Fifty Years On

Fifty Years On

Frustratingly, we never get to see what Mrs Slocombe's present actually is, despite everyone having their own opinion on the contents of the box. But at least it gives Mr Humphries a chance to talk to everyone watching at home, so that's something.

Watchers of Mrs Slocombe's hair should note that this week she has adopted a shade that might be described at 'Grotbags Green'.

Familiar faces Tony Sympson and Mavis Pugh report for action and Penny Irving makes her first appearance with Young Mister Grace, even though she almost doubles her onscreen time during the end credits.

In fact, if we were doing a Customer Tally, this episode would score very highly compared to some. Possibly that infamous dipping sales graph takes a small upward spike this week, although it's hard to tell.

We are treated to two daft display units and Mister Rumbold jumps at the chance to get his organ out. But the notes he expects people to reach are well outside the normal range and I worry that Mister Lucas might have done himself an injury by the end of the rehearsal.

Wikipedia gives Mrs Slocombe's full name as "Mary Elizabeth Jennifer Rachel Abergavenny..." although when the department members come to finally sing it, the first name sounds more like 'Marie'...

The DVD subtitles go with 'Marie', which we like, but 'Abergavenny' somehow mutates into 'Agatha Mary'. They seem to be singing 'Abergavenny' to our ears, though! Anyone got a copy of that page of the camera script?

And at the end of all this, the 50 Years cake is not only vulgar but (apparently)  numerically inaccurate.

Though maybe, when it all comes down to it, her past is as much of a mystery as her present...

Our video about 'Fifty Years On' can be seen here.

(Written by Andrew Trowbridge)