Roy Castle, James Casey & Eli Woods - The Box Sketch - Michael Parkinson Show 1982

[@hihosilverlining]

I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this down the years…as a kid and now as an old lady. And it’s still funny 😂

[@paulhughes9435]

Absolute comic genius ! had the pleasure of meeting Eli Woods, a totally unassuming guy and a credit to his profession

[@terryallen5328]

Classic humour from an age long since gone, impeccable timing. RIP all three.

[@reetpateet8656]

I’ve watched this so many times. Absolutely incredible timing by three comic geniuses! No swearing, just good honest comedy 👍

[@robharper4096]

Fantastic. A real tribute to Jimmie James. Three great performers but I still think Eli is the best.

[@pentuplove6542]

Roy Castle was on a Float on the Isle of Mann. My mum called him so she could take his photo. This was almost 40 years ago, mum had problems getting the camera to take his picture. Roy stayed smiling in a finishing act position until mum could take the photo. A great professional. Missed by many.

[@eugenefarrar1959]

One of the best, from an era where the stars weren't celebrities, they were grafters, none better.

[@philippaine]

Eli Wood ....he starred in a rerun of this sketch on TV .. he'd hardly changed in appearance .... what a legend

[@kevinbennett7615]

This is the one from the 80's. It says so in the title.

[@philippaine]

ua-cam.com/video/nH5BFVKtlts/v-deo.html
Try this link!! 1962.

[@ChrisTobinSingerGuitarist]

Loved this when I saw it as a kid and still love it now, hilarious, wonderful timing and all sadly missed. A great tribute to Jimmy James 🙂

[@crawfb]

Timing, pace, writing, performance = a perfect cocktail of comedy. Sadly the recipe seems to have been lost today.

[@tdsymes]

I love this sketch, but you are wrong. Timing in comedy is just as good today as ever was. And the style of comedy fits the age we are in.

[@davidoconnell4100]

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

[@MrDavey2010]

So clever. The timing of all three is superb. Highly professional.

[@andyhowlett2231]

Absolutely marvellous. Professionals who know the ropes and know how to do it. Classic

[@kevvome]

A fantastic sketch, in fact in the top three of all time.
At first I wasn't too keen on Roy Castle playing the part of the idiot, but after watching this several times it dawned on me just how good he was here and he was perfect for this role.
There isn't enough of this kind of comedy on youtube, more's the pity as I can watch this kind of entertainment all day and night.
A sad fact that all have departed this world, but I believe strongly that as long as you live in people's memories you can never truly die.
Thanks for the so very many laughs guys.
It's been one of life's pleasure's knowing you.

[@ianbentley7276]

i remember the original with jimmy james, and have looked at it on here, but i think this is much better, can't understand why it's in black and white though.

[@Tocsin-Bang]

The timing is immaculate!

[@rchequers]

I made the mistake of watching this on a busy train. I ended up having to hide in a corner because of the shaking shoulders and the tears of laughter streaming down my face. Classic comedy. Thank you for sharing!

[@dambuster6387]

There is a earlier version of this with some else in stead of Roy Castle that,s was one of the original,s of the act who I think passed away.

[@eugenefarrar1959]

Excellent isn't it.

[@highpath4776]

@@dambuster6387 Fred Waring ?

[@fatbelly27]

If the audience weren't standing to applaud that at the end, they should have been. Thank you for posting it, and thank you to Michael Parkinson for capturing a little bit of history

[@Bethi4WFH]

Great timing. I love the guy in the middle, and the fact that none of them corpsed. So good.

[@mickbrod1]

THANKS FOR POSTING THIS GEM OF BRITISH COMEDY .MY THANKS TO COLIN PATERSON FOR HIS SPOT ON COMMENT.

[@petergrundy6234]

So funny after so many decades .🤣🤣🤣🤣👍

[@terryallen5328]

Good old fashioned comedy, sadly missed on today’s television.

[@Markintheshed]

bloody fantastic , remember watching this live, and trying to play it back, on vhs only to find I hadn't pressed the record button,

[@sydneyleggett6276]

I am ancient enough to love comedy without swearing and based on clever use of language....plus some dubious choreography.

[@Wa1kerBros4Ever]

Glorious!! A classic piece of choreographed madness performed wonderfully. Thank goodness moments like these will now never be lost. Thank you for uploading.

[@reetpateet8656]

Brilliant, just brilliant, and as already stated no swearing and no filth. No real comedians about these days that compare.
Such excellent timing and so so funny. Ditto to a comment below....I can't stop watching it either!!

[@bmcgoo6027]

There is 'filth' in this when they talk about the Bounty bar - for fuck's sake.

[@DAVE32154]

As with the original version with Jimmy James, it's the timing, as well as the comedy script that makes this sketch special. It's a shame we don't see more like this on todays comedy shows. You could still see James Casey and Eli Woods in some episodes of " Last of the summer wine ".

[@steve-lj7vy]

When ever I need cheering up I watch this.

[@eugenefarrar1959]

That's when entertainers were pro and really did have talent. superb!

[@jackthebassman1]

Eli Woods was fabulous, a real original and sooooooo funny, his timing was legendary.

[@alanbratt3022]

Following a fall last Saturday, when i landed flat on my chest, i made the mistake of watching this hilarious comedy clip. Couldn't help laughing, but laughed so hard that i am in absolute agony now. I remember seeing this particular clip on the Parkinson show back in the 1960s. Oddly, it hasn't aged at all. Still fresh & very clever humour.

[@clivepresley2907]

Sad about Roy Castle. He left us too early.

[@JONNYHOTROD]

AMAZING ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[@johnhughes4083]

My mother and her sisters would often tease me with the "`ave you been puttin` about that I`m barmy?" bit when I was a child. I think they must have heard it when Jimmy James was the lead, but as a child I had no answer to the simple question. Made me laugh though, they were the funniest people I have ever known. All three of them died many years ago. Some of their routines were straight out of music hall, I can still hear them sixty years later, and smile.

[@derricktelling5726]

what a piece of classic comedy

[@crossleydd42]

There's that surreal touch of Morecombe & Wise about all this! Pure Music Hall stuff. Another hilarious Music Hall sketch is Sandy Powell as the useless ventriloquist, also on UA-cam.

[@christopherfisher6293]

My wife just not get this at all!! I love it!!!

[@mhb7648]

Absolutely brilliant

[@cs_fl5048]

OK.... I really enjoyed that. I've never seen it before. Thank you.

[@klackon1]

I remember seeing the original sketch when I was still at school. Coincidentally, I was born in Leamington Spa and lived there for a number of years. A gorgeous blond with blues eyes lived a few doors away. Sod the Bounty Bar.

[@tomkent4656]

You can watch part of the original sketch with Jimmy James here: ua-cam.com/video/3kTJpcNUGBo/v-deo.html

[@roblin50]

Thanks to people like you uploading clips like this, people like me get to see the cream of British comedy...thanks Planty 77 for posting this gem.

[@1aberbeeg]

It is just so funny, cannot stop watching it, bless the three of them.

[@snerper]

Phil Strong= same here, real comedy, no smut just funny lines!

[@paulwoolley4957]

Brilliant performance, perfect timing👍👍 the likes of which we’ll never see again😢

[@johnjackson7310]

There is no comedy anywhere near this standard now great timing and so simple fantastic.

[@martinspeak9244]

Such timing - no egos just comic genius a product of the music halls ! even a tiny touch of Laurel and Hardy in there - brilliant !

[@Thisisace]

Perfect timing throughout. Wow!

[@basilsearle3485]

This was pure comedy long may they live in our memories

[@MonoLith2049]

i remember watching this as a kid & found it hilarious then. watching it now for the first time since its broadcast, i was laughing so hard i could hardly breath. brilliant. thanks for sharing

[@JohnBamber2312]

I feel just the same

[@highpitwilma]

Same here! Classic! Thanks for posting it!

[@equalsql7508]

That was just superb.

[@grenvillephillips6998]

A brilliant routine and somehow the black and white seems to enhance music hall feel of the piece.

[@nicholaswiltshire6356]

Absolute brilliant class comedy. No smut, no swearing and no filth.

[@avandriver]

What a gem . Thanks for sharing .

[@robertmunnerley4976]

Absolutely brilliant.....don't get anything like this now ...

[@allanball8466]

No crudity nudity or need to blaspheme. An era when Comedy reigned supreme.

[@noriemeha]

Jimmy James! Now I see where Eric Morcambe got his inspiration... the glasses, the talking off, the three word repostes, the missed moves.... it's all there. Classic act.

[@tomhenshaw2206]

I thought the same, then read that Jimmy Casey used to write for Morecambe and Wise and helped Eddie Braben hone their classic work from the 60s and 70s. Btw Eli Woods and James Casey were cousins.

[@Kings_New_Clothese]

Falling on the floor with laughter!

[@TheDrummie1]

Comic genius, perfect timing and choreography

[@somyod2u]

" The lodger got more meat than your father, you know " wonderful stuff.

[@eleanormatthews5275]

Love this even though I've seen it many times.

[@paulcoates6787]

RIP Eli Woods

[@Pwecko]

This was hilarious. I haven't laughed out loud like this for ages. Wonderful.

[@effyleven]

That was a scream! Didn't see it at the time, but I did just now. Thank you.

[@mickeyred]

Thanks for posting. Funniest sketch I've seen in a long time

[@Thursdaym2]

Back in the seventies, our band played a Christmas gig at a hotel in Altrincham and Ely was the main attraction. Was very funny but we had a hard job following his singing. Thought he got the best laughs in this video, great timing.

[@carolbrand181]

I,m pleased to say that Jimmy Casey & Eli Woods were relations of mine .

[@skoot2u]

A masterclass in comedic timing.Who could do this today ?

[@martinspeak9244]

Nobody - !!!!

[@marknailis]

Still brilliant

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 76yo Aussie fan.

[@jrgboy]

RIP all three, James Casey , Head of Comedy at BBC Manchester was the son of Jimmy James who originated this sketch..

[@juliamcintyre5012]

Wonderful!

[@chap666ish]

Black and White makes this so much better

[@garrywood5345]

Classic Comedy...All Talented And Perfect Timing.

[@petergibbs]

I do think this is the best version of the Box sketch done. James Casey is better than is his dad I think. Roy Castle is the best Box holder as well.

[@ianbentley7276]

agreed, i saw the original, and have looked back at it on here, but this outshines it.

[@bashbrannigan]

I’ve never seen these guys before. They’re great.

[@leondarrylfenton7036]

52 people without an iota of a sense of Humour..👿

[@jacquelinekalich8310]

Still makes me laugh out loud!

[@susanwoolfitt7297]

Jacqueline Kalich i

[@philsooty5421]

James Casey's father Jimmy James was the original and I saw him do this live, Huton Conyers and Eli Woods were his stooges and they where brilliant

[@skeggyboy58]

I really enjoyed that 👍🏻

[@andyhowlett2231]

Brilliant. Old troupers who knew what was funny and how to do it. No smut and no bad language.

[@elaineprescott7633]

What a shame today's comedians aren't up to this standard. Pure geniuses.

[@bryanbentham5290]

Brilliant.

[@bigteno4597]

Loved it.

[@terencebarrett2897]

absolutely brilliant real natural skill talent eli woods was fantastic wonderfull real entertainment real natural laughter

[@leneynon6268]

Brilliant👏👏👏👏👏👏😂

[@stevenmathers6661]

I was lucky enough to see them perform this routine on stage during a recording of "Castle's Corner".

[@prideparkheroes]

classic sketch,makes me laugh every time i watch it.

[@edhumm]

Such an epic sketch and still totally timeless! The first time I saw this the part of Jimmy Casey (who may or may not have died at that point) was performed by Roy Hudd, again with Roy Castle and Eli Woods. Again the timing was exceptional!
Does any one else remember that version and of so is there a recording of it waiting to be found somewhere.....?
Thank you for sharing this wonderful routine, stands alongside "Who's on First?" by Abbot and Costello

[@jillalexander3006]

No - that version was James Casey and Eli Woods but Hidd doing ROy Castle's part. I think it is on here off a Sunderland variety concert. Not as good as this though. Roy Castle had done this part with the other two for several years on the variety circuit. Hudd just an egotist who had to muscle his way into everything and make it about himself. Dreadful man. This is the best version of BOx Sketch I ever saw but the stooge in the long coat changed regularly in fact the chap in the hat was originally that stooge when his father was the main part.

[@paulredhead8603]

Comedy perfection. Plain and simple.

[@Lytton333]

Just great..

[@julielowe7462]

One of the funniest sketches ever, I remember these three doing the same classic act on the Royal Variety Performance, I think the original performance it was based on goes back to the 1930's, but I cannot remember who did it, but I know I've read it somewhere probably in Roy's Memoirs

[@martm216]

Wonderful old piece of business.

[@MrGerrymagic]

Wonderful comedy. You couldn’t analyse it.

[@robinmcarthur3287]

Brilliant!!

[@flashtheoriginal]

Now THATS entertainment

[@bigal3617]

spot on

[@maggiepickering8355]

Amazing

[@colinwood1023]

James Casey & Eli Woods thay were grate

[@martinspeak-nd3ob]

Brilliant & no shouting or swearing ,,!

[@colinp2238]

When I see acts like this it makes me wonder how the hell acts like Ant and Dec, Reeves and Mortimer even get off the bus.
Today there is nothing of this calibre being shown on TV.
Unfortunately none of these prolific talents are alive today.

[@patrickkelly7085]

especially the Geordie twosome they are talentless

[@philippaine]

Ant and Dec are a pair of talentless idiots

[@Kirkee7]

I agree totally

[@kevvome]

Ant and Dec are pure untalented shite, but Reeves and Mortimer are very funny.
Horses for courses I suppose.

[@mrbrown2186]

Bob Mortimer is a national treasure.

[@philippaine]

Best sketch ever on TV? If not, very close to being so.

[@martinspeak-nd3ob]

Try Freddy Starr “Vincent” sketch completely different but just as funny and clever

[@rogeredwarrddeshon5000]

I'm reminded of the joke about the two photographers in Africa watching Lions from a blind. One of the Lions sees them, roars and starts walking toward them. One of the men starts changing from sneakers to running shoes and his pal says, "Do you think you can outrun a Lion"? and his mate said, "As long as I can outrun you that's all that matters".

[@edzporn]

I remember seeing this sketch when I was twelve at the London Palladium . That would be about1958 , i always thought the straight man was Jimmy James

[@ianbentley7276]

The man in the hat is Jimmy James's son, James Casey, taking the part of his late father. .

[@jillalexander3006]

The one in the long overcoat changed many times over the years.

[@pohl54]

One of the funniest things you will ever see.

[@pameladavenport1647]

Marvelous stuff ,! 👏👏👏👏👏👏🤥