Anyone remember The Krankies?

[Danny]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

They are a lovely couple believe me. Their real names are Ian and Janette Tough.

I used to watch them when I came home from school and I thought they were very funny.

I admit now that it took me a while to work out that "Wee Jimmy Krankie" was actually a woman

DOH!!!

(Get well soon Janette )

I was the same - thought it was some amusing little kid they had and later, when signs of age appeared ,I thought it was a Jimmy Clitheroe type of person - then finally I realised it was a little woman dressed as a schoolboy
(Jimmy Clitheroe ! Who's he then? Ha Ha)

[bun]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

even as a child I found this duo extremely disturbing, and unfunny.
I switched over quick when they were on. Another cringeworthy duo was keith harris and orville!! Bleugh!

[Mulletino]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

My mate thought it would be humorous to buy me the Krankies Biography (he saw it for a quid) as I hated them. It is actually quite entertaining and sometimes disturbing at the same time.

[joseph_25]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

If you remember the eighties you'll remember The Krankies from "Crackerjack, Krankies club, The Krankies Electronic Komic to KTV" . The Krankies had their own TV show for 12 years.

Recently they have appeared on FRench and Saunders TV shows and Janette was featured in the very successful situation comedy "Dinner ladies".

They also appeared in the BBC2 documentary series "The Entertainers".

Janette also appears as Jimmy Krankie in the video for Comic Relief single "500 Miles" with The Proclaimers,Brian Potter,Andy Pipkin and other celebrity stars.

Their official website
http://www.thekrankies.cwc.net/page4.html
You can send your emails to the krankies at krankieweb@aol.com.

[ceg56]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

I rember Jimmy Clitheroe, he was really funny and a great talent during his career. Always watched Crackerjack (Leslie Crowther and Peter Glaze) in the 60's. The Crankies copying Jimmy Clitheroe's format definitely didn't work (somethings are too good to be copied!!) and really couldn't stand them, weird setup there. Made the mistake of taking my kids to see them when they were quite small - BIG MISTAKE!! Even they couldn't see the point of their act and were bored senseless.
Don't some people realise that humour has moved on and to use old material and formats is a bit of a lost cause, some people just can't carry it off and just makes them look totally ridiculous .

[Bernard Fuller]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

I agree with Pedro the "F" word is not very nice to hear in entertainment of today. Can't chat longer.
Bernard.

[Bernard Fuller]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

A lot of years have gone by Pedro, since I saw Jimmy. His side kick is still alive and well but a little old. Funny thing just before Christmas I was emailed by a couple of authors writing a book on Jimmy. It has took them about four years I believe to research the book, they inform me that they have just started to put it all together. So if you keep your eyes open in the future you will be able to get the book. Jimmy was a small man about 4ft 5in. He was also very interested in the Y.M.C.A. & W.M.C.A., in fact they were one of his favourite charities. I still miss his smiling face and cheeky comments. Must close now. Enjoy the recordings he left us, the B.B.C. 7 have just finished a season of his shows.

[pedro]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

Interesting stuff Bernard. I saw Jimmy C in Rhyll around the mid 60's, i think ,towards the end of his carreer so his side kick did most of the slapstick( cant remember his name but ha d thick curly hair) was his catch phrase not "where's me shirt"? ( or was that Ken Dodd?) Sunday at me Grans was always Round the Horne and the Clitheroe Kid, very funny at the time and RTH still funny today when I hear the tribute shows. Kenneth Williams was as camp as any Graham Norton and 10 times as talented. So maybe your right comedy does go round only less use of the F word in those days.

[Bernard Fuller]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

I last saw Jimmy Clitheroe, in Scarborough in 1967 in summer season at the Floral Hall. You are correct in saying that the Krankies are doing an act near to the same as Jimmy Clitherio. By that I mean Jimmy on both counts come down the auditorium to enter the stage. J.C., makes his entrance when his straight man requests a volunteer from the audience to help him with a magic trick, he then messes up that trick. Janet comes down making a disturbance looking for her mother ( she is dresses like J.C., as a schoolboy). Janet makes a mess of the act as J.C., does and yes both do the vent sketch at the end of that piece of the show. I believe J.C., did that sketch as a vent in about 1945 with the late Alan Randal. The very last time I saw him was in 1973 but he was not alive then. You see both acts were similar but not really the same. The Krankies updated the sketch to try and make it as much as their own and to the time i.e. today. The same as J.C., did in the 1940s and 1960s, comedy is a difficult area to work not just for the writer but also for the performer. What you see funny I may not, but then again we both may have the same type of humour. Over the years I have collected comedy not just the modern stuff but also I collect the real old stuff i.e. 1890's up wards. Yes they were recording in the 1890s. Again this is a very interesting subject the recordings. If you look into the history of recordings you will find out a number of things that would open your eyes. For example did you know to try and sell their own recordings and keep their own customers, one company used to make it so the only way that you can listen to your recording was to purchase their own machine. That machine would play at 300, and would start in the centre of the record and go anticlockwise. It sounds strange but it did happen. I know I have gone from the subject a little, but I think there is no real such thing in comedy as new somehow it has or could have been done before. Let's hear or read what you think.

[Bernard Fuller]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

I have had the pleasure over the years of meeting the Krankies, not just in the theatres but also at social events for charity. The last time I spoke to them they were at the Darlington Civic Theatre. In Pantomime, The time be for that was in Blackpool 2005 if I remember. They were with Stu Francis, Susan Maughn, Alan Randle and a few more that I can't remember. That show was on the North Pier Blackpool. I have also seen them in Great Yarmouth now that was a lot of years ago for the first time I think that was back in 1980. Now that date maybe wrong. A lot of dates and a lot of shows I have seen.
Bernie.

[pedro]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

I remember Jimmy Clitheroe who did the same act 25 years earlier

[Heather74]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

Yes I remember them, came as a bit of a shock when you find out He's a She, and not only that, They are married.Bit of a mind blower at the age of 8 lol.

[andria]

Re: Anyone remember The Krankies?

fan dabby dozi could remember them on crakajack and i'm sure they used to appear on the little and large show too sometimes.

[Oggy]

Yes they probably are a lovely couple, just a shame their, erm party piece creapt out of the door onto tv screens, feel sorry for your mate Colin's wee brother mind you.

[OrangeCremolaFoam]

Hi all!!!

I remember Crackerjack and the Cabbages..My mate Coln was forced by his mum to take his wee Brother to see The Krankies at Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy in the mid 80's.. He says he hated it..lol.. (you are not allowed to mention this in his presence to this day!!) was never a fan of them myself..they were just annoying but I do believe they would be lovely people and im sorry to hear that 'Wee Jimmy' was badly hurt in an Accident..hope she gets well soon..

all the best...

Rab ;0)

Fife
Scotland