Round the Horne, the Collector's Edition: Series 2 (8 CDs): Series 2

These discs capture the evolving and increasingly surreal humour of the second series. By now the characters have settled down and the writers are just enjoying exploring where they can be taken. It's a long way.
In this box you get every episode, in order, with a transcription show thrown in. The sound quality varies as some of the shows were obviously no longer available on the original tapes. It matters not. This is British humour at its best. Nearly 40 years on little can touch RtH when all the buttons are being pressed.
The only weak spot in the fifteen shows captured here is, for me anyway, the Dr Finlay's Casebook pastiche - all of episode seven. An experiment not repeated.
Of special interest is the very last disc which features the 1966 Christmas Special, where Horne was too ill to appear. You get the chance to check for yourself Kenneth Williams's statement in his diary that the show was just as good without Horne.
Wrong. Horne is badly missed. Hubris, Ken.
Anyway on a positive note, Rambling Syd, Julian & Sandy, Seamus Android and the incredible film excerpts (Binky Huckerback and Dame Celia Molestrangler) just grow and develop in front of your ears. The Fraser Hayes Four sometimes come as welcome relief to let you get your breath back.


The Best Sketch Show Ever   June 7, 2003
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

Round the Horne is the classic 60s radio show that's still fresh today. This contains the complete Series 2 from March to June 1966 plus a transcription episode from July 1966 (an old episode revised for overseas markets) and the Christmas 1966 episode.

This would be fondly remembered if it only contained camp couple Julian and Sandy (Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams) but it also has so much more. It's hard to believe that there's anyone out there in Britain who haven't heard this show, but if you have unfortunately missed it, buy it and you won't be sorry.

Some of the episodes have been completed with slightly sub-standard recordings. Mostly these restore topical gags of the period. Though you can tell the difference in audio quality, it's surprising how comprehensible those topical gags are - and funny.