Goodness Gracious Me
Goodness Gracious Me is a BBC English language sketch comedy show originally aired on BBC Radio 4 from 1996 to 1998 and later televised on BBC Two from 1998 to 2001. The ensemble cast were four British Indian actors, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Syal and Nina Wadia. The show explored the conflict and integration between traditional Indian culture and modern British life. Some sketches reversed the roles to view the British from an Indian perspective, and others poked fun at Indian stereotypes. In the television series most of the white characters were played by Dave Lamb and Fiona Allen; in the radio series those parts were played by the cast themselves. The show's title and theme tune is a bhangra rearrangement of a hit comedy song of the same name. The original was performed by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren reprising their characters from the 1960 film The Millionairess. The show's original working title was "Peter Sellers is Dead", but was changed because the cast generally liked Peter Sellers. In her 1996 novel Anita and Me, Syal had referred to British parodies of Asian speech as "a goodness-gracious-me accent". One of the more famous sketches featured the cast "going out for an English" after a few lassis. They mispronounce the waiter's name, order the blandest thing on the menu and ask for twenty-four plates of chips. The sketch parodies often-drunk English people "going out for an Indian", ordering chicken phall and too many papadums. This sketch was voted the 6th Greatest Comedy Sketch on a Channel 4 list show.
Cast
Nina Wadia
Meera Syal
Kulvinder Ghir
Sanjeev Bhaskar
Konnie Huq
Seasons
E1Episode 1
Jan 12, 1998
Asian comedy sketch show. Highlights include life with the Coopers, nightclubbing with the Bhangramuffins, and why brown is the new black.
E2Episode 2
Jan 19, 1998
Fixer Uncle and The Six Million Rupee Man appear in the comedy sketch show with Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Nina Wadia and Kulvinder Ghir.
E3Episode 3
Jan 26, 1998
The Coopers endeavour to join the new tennis club while a Buddhist offers peaceful ways of killing mice.
E4Episode 4
Feb 2, 1998
Arabella Weir makes a guest appearance as Sarah, the white wife who wants to be Indian.
E5Episode 5
Feb 9, 1998
An advertising agency in India faces a big creative challenge and the Minx twins enjoy a night on the town.
E6Episode 6
Feb 16, 1998
A couple have an erotic time preparing Indian food and the Kapoors plan an English barbecue.
E1Episode 1
Nov 13, 1998
Award-winning British-Asian comedy sketch show, featuring old favourites and new characters like the Competitive mothers, the Bhangramuffins and Bollywood superstar Chunky La Funga.
E2Episode 2
Nov 20, 1998
The Asian comedy sketch show features Mr Everything Comes from India, who turns his attention to the royal family.
E3Episode 3
Nov 27, 1998
Features the Indian Bridegroom Detective and a tribute to Hollywood's 'Blacked-Up Men'
E4Episode 4
Dec 4, 1998
British Asian comedy sketch show. Includes Mrs Eatmore and tips on 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Mother'.
E5Episode 5
Dec 11, 1998
British-Asian comedy sketch show. With period drama in Nehru and Jinnah: The Cambridge Years, and the further adventures of Skipinder the Punjabi Kangaroo.
E6Episode 6
Dec 18, 1998
British-Asian comedy sketch show. Featuring Britain's No 1 kabaddi star, and a special edition of 'Asian Gladiators'.
E71998 Christmas Special
Dec 1, 1998
The Asian comedy sketch show features the Coopers sitting down to their Christmas dinner and the staging of the very cosmopolitan Hounslow nativity play.
E8Episode 12
Dec 18, 1998
E9GGM Live on the Road 99
Jul 24, 1999
E1Episode 1
Feb 25, 2000
Award-winning British Asian comedy sketch show, starring Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Featuring Competitive Mothers, Cheque Please, The Kapoors and more.
E2Episode 2
Mar 3, 2000
Featuring a look at the blockbuster film Not Saving Private Narayan and the Asian children's show Live and Cooking.
E3Episode 3
Mar 10, 2000
Award-winning British Asian comedy sketch show, starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Syal and Nina Wadia.
E4Episode 4
Mar 17, 2000
With superhero and plumber Bhangraman, as he demonstrates the superhuman power of traditional music and dance.
E5Episode 5
Mar 24, 2000
Sketches including Channa's Angels, Bhangraman and Skipinder, the Punjabi Kangaroo.
E6Episode 6
Mar 31, 2000
Including an Asian version of Top Gear and the Kapoors' entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
E8Comic Relief
Mar 16, 2001
Videos
Storyline
Goodness Gracious Me is a BBC English language sketch comedy show originally aired on BBC Radio 4 from 1996 to 1998 and later televised on BBC Two from 1998 to 2001. The ensemble cast were four British Indian actors, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Syal and Nina Wadia. The show explored the conflict and integration between traditional Indian culture and modern British life. Some sketches reversed the roles to view the British from an Indian perspective, and others poked fun at Indian stereotypes. In the television series most of the white characters were played by Dave Lamb and Fiona Allen; in the radio series those parts were played by the cast themselves. The show's title and theme tune is a bhangra rearrangement of a hit comedy song of the same name. The original was performed by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren reprising their characters from the 1960 film The Millionairess. The show's original working title was "Peter Sellers is Dead", but was changed because the cast generally liked Peter Sellers. In her 1996 novel Anita and Me, Syal had referred to British parodies of Asian speech as "a goodness-gracious-me accent". One of the more famous sketches featured the cast "going out for an English" after a few lassis. They mispronounce the waiter's name, order the blandest thing on the menu and ask for twenty-four plates of chips. The sketch parodies often-drunk English people "going out for an Indian", ordering chicken phall and too many papadums. This sketch was voted the 6th Greatest Comedy Sketch on a Channel 4 list show.
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