Some performers can be classed as perfect, every role that they do being completely unique and fully encompassed. Ronnie Barker was one of these performers, he could be stammering as Arkwright, plotting as Fletcher or playing about a million characters in The Two Ronnies. In 1971 he starred in an anthology series called Six Dates with Barker. Each episode is set on a different date with a different supporting cast and a different main character all played by Barker.
1937 – The Removals Person (Written by Hugh Leonard)
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It is the day of the coronation and a wealthy family are moving house so they call in a removals man (Barker) to pack up and move all of their furniture, the only problem? He’s as blind as a bat. This is an okay episode with some good quality slapstick and several clever one liners here and there. It is perhaps most notable for being the inspiration for Barker’s final sitcom Clarence.
1899 – The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town (Written by Spike Milligan)
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The Prime Minister’s butler is hit by a dreaded attack from a devilish figure known only as The Phantom Raspberry Blower and now an intrepid police inspector (Barker) must investigate. It should first be noted that Ronnie Barker plays several characters in this episode, all of them hilarious. Milligan’s writing hits the mark with every ridiculous moment and it is a piece of brilliance that would later be adapted into a slightly less funny serialised version in The Two Ronnies.
1970 – The Odd Job (Written by Bernard McKenna)
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Arthur Harris (Barker) comes home to find his wife leaving him, he decides to kill himself, but can’t bring himself to do it, he then asks a passing odd job man (David Jason) to kill him when he least expects it. Then his wife comes back, but the odd job man doesn’t look likely to give up any time soon. This is a quality piece of dark comedy with both Barker and Jason turning in very funny and physical performances. This would later be adapted into a feature film starring Graham Chapman with Jason reprising his role.
1915 – Lola (Written by Ken Hoare and Mike Sharland)
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A German typist (Barker) is sentenced to be executed and takes the place of missing spy Lola Fischer. What could possibly go wrong? This episode is okay, though nothing special, there are some solid gags and Barker makes the most out of the drag act and it’s almost worth seeing just to experience Ronnie Barker disguised as a woman disguised as a man.
1971 – Come In and Lie Down (Written by John Cleese)
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Dr. Swanton (Barker) receives his first patient of the day who at first pretends to be a gas man and then claims to be being followed by a strange man with binoculars. Is he really being watched or is the man imaginary? This is a solid episode with some funny performances and writing that feels similar in style to a sort of combination of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python; an episode funny enough to check out.
2774 – All the World’s a Stooge (Written by Gerald Wiley)
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In the far future comedy is worshipped as a religion, everyone must attempt to be funny at all times, following the death of his father the new Emperor Boffo (Barker) begins to question if comedy is all there is. This is a dreadful episode and a disappointing way to end the series, the story is about jokes but the jokes just aren’t funny and it’s a real shame because normally when Barker wrote under the Gerald Wiley pseudonym stuff worked, but here it just fell flat.
So overall I would say this series is worth a watch if you are a fan of Ronnie Barker, but maybe skip the final episode.
Best Episode: 1899 - The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town
Worst Episode: 2774 – All the World’s a Stooge
Best Episode: 1899 - The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town
Worst Episode: 2774 – All the World’s a Stooge