Ronnie Barker’s 1 regret about the Two Ronnies' iconic Four Candles sketch
The comedy icon once confessed that he was not entirely satisfied with the routine.
The Two Ronnies are no longer with us, but their catalogue of comedic work is still making people laugh today. Perhaps the double act's most famous sketch is the Four Candles routine. Ronnie Barker plays a customer who has turned up at a general store with a somewhat confusing list of items. Each one could be multiple different things - for example, peas could be found in a garden or as lettering. And a plug could mean one for the bathroom or an electric socket.
The Two Ronnies Sketchbook was broadcast in 2005 and featured the twosome looking back at a collection of skits from the BBC comedy series. Of course, they watched back their Four Candles bit, and, afterwards, Barker, who died in October that year, told of one part of the sketch that he was left dissatisfied with.
The Two Ronnies - Four Candles sketch
At the end of the routine, Ronnie Corbett's character reaches the end of his tether and calls for his colleague.
He says: "Oh, that does it. That does it. I've had just about enough of this. Mr Jones! You come out and serve this customer, please. I've just about had enough of this."
Mr Jones takes a look at the list and tells Barker's character: "Right, how many would you like? One or two?"
The shopkeeper then removes a towel hanging from a draw, revealing its contents: "Billhooks". A trumpets then sounds the end of the routine. The show returns to the studio, where the Ronnies are sitting at their desk.
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The audience gives them a ruptuous applause.
Barker then says: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have a confession to make.
"When I wrote that sketch, I was never happy with the ending to the sketch. Billhooks. I didn't like it. A bit too obscure, a bit too corse.
"But I just couldn't think of another end, so we did it. Then later, just before we did the sketch at the London Palladium, the perfect tag came to me.
"I was so pleased, it was so simple. Instead of the young man being called on, a big [...] girl, in an overall came on, took the list from Ronnie C, looked at me, looked at it and said: 'Right, sir. What kind of knockers are you looking for?'"
