Tower of London (Goodies episode)

Infobox The Goodies episode
name = Tower of London


number = 1
airdate = Start date|1970|11|08
(Sunday — 10.00 p.m.)
director = Jim Franklin
producer = John Howard Davies
guests = George Baker as the

""Chief Beefeater, Thrushcote-Barnett"
Max Latimer as the

""Burglar"
Gertan Klauber as the

""Black Rod"
Maria O'Brien as the

""Fairy Puff Girl"

series = 1The Tower of London was the first episode of the British comedy television series "The Goodies".

This episode is also known as ""Beefeaters" and as ""The Tower of London".

Plot

Bill, Graeme and Tim have decided to run their own agency, with the catch-phrase "We do anything, anytime" and, when Tim and Bill see the office/residence which Graeme has prepared for them (spending Tim's legacy from his Aunt to do so), they are delighted with the result. Everything is exactly how they want it to be. From the spacious office, a single door leads to a multitude of different rooms (with one new room being shown on each opening — the rooms include a fully stocked supermarket, a bathroom, and a fully equipped gymnasium, among others).

There is also an unusual picture window. Each time the blind is closed, the window shows (using CSO) a different city, with music or a song to go with it as a soundtrack — these include views of London (with the song "Any Old Iron"), Paris (with French music), and Sydney (with Rolf Harris singing "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport").

Bill, who was in charge of advertising their agency, has put advertisements into various magazines and newspapers, including: "Man's Thing", "Woman's Thing", "The Beano", "The Times", Health & Efficiency, and "Playboy". Tim is worried about the "Playboy" ad — and Graeme comments that Bill is casting the net a bit wide. Bill replies that he does not know what they (the Goodies) do. Tim comments that they were "going to do...good to....people" — to which Bill responds "How wet!".

The Goodies are summoned to go to the Tower of London, where they are met by the Chief Beefeater, who tells them that somebody is stealing the Beefeaters' beef. Although the Beefeaters are starving, they refuse to eat anything else - not even Corned Beef.

The Goodies investigate the problem, and find that the Crown Jewels play an important part in the mystery.

Quotes

Quote 1::* Tim:::: "There's an eye!"::* Graeme:::: "Shhh, pretend we haven't noticed!"::* Bill (returning to the other two):::: "Hey, look, there's an eye!"

Quote 2 ::* The Chief Beefeater (referring to two shrunken Beefeaters):::: "They're not half the men they were."

Quote 3::* The Chief Beefeater (while putting on his Beefeater's hat):::: "Nobody must ever know that I am a Beefeater."

poofs and imitations

* Beefeaters
* Prince Charles, who was a well-known fan of both "The Goodies" and "The Goon Show".

References

* "The Complete Goodies" — Robert Ross, B T Batsford, London, 2000
* "The Goodies Rule OK" — Robert Ross, Carlton Books Ltd, Sydney, 2006
* "From Fringe to Flying Circus" — 'Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960-1980'" — Roger Wilmut, Eyre Methuen Ltd, 1980
* "The Goodies Episode Summaries" — Brett Allender
* "The Goodies — Fact File" — Matthew K. Sharp

External links

*: ("Tower of London" is listed under an alternative title at IMDb)
* [http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/jewels/index.html The Crown Jewels at the Tower of London]
* [http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/ravens/index.html The Ravens at the Tower of London]