Goodness Gracious Me
BBC English language sketch show origanally on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC TWO, based on four English-Indian actors: Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Syal and Nina Wadia. In the television version most of the "white" parts are played by Dave Lamb, while in the radio version the white parts were played by the cast themselves.
The title and theme tune are based on a hit song of the 1960s in which Peter Sellers impersonated an Indian doctor and Sophia Loren his patient. This was in the film The Millionairess. The show's signature tune is a bhangra arrangement of the song. The show's original working title was "Peter Sellers is Dead", but because the cast generally liked Peter Sellers (in spite of this bit of racial stereotyping), the title was changed.
Many of the sketches explore the conflict/integration between traditional Indian culture and modern English life. Some reverse the roles to view the English from an Indian perspective. Others poke fun at Indian stereotypes.
They casually drop Urdu and Punjabi slang phrases into their speech, in the manner of many Indians living in England.
Recurring characters
- tactless Mr "Check Please"
- The Competitive Mothers
- Mr "Everything Comes From India"
- The Coopers (Kapoors) who snobbishly maintain they're English
- Superhero Bhangra-Man
- "Skipinder, The Punjabi Kangaroo" (redubbed Skippy)
- the streetwise Bhangra Muffins ("kiss my chuddies, man!")
- sexy Bollywood superstar Chunky La Funga
- A mother who decries the wasteful world declaring of everything "I can make it at home for nothing!" (frequently involving "one small aubergine!")
- The dodgy Guru Maharishi Yogi (based on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)
- Smeeta Smitten, Showbiz Kitten (Reporter)
- Uncle "You Should Have Come To Me!"
Seasons
Radio show
- 1996 June/July (4 eps)
- 1997 July/August (4 eps)
- 1998 May/June (6 eps)
Television show
- 1998 Jan/Feb - Season 1 (6 eps)
- 1998 Nov/Dec - Season 2 (6 eps)
- 1998 Dec - Christmas Special
- 1999 Theatre Tour
- 2000 Feb/Mar - Season 3 (6 eps)
- 2001 Feb - "Back Where They Came From" (Parts filmed in India!)
