The first episode of Round the Horne was heard on 7 March 1965. Listeners immediately took to the characters introduced, such as Julian and Sandy, Dame Celia Molestrangler, Fiona and Charles, and Rambling Syd Rumpo. Kenneth Horne presided over the same cast that had found success in Beyond Our Ken - Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee.
Announcements were by Douglas Smith, and each week a musical interlude was provided by The Fraser Hayes Four.
The programme was transmitted on a Sunday afternoon for a family audience, but writers Barry Took and Marty Feldman took advantage of the permissive air of mid Sixties Britain to insert lots of saucy humour. The most popular characters, Julian and Sandy, spoke in Polari - the underground slang used before the decriminalisation of homosexuality - and produced several catchphrases that passed into common use.
The show ran for four series but ended after Horne's untimely death. Feldman left for the final season to concentrate on his flourishing performing career. Round the Horne continues to delight new audiences today, through repeats and release on CD. The influence of the programme can be traced in shows like The Fast Show.
March anniversaries
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成人快手 Producer Guidelines published
1 March 1989 -
Truly Madly Deeply
1 March 1992 -
Launch of 成人快手 Four
2 March 2002 -
Housewives' Choice
4 March 1946 -
Round the Horne
7 March 1965 -
Pennies From Heaven
7 March 1978 -
The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
8 March 1978 -
French and Saunders
9 March 1987 -
The Frost Report
10 March 1966 -
World Service Television News
11 March 1991 -
First broadcast by the 成人快手 Dance Orchestra
12 March 1928 -
Launch of the Latin American Service
14 March 1938 -
I鈥檇 Do Anything
15 March 2008 -
This Life
18 March 1996 -
First televised Budget speech
20 March 1990 -
Up Pompeii
23 March 1970 -
Letter From America
24 March 1946 -
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker
25 March 2009 -
The return of Doctor Who
26 March 2005 -
Grand National televised
26 March 1960 -
Troubleshooter
27 March 1990 -
Opening of new Crystal Palace transmitter
28 March 1956 -
Going for a Song
31 March 1965 -
Teletubbies begins
31 March 1997