Barry Chuckle, RIP To You.

August 5, 2018 10:29 PM

Barry Elliott, professionally known as Barry Chuckle one half of the Chuckle Brothers has died. I'm at a loss quite how to describe it, it's a little like if Sooty or Sweep died. That the brothers worked together successfully for so many years and managed to make themselves a positive part of so many generations' childhood memories is a testament to the man. The BBC site has a selection of photos of his career, going back to early success in iconic '60s and '70s talent shows. Tellingly many of the pictures show both Barry and Paul together, who were not only brothers, but also comedy partners for most of their lives.
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue (22 comments total)

I've got a friend of a friend, 15 years my junior and he's a genuine Chuckle Brothers fan. He's seen them live and regularly sends round daft selfies from Paul Chuckle's Twitter. I don't pretend to understand how they've managed to span so many generations, except that their comedy was of an older, broader and yet more generous tradition. The announcement of their recent Channel 5 series piqued my interest, not quite enough to watch but I had my ears open (think Robot Wars Reboot). He was 73, yet that's no age these days. What a shame to see someone go who was still working and still bringing joy to his audience.

RIP Barry.
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 10:37 PM on August 5, 2018

Old fashioned stuff - but you had to be pretty miserable not to laugh. Actually some of the jokes weren’t bad, and if you didn’t like one there’d be another straight away.

He must have left little warm memories of laughter at tea time in the minds of millions of people. A pretty good legacy.
posted by Segundus at 10:56 PM on August 5, 2018 [3 favorites]

A 'best of' clip of the Chuckle Brothers.
posted by el io at 11:06 PM on August 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

Oh dear oh dear. Loved the Chuckles as a kid, and still as an adult. They were an anachronistic joy.
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posted by RandomInconsistencies at 11:36 PM on August 5, 2018

Still one of the craziest / best novelty records ever. Tinchy Stryder & The Chuckle Brothers | To Me, To You (Bruv)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:16 AM on August 6, 2018 [3 favorites]

To me

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posted by Gilgongo at 12:22 AM on August 6, 2018 [5 favorites]

To you

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posted by Merus at 12:42 AM on August 6, 2018 [5 favorites]

To me

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posted by Molesome at 1:31 AM on August 6, 2018 [4 favorites]

To you

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posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 1:34 AM on August 6, 2018 [3 favorites]

To me

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posted by DanCall at 1:51 AM on August 6, 2018 [4 favorites]

To you

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posted by lloyder at 1:58 AM on August 6, 2018 [4 favorites]

To me

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posted by eyeofthetiger at 3:07 AM on August 6, 2018 [2 favorites]

Kirsten O'Brien talking about the Chuckle Brothers on Screenwipe - probably a good intro for non-Brits wondering who they were.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:06 AM on August 6, 2018

Chuckle Brothers are in their beds in the middle of the night
Barry: ‘What time is it?’
Paul: ‘Dunno. Pass me that trombone & I’ll find out.’
blows trombone loudly
Neighbour shouts: ‘Who’s playing the trombone at 2AM???’
Source
posted by Busy Old Fool at 4:31 AM on August 6, 2018 [8 favorites]

To you

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posted by Damienmce at 7:27 AM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]

This must've been a “not available in Scotland” thing, as my peak UK TV watching appears to have coincided with their famous years. I have genuinely never heard of them. But still:

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posted by scruss at 7:36 AM on August 6, 2018

It must have been in Scotland somewhere, because I watched it, although I must have been young because I remember very little other than I liked it. I was still really saddened to hear he's gone though. I agree with the Sooty and Sweep comparison, my first thought was Bodger and Badger, those three are all mixed up together in my head as my childhood tv.
posted by stillnocturnal at 7:56 AM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]

Aye, definitely on in Scotland. That 'to me, to you' catchphrase is what my mum would say when me and my dad were screwing up some project around the house.

To me then.
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posted by rhamphorhynchus at 7:58 AM on August 6, 2018

Just me who remembers the Chuckle Brothers love rat story from 2005 then?

Sadly Closer/Take a Break/ wherever it was originally published doesn’t seem to have online archives, but of course some random person on the internet typed it up. No sadface photos, unfortunately.
posted by tinkletown at 8:49 AM on August 6, 2018

To you

To me?!

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posted by howfar at 1:20 PM on August 6, 2018

To you

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posted by Helga-woo at 3:13 PM on August 6, 2018

"Applause and shouts of "To me, to you" were heard as the coffin arrived."

BBC is doing live updates from the funeral
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:28 AM on August 17, 2018