"We're the Goodies, Yes the Goodies, oh the Goodies are coming for you - ha ha ha ha!"
Twice a Fortnight
‘Twice a Fortnight’ was a short-lived, 30 minute, black & white BBC One sketch show which aired late on Saturday nights from 21st October 1967 until 23rd December 1967. Only ten episodes were made and the show borrowed extensively from, ‘I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again’ scripts, which at the time had just completed its fourth series. The series, produced and directed by Tony Palmer, was offered as a vehicle to Graeme, who had just passed his medical exams and given the ultimatum of a career in medicine or showbiz. With the help of then-flatmate Eric Idle, Graeme chose the latter, and so ‘Twice A Fortnight’ was his television debut. Collaborating with fellow ISIRTA cast member Bill Oddie, the show also employed writer/performers Terry Jones and Michael Palin providing film sequences, while Dilys Watling, Tony Buffery, BBC announcer Ronald Fletcher, Jonathan Lynn and Germaine Greer completed the cast.
The show, despite its short history, was not without its problems, namely Bill and director Palmer locking horns regarding direction and music; and the rowdy, drink-fuelled, ISIRTA-esque audiences overtaking the performers in the vocal department. The show mixed studio segments with outdoor filming, allowing both Oddie/Garden and Palin/Jones to enhance their visual-comedy writing abilities, something which would prove invaluable to their future careers. The show also featured musical guests with the likes of Cream, The Who, Cat Stevens, Scaffold, The Moody Blues and The Small Faces all making appearances.
However, despite the show once calling itself, ‘Match of the Day 2!’ as a means of gaining more audiences, sadly this wasn’t enough. While the show attracted a number of fans, their attempt to transfer some of ISIRTA onto the screen was met with varied success. Nonetheless, the show undoubtedly paved the way for the future Goodies and Pythons, particularly in relation to the film sequences, which obviously became integral to The Goodies. Whilst ‘Twice a Fortnight’ remains a rare and mysterious show, a surprising amount appears to exist. The most accessible place to view, ‘Twice a Fortnight’ footage is on the original theatrical trailer for, ‘Monty Python & the Holy Grail’. The trailer shows clips of a filmed sequence parodying Swedish classic, ‘The Seventh Seal’, whereby Graeme and Terry Jones (as Death) recreate the famous chess scene, culminating in Jones putting a custard pie in Graeme’s face.
The show, which bridged the ‘Oxbridge Mafia’ gap in front of the cameras, ended after just one series. Palin & Jones used one of their ‘Twice a Fortnight’ filmed sketches regarding the Battle of Hastings to make the series, ‘The Complete and Utter History of Britain’ for LWT, which then progressed to Monty Python. Meanwhile Graeme, again at the suggestion of Eric Idle, teamed up with Tim Brooke-Taylor after his success on, ‘At Last the 1948 Show’ to create, ‘Broaden Your Mind’, which later recruited Bill. With the Goodies team now united, the rest is history.
Thanks to:
Roger Wilmut, ‘From Fringe to Flying Circus’ (1980)
Robert Ross, ‘The Goodies Rule OK’ (2006)
BBC Comedy Guide for Twice A Fortnight
Compiled by Jess Pickles