interestingly, the punchline (bill hooks for bollocks [nuts or testicles]) doesn't really work, as Barker himself explains at the end of the video. When they were going to perform it live, Barker hit on a more satisfying ending. Instead of Mr Jones, a young buxom lady takes over and asks "what sort of knockers were you looking for?"; knockers being slang for breasts, as well fittings for a door.
The partnership ended in 1987 when Barker retired, but reunited with Corbett for a celebration of their comedy shortly before his death in 2006. Corbett died ten years later. There are plenty of sketches from them on RUclips, of which I recommend The Ice Cream Parlour, The Royal Society for Pismronunciation and The Optician Sketch.
Flying back to Britain from the US many years ago, I overheard a man asking the American flight attendant what time the duty-free opened, only he spoke with a Kent/cockney accent and dropped his Ts: "joo-'y-free". She couldn't understand him, so I "translated" for her using my own relatively posh diction, and I couldn't help smiling when she exclaimed, "Oh! You mean doody-free!" To each their own... :-)
1976 was the year it was aired on BBC TV ... loving you ..just discovered you !! Awesome ..🏴
Never seen this sit com before. 😂😂😂😂 I reacted right along with you.
Very funny! I agree,they reminded me of Tim Conway and Harvey Korman from the Carol Burnett show. You should check out the original "Whose Line Is It Anyway" from Britain. It had Colin and Ryan and some of the others we see on the US versions but it started the franchise! Of course there is also Mr. Bean but you may already have reacted to one or both of these. The Mr. Bean Nativity sketch will have you crying with laughter.
The shop in the sketch was old fashioned and starting to become very rare even by the time the sketch was shown in the 70s, but yes, basically it sells all sorts of things, with possibly an emphasis on tools and things for home repairs.
The two Ronnies are actually using the same accent, a low class London type accent, often called Cockney (but that's a very specific thing and may not apply to these characters) but Ronnie B (the customer) is playing dumb and Ronnie C is making assumptions based on (if this was a real shop lol) the things he gets asked for most often. After that, it's a play on how similar lots of different words can sound. And yes, billhooks is supposed to be bollocks. :)
It's a legendary sketch in the UK.
Very famous sketch in the UK, Jay, it's like a play on words and how accents are from region to region. Every time I see this it makes me laugh so much. It was a sketch show in the 70's. 😂😂😂👌
These guys were legendary! There used to be re-runs when I was a kid, so I’m so happy my parents got me involved
This is an iconic British TV sketch!! Everyone knows the "four candles" 🤣🤣🤣
If you think of the quote, “England and America are two countries separated by one language” it’s that king of thing. We’re small, a town 10 miles down the road can have a very different accent & idiomatic use of language can be very different. I like the two Ronnies, very much, but that particular sketch doesn’t really travel well. You should certainly check out “Morecambe & Wise” They had amazingly famous people queuing up to be in the plays “what I wrote” - that’s Ernie Wise, but to be fair, he was the straight man, Eric Morecambe could make you howl with just a raised eyebrow. Try them with Shirley Bassey, André Previn, they are all so good, I swear you’ll love them. The André Previn one travels particularly well.
You missed watching it until the very end. The two Ronnies explained the 'billhooks'...
I did see it just edited it out
I grew up watching the two Ronnie’s
There are many accents in the U.K, not just Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English. But in each Country accents vary.
Thankyou for reacting 🏴😊
Billhooks was a euphemism for "bollocks" which is UK slang for testicles LOL
Great to see British comedy here - so many classics for you to see also. Enjoy the ride
Ronnie Barker created this sketch from a letter he got from a shop owner. He had a customer just like the one in this sketch.
I'm from North East England, and went down to London for a work trip. Whilst there, for lunch I decided to get some fish and chips, and asked for scraps with it.
They looked at me right weird, didn't have a clue what I was on about.
Got even weirder looks when I asked for a pot of gravy with it too.
Feckin southerners.
After Ronnie B died, Ronnie C did a sketch with Harry Enfield called blackberry. Although it’s not a long sketch, it’s a modern twist to the sketches the two Ronnies did.
This is exactly what it's like in the UK. I worked there for over 16 years. I'm English speaking from British stock, but it took me AGES to have conversations at work over the phone... I would have to get them to repeat a million times... Eventually you get used to it though.
Where I live in Essex there's a hardware store called Fork ' andles. The sketch is so famous that anyone who is over 40 is guaranteed to know the sketch. You should watch the modern version.... See how it compares. One Ronnie - I've got a problem with my Apple
There used to be an old fashioned hardware store identical to this one with all the metal cabinetry where I used to live.
Awkward customers suck and they can have you running around and they are unclear as to what they want because they know it by a different name to you.
The Two Ronnies were brilliant and Ronnie Barker (the large gent) used to write the jokes, he was in a tv comedy series called Porridge based in a prison and he used to write scripts for that too.
Ronnie Corbett's reactions are priceless
You're right Jayvee different accents.
I'm crying with laughter. 😂😂😂
It's from the 70s when I was to young to appreciate the humour but it's great to see again as an adult and appreciate the humour.
Later on, Ronnie Barker said he wanted to finish with "Knockers" with a busty shopkeepers assistant coming at the end but was rushed into writing a quick line cause they were pushed for time.
Aparently a hardware shop in Sheffield wrote to Ronnie Barker and said this happened to them alot.Not surprised.
They did their show together for years, but they were not really a double act, they did far more seperately, Ronnie Barker (the customer) was a brilliant comedy writer and actor, see Porridge (a prison sitcom) and Open All Hours (About a grasping shopkeeper). Ronnie Corbett was more of an all round entertainer, his best solo project was Sorry (sitcom about a middle aged man, living with his tyrannical mother). They loved the comedy of word play and confusion. About ten years ago Ronnie Corbett teamed up with Harry Enfield teamed up to do a similar sketch, Ronnie Barker had died by then. It's based on the observation of use of fruit in technology terminology, it's called "My Blackberry isn't working" ruclips.net/video/kAG39jKi0lI/видео.html
@JayveeTV Reacts
The Two Ronnies were a brilliant double act back in the day on British telly - Four Candles is a hilarious work of wordplay by Ronnie Barker (who wrote the majority of the show's content under a pseudonym).
I think the British/Cockney accent you probably might struggle with, but once the first gag starts thats when the fun begins 🤣
The accents are like working class Londoners, the punchline is a play on the British curse word 'bollocks' so for an American that's easy to miss! This sketch was actually written by Ronnie Barker, the larger of the two, he often submitted sketches to the team under a pseudonym, 'Gerald Wiley', so they would be judged completely on their own merits, he kept the secret for years! They were a beloved comedy team throughout the 70's and 80's, both no longer here. If you haven't seen yet, watch Morecambe and Wise with conductor Andre Previn!
On a similar note, check out "me ears are alight", the Maxell tape ad on the Desmond Decker song.
Love the two Ronnie's....good clean humour....🙂🙂❤❤
Happy days from when I was a kid. I also liked Ronnie Barker in Porridge (UK slang for prison). To make it more realistic at the time the writers had to come up with another word for the eff bomb. They settled on Naff Off. Immediately this term became part of our lexicon.
The sketch is about the nuances of the English language. Ronnie Barker was brilliant at this type of sketch. Comedy genius.
This is a classic two Ronnies sketch. Checkout Tiswas this was a children tv programme loved by their parents and students in the UK
been working in England for 10 years but never misunderstood anybody so bad although the scottish and newcastle accents are not too easy.:-)))
Love the fact you have ELO's
Out of the blue on your wall. Amazing album❤️❤️
Comic genius my friend. It was must watch tv of the 1970s and 80s. I hope you get a chance to see more!.
A Billhook is like a machete with a curved end, but the play on words is "bollocks" (slang term for testicles.)
The sketch was from 1976. They improved UK electrical safety standards in the early 1980s, because having 13 amp mains sockets in a bathroom represented a serious hazard.
The sketch is based on the fact that alot of words in English sound similar - as in 4 candles, sounds like Fork Handles.
I'm from the UK and you got it spot on! There are different regional accents. For example a Birmingham (Brummie) accent is very different from a Bristolian one.
Check out Morecambe and Wise with the late Des O'Connor. You'll laugh.
A lot of people are mistaken thinking the billhooks reference is a rude reference but it isn't. A lot of people are under the impression that billhooks are a mess about items like skyhooks or long weights or spotted paint but billhooks are actually a real tool used for hedging and forestry purposes hence why the simple assistant was offended but the shop owner who knew better wasn't fazed at all.
Even now if someone says..candles..we say..what, fork handles!
The funniest British comedy of all-time is called Blackadder. Season 1 was a complete write-off. Begin watching at season 2. Edmund Blackadder is the most sarcastic man EVER. 🙂
The different accents are frequently heard across the USA. You’d have trouble having a conversation with me possibly, because I have a heavy Southern accent. Southern ladies regularly use terms of endearment with strangers. We are quietly bold.
Annie/Tennessee
You have such a great smile, just clicking on here cheers me up in these lockdown days! Great to see you laughing along! Best wishes from UK.
i'm from Newcastle in the UK, you get different accents on the west side of the city & the east. A few miles away & its different again
Ronnie Barker writes a lot of their sketches he an expert at playingn with words, if you see the name Gerald Wiley in the credits it's him.
Pure and simple Genius.