It's That Man Again

Image: Tommy Handley, Sydney Keith (Sam Scram), Horace Percival (The Diver, Allez 00p, etc), Jack Train (Funf, Lefty, Colonel Chinstrap and others) during rehearsal for 'ITMA', November 1942.

It's That Man Again, or ITMA, first aired in July 1939, just before the outbreak of World War Two. The title came from a headline referring to Hitler's aggressive policies, but according to the show's theme tune "That Man" was Tommy Handley. Handley had been a music hall and radio regular for many years but as the star of ITMA he created the best loved radio programme of the war period.

The format of ITMA, produced by Francis Worlsey and written by Ted Kavanagh, put Handley at the centre, delivering rapid fire jokes and topical references, with a surrounding cast of comic characters and memorable catchphrases. Supporting actors included Jack Train, Dorothy Summers, Maurice Denham, Horace Percival, Derek Gyler and Hattie Jacques.

Among the catchphrases were: "Can I do yer now sir?" and "ta ta for now", from Mrs Mopp; "I don't mind if I do" from Colonel Chinstrap, who saw every enquiry as an invitation to have a drink; "It's being so cheerful that keeps me going" from Mona Lott, and "Zis iss Funf speakink" from Funf the Spy.

The programme survived the war but was brought to an end when Handley died in 1949, though many of the catchphrases lasted much longer.