Goodness Gracious Me: Starring Sanjeev Bhaskar & Meera Syal (BBC Radio Collection) Cassette

Named after Peter Sellers' cod-Indian novelty record of 1960, Goodness Gracious Me was a gamble for the commissioners at the BBC. Previous "ethnic minority" sketch shows such as The Real McCoy had achieved respectable audience figures, but had failed to make a convincing move into the mainstream. Realising that the new team had the potential to make the crossover, the powers-that-be decided to use radio as a testing ground for their material, with BBC Television funding a three-series run on Radio 4. The experiment was a success, and Goodness Gracious Me went on to achieve public and critical acclaim on both radio and television. This release from the BBC Radio Collection includes highlights of the first series and three complete episodes from series two. It showcases the team at their best, making satirical sideswipes at the intersection of British and Asian cultures. A common tactic is the reversal of situations or stereotypes--diners "go for an English", requesting food which is "not too bland"; the Kapoor family (pronouncing their surname "Cooper") compete with their neighbours over how quintessentially English they can be; a Muslim boy converts to Judaism and instantly sounds like Woody Allen. This is a programme that transcends the notion of "ethnic comedy", with the broadcasting ghetto which that phrase suggests--beyond any racial considerations, it is simply very, very funny. --Running time approx 1 hour 40 minutes --John OatesRead More