Nights of beer and gloom

Press, 15 September 1977, Page 15

Nights of beer and gloom

By

KEN COATES

“It’s being so miserable, as wot keeps me going,” is a familiar line for the glum comic, who takes a preverse delight in misfortune of every kind.

There is no better exponent of this philosophy on television than Uncle Mort (Robin Bailey) in “I didn’t Know You Cared.” The final episode, in which two suitors played a bowls match for the hand of a lady — who also revelled in bad news

— had plenty of gloom, despondency, and despair. And, of course, Uncle Mort was trying his best to lose. To tell the truth, I had been persuaded to watch this last of the Brandons by an enthusiastic colleague who maintained there are many wonderfully funny lines in this 8.8. C. series from the depths of Yorkshire. The episode was an excellent example of the kind of wry humour which stretches the inevi-

tability of life into a kind of never-ending tarce. As Uncle Mort said, knowing his fiancee’s Christian name "might come in handy” on some future occasion — such as a long train journey, or when she fei’ into a canal. And then there was the second suitor, who came to read the gas meter, and who took a pride in the number of people he had sued.

It was to be expected that the Brandon males would take no delight in a family party “because of all the guests.” My colleague was right — there were some eloquent lines in the carefully written dialogue, expressive of human situations which befall us all.

However, you either like Uncle Mort, or you don*. He has grown on many viewers, attuned to a particular brand of humour. And the Brandon family are probably a better bet than the brash nonsense of Les Dawson, who will be in the Tuesday 9.40 slot next week.