Play Away S8E13 (1979) - FULL EPISODE

Have a Good Trip. It's the final episode of the series, and Brian Cant and Julie Stevens are accompanied by Anita Dobson and George Chisholm in the studio, while Tony Robinson joins in via film (and telephone). This is the last of the full Play Away episodes that I have to upload, and it's yet another that had its masters wiped by the Beeb. The omnishambolic incompetents.

Those Tony Robinson sketches... they're a little strange, but I really quite like them, even if they slow proceedings down a bit. What I find vaguely ironic is that Tony has subsequently become generally known for relatively wordy comedy, yet here he is doing his dialogue-free physical stuff, and making a really decent fist of it. Lazy writers like me might describe it as Baldrick doing Mr Bean before Blackadder ever did.

Anyway, personal highlights include Brian's visual pun story, the "You can't have your kayak and heat it" line, plus the following exchange in that same holiday sketch:

"Where are you staying?"
"Guest house."
"Nice?"
"Guessed wrong."

I don't know why that got me so much, but it did. Meanwhile, musically speaking, George has brought his trombone with him again so expect some rousing moments, and we end the series with the Play Away song which seems only to be wheeled out for special occasions in this era. As a neat little bonus, check out the continuity and promos for tonight's viewing at the beginning (which pinpoint the broadcast date as Saturday, 17th February, 1979), plus a plug at the end for Jonathan Cohen's own show Hit the Note next week in the same slot. In fact, it's nice that Brian gave it a mention, too. Oh, and don't miss the post-credits gag, though I can't help thinking they could have come up with a slightly stronger joke to bring the run to its finale.

Eternal gratitude once again to all those who helped resurrect this recording, and especially Lee for not wiping the tape in the first place.

(If you're a copyright holder and have any objections, please feel free to contact me. Alternatively, I haven't monetised the video, so you're welcome to do so, and that way everybody wins.)