Ted Kavanagh (I)

It's That Man Again - Tommy Handley and ITMA

On Sunday 9 January 1949, just after the 5pm repeat broadcast of the latest episode of ITMA, the nation's favourite comedy show, there was a shock newsflash: Tommy Handley, the star of the programme, had died from a cerebral haemorrhage.

Andrew Martin, BBC, 17th January 2018

But then I've given up all hope of my sense of humour. The first two programmes in the Radio 2 History of Radio Comedy were very unfunny. I had great hopes of Itma, featured this week, and all those catch phrases evoked, for the over-forties, great steaming waves of nostalgia for the days when gravy was made of Bisto, Britain was great and we all laughed at these jokes.

Val Arnold-Forster, The Guardian, 20th January 1979