The Curse of the Flying Wombat

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The Curse of the Flying Wombat is a 13-part serial forming most of series four of the British radio comedy series I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again that was first broadcast between 3 October and 26 December 1966.^[1] It was written by Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie.

(complete cast in order of appearance)

Main characters are listed in bold letters

• King Lear — John Cleese
• Tim Brown Windsor — Tim Brooke-Taylor
• Host of the "Puma and Mowing Machine" — David Hatch
• Mr. Hatch — David Hatch
• Lady Fiona Rabbit-Vacuum (Jim Lad) — Jo Kendall
• The Bosun — Bill Oddie
• Captain Cleese — John Cleese
• The Hand — Bill Oddie
• "Lookout" — Bill Oddie
• Casey O'Sullivan — Bill Oddie
• Masher Wilkins — John Cleese
• The First Class Passenger — John Cleese
• Grimbling (Butler to Tim's Aunt) — Bill Oddie
• Lady Constance de Coverlet — Tim Brooke-Taylor
• Maisie Robinson — Jo Kendall
• Colonel Clutch-Featheringhaugh — David Hatch
• Nosebone — Bill Oddie
• Wong (the Supply-Keeper) — Tim Brooke-Taylor
• Wong Tu (his brother) — John Cleese
• Mustafa Drink (the Slave Trader) — David Hatch
• "Hurricane" Flossie — Tim Brooke-Taylor
• The Caliph — Bill Oddie
• Angus McFergus — Bill Oddie
• Jeannie McFergus — Jo Kendall
• Slave-Girl Trader — Bill Oddie
• Torturer — John Cleese
• Zoo Keeper — John Cleese
• Policeman — John Cleese
• Sir ..... of the Desert — John Cleese
• Sand Witch — Bill Oddie
• Bar Keeper — Bill Oddie
• Ali Baba — Bill Oddie
• Dwarf — Bill Oddie
• High Priestess — Jo Kendall
• Dawn — Jo Kendall
• Curtain — Tim Brooke-Taylor
• Armand — Bill Oddie

In the first episode, Tim Brown-Windsor is being pressganged on to the ship "The Flying Wombat". This subplot is however soon forgotten, as Tim and his girlfriend Fiona Rabbit-Vacuum (who is disguised as a male cabin-boy, Jim Ladd) join the expedition that Captain Cleese has set out for: to find a jewel called The Green Eye of the Yellow God - the name of the gem is however soon changed into "The Green Eye of the little Yellow Dog". Despite sabotages from the villain Casey O'Sullivan and his moronic sidekick Masher Wilkins, the ship sails on for several episodes, picking up the recurring ISIRTA characters Grimbling and Lady Constance (introduced here) on the way. Eventually, the ship is abandoned, and the main cast travel on by foot. They are held up in Baghdad as slaves, but finally reach Kathmandu, where they find the jewel in question. However, as the final twist in chapter 13, the "Eye" is found to belong to a fierce dog that is neither small nor yellow (cowardly), but attacks them. In the season's special Christmas episode, the 14th part of the saga is introduced, but the cast of characters is chastised by a BBC official for having produced more than the agreed 13 episodes, and "forced" to perform a pantomime, "Jack and the bean stalk". Later, in season 4, the cast is on the contrary "rewarded" with a return; they perform the play "Champion the Wonder Mouse". Lady Constance appears in many later episodes; Tim, Fiona and Grimbling also remained as recurring characters.

In 1411, John of Gaunt ....... (opening music)

• Skit: Vets (Bird, Cocker Spaniel)
• Skit: Jo Kendall's Italian
• Skit: Three baby sketch ("I can reach the china cupboard - it's going to be smashing!")
• Song: "The Ferret Song"
• Episode: "The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 1"

• Skit: Angus Prune and Miss Rosie Bedsock
• Skit: Killferret Hall, Glasgow Hall (with Scottish song and Rhubarb Tartan)
• Skit: Leslie Grapevine and bird impressions
• Skit: Timothy and Jo Kendall honeymoon
• Skit: Mr. Potter's idea about horse-racing
• Song: "My Mom Has Lost My Dad"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 2

• Skit: John Cleese's bathtub (bath night)

(opening music)

• Skit: Mr. Smiley (Military Actor: Mercenary)
• Skit: Alice through the looking glass
• Skit: John and Mary sketch
• Skit: Minister (on new coal face techniques) falling apart
• Song: "Where Is My Smile"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 3

• Skit: Playing glasses of water
• Skit: International Trade Exhibition in East Germany (and defecting)
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 4
• Song: Favourite Melody (Beethoven's Fifth)
• Play: "William the Conqueror"

• Skit: Let's change the image

(opening music)

• Skit: The Spy With My Cold
• Skit: Gentlewoman's Protection Action Group
• Skit: Brown: Girl in Boys' School
• Song: "Recorded - Live in Cabaret"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 5

• Skit: Meet the Orchestra
• Skit: Jungle outside lavatory
• Skit: Sadistic boss
• Skit: Newsflash: Closure of House of Commons
• Song: "With a Girl Like You - Wild Things"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 6

• Skit: New Movies - including:
• ---- Western: "Flower of the West: The Lone Hydrangea"
• ----"The Sound of Monks (with their own version of Super cali frigalistic expialadotious)"
• Skit: Policeman with wife
• Song: "Working on the Railroad"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 7

• Skit: Scientific breakthrough
• Skit: Clapham Mystery Trial (including: songs from the Policeman's Opera)
• Song: "The Ferrets of Old England"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 8

"Oscar" nominations for Radio Angus Prune Awards for Bravery

• Skit: International Cabaret (including 'Greek' song)
• Skit: John and Mary sketch (with burglars)
• Skit: Amateur Comedy (Shakespeare)
• Song: "Baby Go to Sleep" (lullaby)
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 8

• Skit:
• Skit:
• Skit:
• Song: "I've Got the Hiccups"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 10

• Skit:
• Skit:
• Skit:
• Song: "Man's Best Friend - Duck"
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 11

• Skit: The Ark Is Full
• Skit: The Aristocracy of Great Britain
• Skit: The Driving Test
• Skit: Three Babies #3
• Skit: Hangover
• Song: "Yodelling Goatherd"
• Skit: Did You Know?
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 12

• Skit:
• Skit:
• Skit:
• Song: "I Love a Show" (Footlights)
• Episode: The Curse of the Flying Wombat - Part 13

• BBC Radio ISIRTA