Hugh and I [DVD]

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Hugh and I ran for six series between 1962 - 67 before writer John Chapman decided to call time on the partnership. However, less than a year later, he decided there was still mileage in the duo and drafted them into a world of espionage in Hugh and I Spy, the title itself being a knowing nod to the US TV series I Spy. Terry and Hugh were more than up for a reunion as Terry noted when he said "The trouble when you're on your own is that people are always saying: where's the other one? They think they are only getting half their money's worth". Perhaps the best lines were reserved for Fred Emney who appeared in several episodes and is given the codename Chihuahua for 'Tea or Coffin'. A great, deluded twit in the greatest British comedy traditions, Fred Emney - looking like Winston Churchill's doppelganger here - is perhaps even more bumbling than Terry and Hugh and is one of the highlights of the episode. For some reason, I also found Hugh's feigned condition of "twinges in the Ganges" far funnier than I should have done, but even an innuendo which doesn't even make sense can still be highly fun at the right moment. Hugh finds out that Norma shares his admiration for Jazz music. One evening whilst Terry and his mother are away at a dinner party over at the Wormwolds, he invites Norma's Jazz group, the Tooting Trad Type over, so they can practise in the living room. HC: I did a solo single basically because the others wouldn't do it. We didn't go into it. They just didn't like it.

HC: We got brass in for a couple of Swing-type numbers we were doing. But we thought there's no point in just doing two numbers with them. So they're playing on Nice 'n' Sleazy and Peaches now. Bab bab bub bu bu bab bab brrruuu! It's not necessarily easy to view 'Tea or Coffin', but the TV preservation experts at Kaleidoscope recently put on an event which - amongst a whole treasure trove of rarely seen delights - included this snapshot of Hugh and I Spy. As you might have guessed - otherwise this article would be highly devoid of detail - I attended this event and lapped up the comedy stylings of Terry and Hugh. Obviously, I've only viewed one episode - and this may remain the case for all eternity - but it was a highly enjoyable watch and provided further proof that Terry and Hugh were comedy performers of some renown. A wholesome sitcom that, despite the obvious dating, retains that magisterial handling of comedy narrative and has left me wanting to see more. The level of available detail surrounding the series is fairly minimal - hence the number of gaps in my coverage - so if you've got any more insights and information get in touch!All the episodes were thought to be lost until 2013 when the sixth episode was recovered. [1] (See Wiping).

HC: ...Cactus music. I'm getting very into that. The romance of the West. Nobody seems to be doing this Gene Pitney/Roy Orbison type of music. Beautiful melodies. Beautiful ballads. Songs that you remember for the rest of your life. Songs like Strong Summers, the songs I was listening to in my teens. I'll never forget that. It would be nice to do that for people. Send a shiver up their spines. Note: This episode was originally supposed to follow the episode 'Emergency Ward', but due to the postponement of the series, this was transmitted first. HC: Sometimes I find that Dave will play exactly the same tune as I have played on a demo. But that's bound to happen after a long period. Bennett, Steve (26 October 2023). "Lost episodes of classic Eric Sykes and Terry Scott sitcoms discovers: News 2023: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk . Retrieved 26 October 2023.

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When Hugh's planned holiday to the countryside is scuppered. Terry takes him to the airport, where they head off to Paris for a weekend trip.