I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (often abbreviated as ISIRTA) is a BBC radio comedy programme that was developed from the 1964 Cambridge University Footlights revue, Cambridge Circus, as a scripted sketch show. It had a devoted youth following, with the live tapings enjoying very lively audiences, particularly when familiar themes and characters were repeated, a tradition that continued into the spinoff show I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

The show ran for nine series and was first broadcast on 3 April 1964, a pilot programme having been broadcast on 30 December 1963 under the title "Cambridge Circus", on the BBC Home Service (renamed BBC Radio 4 in September 1967). Series 1 comprised three episodes. Subsequent series were broadcast on the BBC Light Programme (renamed BBC Radio 2 in September 1967). Series 2 (1965) had nine episodes, series 3 (1966) and series 6 to 8 (1968–1970) each had thirteen episodes, while series 4 (1966–67) and 5 (1967) both had fourteen episodes. After a three-year hiatus, the ninth and final series was transmitted in November and December 1973, with eight episodes. An hour-long 25th anniversary show was broadcast in 1989, comically introduced as "full frontal radio".

The title of the show derives from a phrase commonly used by BBC announcers in the age of live radio, following an on-air flub: "I'm sorry, I'll read that again." Basing the show's title on the phrase used to recover from a mistake set the tone for the series as an irreverent and loosely produced comedy show.(later one of the three members of The Goodies). He wrote humorous books on subjects including cricket and golf. He was a member of the cast of the television comedy series At Last the 1948 Show with John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman, and later appeared in Feldman's television comedy series Marty. He acted in many other television sitcoms, and appeared in the 1970s BBC radio sketch show Hello, Cheeky! with John Junkin and Barry Cryer, later translated to ITV. He also appeared in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in the uncredited role of the computer scientist. Brooke-Taylor died in April 2020, aged 79.

  • John Cleese The show was a sell-out success at The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham in February 2016 and a tour was licensed by Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie to the same company, the Offstage Theatre Group. In February 2017, it was announced that the British tour would take place later in the year, with guest appearances by Garden, Oddie, Taylor and Jo Kendall. In 2019 four new episodes with the slightly modified title "I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again... Again" were recorded and broadcast on Radio 4 Extra with some original cast including Tim Brooke Taylor, together with newer performers such as Barnaby Eaton-Jones.

Prune Plays

Writers and cast in order of appearance:

;Robin Hood

: Written by Graeme Garden and John Cleese

: Story narration – sung by David Hatch

: 'Curtain' – Tim Brooke-Taylor

: Maid Marion – Jo Kendall

: Friar Tuck – Bill Oddie

: Robin Hood – Tim Brooke-Taylor

: Alan 'a Gabriel – Graeme Garden

: Will Scarlet – David Hatch

: Little John – John Cleese

: Sir Angus of the Prune – John Cleese

: Grimbling (the Bailiff) – Bill Oddie

: Sheriff of Nottingham – Graeme Garden

: Master of Ceremonies for the 'Archery Competition' – John Cleese

: Deputy Sheriff – Graeme Garden

;The Curse of the Flying Wombat

: Written by Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie

: 'King Lear' – John Cleese

: Tim Brown-Windsor – Tim Brooke-Taylor

: Mr. Hatch – David Hatch

: Lady Fiona Rabbit-Vacuum (Jim-Lad) – Jo Kendall

: Captain Cleese – John Cleese

: 'Lookout' – Bill Oddie

: Casey O'Sullivan – Bill Oddie

: Masher Wilkins – John Cleese

: Maisie Robinson (the International Temptress) – Jo Kendall

: Grimbling (Butler to Tim's Aunt) – Bill Oddie

: Lady Constance de Coverlet – Tim Brooke-Taylor

: "Hurricane" Flossie (Lady Constance's identical twin sister) – Tim Brooke-Taylor

: Slave-girl trader – Bill Oddie

: Colonel Clutch-Featheringhaugh – David Hatch

: Nosebone (the Great White Hunter) – Bill Oddie

: Wong (the Supply-keeper) – Tim Brooke-Taylor

: Wong Tu (his brother) – John Cleese

: 'Armand' – Bill Oddie

Commercial Releases

A vinyl compilation album of sketches was released on the Parlophone label in 1967, and later reissued on a double cassette by EMI in 1993 alongside the London recording of Cambridge Circus. Another compilation was released by BBC Records in 1978, reissued on CD in 2011 as part of the Vintage Beeb range.

Four volumes of compilation cassettes were released by the BBC Radio Collection between 1989 and 1997 containing complete episodes. These were re-released on CD in 2007 alongside a fifth volume.

A tie-in book of sketches was published by Javelin in 1985, illustrated by Graeme Garden.

References

Sources

  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Episode Guide (Ben Newsam)
  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Episode Guide (OTR Today, archived)
  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Episode Guide (Titles & Air Dates)
  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Episode Guide (Everything2)
  • Roberts, Jem. The CLUE Bible. 2009. (Includes a large section on ISIRTA as well)
  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again — British Comedy website
  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again — Trash Fiction website
  • Global British Comedy Collective — episode guides for ISIRTA and other radio comedy
  • Detailed information on I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
  • I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again — mentioned in the article "The History of the BBC" at the BBC website
  • Detailed information on I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
  • The Goodies Illustrated Guide; Cambridge Circus and I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (details of related sound recordings)