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Gags

A few personal faves...

Neddie has a rendezvous ... at the "Teahouse of the August Gloon", where he's been told to knock 6,000 times. From China Story (1955).

I read no further... From The Mystery of the Marie Celeste (1954).

..that's 600 miles from here! From China Story (1955).

I've broken my leg. From Shangri-La Again (1955).

I still say it's a mirage. Neddie, Bloodnok, Eccles and Bluebottle are lost in the desert... From The Mummified Priest (1957).

I knows a bald-headed old woman called Rattler Blotts. How could you deliver a line like this and keep a straight face...? From The Gold Plate Robbery (1959).

Have a gorilla. From Napoleon's Piano (1955).

This is the BBC - who should start more of their programmes like this. From The Nasty Affair at the Burami Oasis (1956).

Catchphrases and running gags

By no means an exhaustive list, but you get the idea...

"(You've got to go) OWWWWW!" - Count Moriarty.

"You silly twisted boy." - Grytpype-Thynne.

"What what what...." - Neddie.

Introducing Count Moriarty...

Henry Crun "You can't get the [insert something here, usually wood], you know...".

Bloodnok's expletives.

"Shut up Eccles!" - Eccles joins in.

"You rotten swines!" Many episodes involve Bluebottle being killed (usually by being accidentally blown up).

"Brandy!" - the cast used to 'nip round the back' to drink brandy during the musical interludes.

John Snagge - the venerable BBC boat race commentator, who was often sent up, and occasionally made pre-recorded appearances.

Sabrina - a 50's pin-up model.