'It's That Man Again or more commonly ITMA was a 1940sBBCradio comedy programme. The "Man" refered to in the title was originally Adolf Hitler but this later changed to Tommy Handley, a popular comedian. Other contributors included script writer Ted Kavanaugh, Jack Train, a master of voices; and Hattie Jacques, who played greedy girl Sophie Tuckshop. This programme featured dozens of characters, such as Mrs. Mopp, and Colonel Chinstrap. Some years later, Train reprised the role of Colonel Chinstrap for a couple of guest appearances on The Goon Show. Events and trends The 1940s were dominated by World War II, the most destructive armed conflict in history. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was formed in 1927 by means of a royal charter. ... Radio comedy, or comedic radio programming, is a radio broadcast that may involve sitcom elements, sketches or any other form of comedy found on other mediums. ... Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889–April 30, 1945) was the Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Imperial chancellor) of Germany from 1933 to his death. ... Tommy (Thomas Reginald) Handley (1892 -1949) was a British comedian mainly known for the BBC radio program ITMA (Its That Man Again). He was born at Toxteth Park, (Liverpool) on 17 January 1892 and died on 9 January 1949 from a brain hemorrhage. ... Josephine Edwina Jacques (February 7, 1922 - October 6, 1980), better known by the stage name Hattie Jacques, was a comedy actress. ... The Goon Show was a hugely popular and extremely influential British radio comedy programme, which was originally produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1951 to 1960 on the BBC Home Service. ...
ITMA ran for over 300 episodes. When Handley died the show was cancelled because he was considered irreplaceable as its star.
Catchphrases
ITMA coined many catchphrases:
"Can I do you now, Sir?" - Mrs Mopp (the office char)
"I don’t mind if I do" Colonel Humphrey Chinstrap turning innocent remarks into the offer of a drink.
ITMA was originally set in a pirate, commercial radio station, Tommy was assisted by Cecilia Eddy, playing his secretary Cilly and Eric Egan, as a mad Russian inventor.
Although a stage show and a film of ITMA was made, and it enjoyed some success, the radio show still remained by far the most popular medium in which to enjoy this brand of humour.
Post war ITMA, saw a new cast and a whole variety of new settings; the South Sea Island of Tomtopia, Castle Weehouse and the Office of Industrial and Scientific Affairs, before Tommy Handley became a permanent guest in Henry Hall, a tramp's guesthouse.
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