British Comedy Guide

Tracey goes to France

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
(Strong French accent) Bonjour, name please?

EMIN:
(Strong Essex accent) Er, Trace. Tracey Emin.

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
Ah oui? And may I ask, why you move to France?

EMIN:
Yeah, I'm an artist and I wanna live somewhere they appreciate art.

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
(Examining inside of suitcase) I see. And zis is ...?

EMIN:
Oh, I brought some of me installations.

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
(Holds up with disgust) A used condom?

EMIN:
(Doubtfully) Er, yeah.

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
(Picks up and reads paper) "Everyone I 'ave ever slept wiz..?" (Paper unfolds concertina- style, to reveal endless sheet falling to the floor)

EMIN:
(More doubtfully) Yeah.

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
And where in France did you plan to seek inspiration? Paree? Cannes?

EMIN:
Er, got anywhere like Margate?

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
(Emphatically) Non!

END

I didn't get this one. I understood and enjoyed the Tracey Emin references but because I don't know anything about Margate I didn't understand the punchline. This is probably more to do with my ignorance rather than a problem with your sketch though.

She comes from Margate.

Ah! I get it now. Someone just explained the whole Tracey/Moving/Tax thing to me.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 6 2009, 3:03 PM BST

She comes from Margate.

Thanks Dolly

It's probably not the best known news story!

Quote: Sammy @ October 6 2009, 2:52 PM BST

I didn't get this one. I understood and enjoyed the Tracey Emin references but because I don't know anything about Margate I didn't understand the punchline.

Let me help...

"Margate is a seaside resort town within the Thanet district of East Kent, England. It lies 38.1 miles (61.3 km) east-northeast of Maidstone, along the North Foreland of the coastline of the United Kingdom. Margate's history is closely tied to the sea; it was a "limb" of Dover in the ancient confederation of the Cinque Ports."

So... the above... plus below:

"EMIN:
Er, got anywhere like Margate?

CUSTOMS OFFICER:
(Emphatically) Non!"

... equals - Laughing out loud (well, for me anyway)

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try it sending it to Watson's, although as Dolly says it's not that well-known a story, and Margate's even less well-known in Scotland.

I lived six miles outside Margate, in Minster, Thanet; for 16 years.
Margate is the pitts.

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