American Reacts to Benny Hill -Ernie (Fastest Milkman in the West)

[@artasium1]

This was no 1 in uk charts and everybody knew the words.

[@BarryFrancis]

Not just number 1 but Christmas number 1, can't remember exactly what year but I think it may have been 1970 or 1971.

[@tonypate9174]

And may a "old git" still do to this day.....and their favorite Cadbury Flake girl .

[@greypossum1]

Number one in Australia in 1971 as well.

[@michellewestlake6766]

was well known in oz too

[@Missmollyhadafolly]

Yes even me and I was in junior school aged about 9. Of course I didn’t get any of the innuendo but nonetheless thought it hilarious 😂

[@keithcornish5073]

"he looked up in pained surprise, as the concrete hardened crust, of a stale pork pie hit him in the eye and Ernie bit the dust" this song always reminds me of my dad. His name was Ernie and he worked at a company that repaired/ altered milk floats (carts) we used to sing this to him but changed the chorus to "Ernie and he built the fastest milk cart in the west"

[@dav7444]

Benny Hill was actually a milkman once near where I lived (before I was born) and a street is named after him.

[@jacobissac]

In Southampton

[@BazzSelby]

" Now Sue, she ran between them, and tried to keep them apart. And Ernie pushed her aside, as a Rock Cake caught him underneath his heart. And he looked up, in pained surprise, as the concrete hardened crust, of a stale Pork Pie caught him in the eye, and Ernie bit the dust!" Words Shakespeare would have been proud of! :o) And credit to Henry McGee (Benny's straight man for many years), as Two Ton Ted from Teddington. RIP Benny and Henry. Interesting note: Teddington Film Studios (at Teddington Lock, London), was taken over by Warner Brothers (who were looking for a British base), in 1931. Later, in 1958, ABC purchased the site, and eventually merged with Rediffusion (a London company), to form Thames Television. Pinewood Studios bought the site in 2005 and left in 2014. In 2016 the site was sold off to a Singapore company, for housing. Sad!

[@dominicyoung7920]

My father had this played at his funeral as a surprise for everyone. Very funny. Love you Dad 💜

[@Mumscup]

Benny Hill was a really interesting bloke. He wasn’t tight with money but he lived in a small flat for years and had one bed one table one set of dishes and didn’t feel the need to be flashy and impress folks he didn’t like with things he didn’t need. He was gentle and generous with his co stars and their kids. Thanks matey , enjoy your laugh as always.

[@russcattell955i]

Godfather of at least one child of "Hills Angels" gals.

[@mrpuniverse2]

His grand father or grand uncle not sure which Hawthorne Hill had a lot to do with the founding of the top range high school Melbourne High I believe he was a early prinicpal of the college. Singer /actress Holly Vallance is related to Hawthorn Hills

[@mikestanyer6175]

He was a beautiful person and he needs to be remembered

[@ftumschk]

I loved "Ernie" as a kid when it first came out. It was one of the first singles I ever owned, and it became a party-piece of mine. I performed it in public, standing on a restaurant table, on my 5th birthday. Happy memories!

[@mcfcguvnors]

made me cry when i was a nipper i thought benny was dead for real :D

[@GregorKropotkin-qu2hp]

I remember being in school and among 20-30 other kids all belting this out on the playground for weeks!

[@brianmountain3358]

Bernard Cribbins brought out a couple of similar songs years before _ Right said Fred & Hole in the ground Enjoy ( i'm sure there are others I've missed )

[@saxon-mt5by]

We Brits love(d) our novelty songs, there was Tommy Cooper's 'Don't Jump off the Roof, Dad' and way before that Lonnie Donegan's 'My Old Man's a Dustman' and 'Does your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavour?'. Then there was 'Snoopy and the Red Barron' - I think that was by a Regimental Band (Guardsmen, perhaps?), Alan Sherman's 'Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah' (surely the Americans are familiar with that one!), 'Tie me Kangaroo Down, Sport' by Rolf Harris, 'Along Came Jones' by The Coasters, 'My Boomerang Won't come Back' by Charlie Drake ... oh, the list goes on and on!

[@brianmountain3358]

I missed Flanders & Swann The Gas_ Man Cometh hey ho another time

[@patchthesinclair5896]

@@saxon-mt5by on the west side of the pond there emminated much hilarity too. To name a couple of extremes, Spike Jones and Francis Vincent Zappa.

[@postscript67]

Some of Benny Hill's earlier novelty songs are worth a listen too: "The Andalucian Gypsies", "Garden of Love", "What a World" etc.

[@robinford4037]

What's the song with the kids singing about a postman or milkman delivering stuff and at the end of the song he dies

[@helenwood8482]

That's so strongly embedded in our culture that whenever someone in the shop where I work mentions pasteurised milk, my friend and I both immediately say, "I'll be 'appy if it comes up to my chest."

[@highpath4776]

the line actually pre-dates benny hill (I forget which film used it)

[@Bazroshan]

@@highpath4776 I think it comes from an old joke.

[@clemstevenson]

UK number one record at Christmas of 1971. Benny Hill had worked as a milkman in Eastleigh, Hampshire, years earlier..and that also explains the accent.

[@ASBO_LUTELY]

I put this on in a pub once and completely killed the vibe, 10/10 would do it again!

[@DavidUKesb]

Benny Hill was a comedian like no other. He served in WW2 in Normandy 1944. He was also known for being a very humble and reclusive man and despite his great wealth he always lived in modest accommodation and never owned a car.

[@maudeboggins9834]

Dick Emery, Tommy Cooper & Benny Hill all passed with heart attacks due I bet because of the stress of performing to such a high level. May they all RIP. All fab & made me laugh all the way through the 70's & 80's.

[@brianbell2550]

This song was No1 in the charts in 1971. X.

[@Rockaria23]

I was 3 when this became the UK Number 1 at the end of 1971 at Christmas.

[@sandrabutler3752]

Was it that long ago, I remember it being played

[@patdavis6383]

This was released as a single and was Christmas Number 1 in the UK in 1971 !!! It was still being played on the radio in the UK at least a decade after that as I remember it growing up! Crazy!! The UK has a history of novelty hits and number ones, you should look out for "Shaddap you face" by Joe Dolce. That reached no 1 in 1981 and everybody was singing it!!

[@simonbutterfield4860]

Yes and that stupid song kept Ultravox and Vienna off the top spot, just goes to show how fickle Joe Public were back then.

[@maudeboggins9834]

I was six when that came out & remember like it was yesterday. Alias Smith & Jones was on in that year too.

[@patrickkelly3928]

Yeah man he was awesome British at its finest uncomplicated slapstick girls and boys running after each other oh what fun he wasn't sexist just a modest man with a talent that sold all over the world I personally want to thank him for making us all laugh all over the world God Bless you Mr Hill

[@lukagovorcin3610]

YESS THAT WAS THE BEST,AND I REALLY LOVE BENNY HILL! AND HIS JOKES!! THAT IS THE " ART" OF LIFE!!! THAT IS LIVING! AND WHAT LIFE HAVE TO SEE ON THAT WAY!! FOREVER BENNY HILL!!

[@lynette.]

My father's name was Ernie so we bought this for his Christmas present. He loved Benny Hill.

[@TheOverlord2010]

The milk cart in the video was the same type that Benny used for work for as a milkman, his was exactly the same. Hanns Dairy, Eastleigh, Hampshire

[@grahamlong6870]

My mother went to school with Benny Hill in Eastleigh Hampshire UK, and when he started work the dairy he worked in backed on to the house where my mother lived. She would often watch his antics at the dairy from over the wooden fence, and said that his workmates would fall about laughing. Then he went on to better things as we all know.

[@thisiszaphod]

Number 1 in the UK, 1971, as already said. Probably one of the first comedic music-videos of its type, too.

[@robertwright7937]

Benny Hill is sorely missed. Funny bloke.

[@jasonyoung7705]

In that case.. Bernard Cribbins - right said fred, and Jasper Carrot - Funky moped (theres loads others too, but these are the famous ones)

[@steverpcb]

Funky Moped was the B side of The Magic Roundabout that was the actual hit, but the BBC could not / would not play the A side :(

[@jasonyoung7705]

@@steverpcb We used to have the single, many years ago, but to be honest, preferred the B-side, also, its a song.

[@texbankuk]

@@steverpcb I think it was the Line at the end where Zebedee says "B****g! Time for B** LOL Loudly OR the P** off Comment And it was Blacklisted on the playlist Here Have a Listen kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKGponZnmp5pn5I and there are quite a few Name check references to Other Small UK Kids show characters from that era Was Not in the "Watch with Mother" Grouping Characters which was shown earlier in the day For pre school Kids .Reaction To these? Dating back to the 1950's kzbin.info?search_query=%22Watch+with+Mother%22+ Then The Americans Tried Blitzing the Screens with Cartoons with Morals hidden in The Banana Splits Show Looked expensive and this Thankfully did Not get more Shows Made.. The Film Quality when it arrived in the UK looked as Though it Had been left on an Open Container for a considerable Time

[@goodmanrising1151]

I remember staying with my Gran in central Edinburgh as a small boy in the mid-seventies when her milk was still delivered by a horse-drawn wagon. As a little boy it was so exciting to wake up early in the morning to the sound of hooves clip-clopping on the cobbles. Thank you for bringing back that memory with this hilarious song.

[@johnferguson2721]

Edinburgh St Cuthberts Co-op delivered the milk by horse and cart. Edinburgh and Dumfrieshire Dairy, 'The Dummy' delivered the milk with 3 wheeled electric float. I was a milk laddie on both.

[@NRTSean]

A send up of the Western.... The West here is the West Country in the UK. One of my first singles....

[@highpath4776]

Or West London (somewhat more specifically say Hanworth, rather than Shepherds Bush)

[@asherloat8570]

@@highpath4776 Based on the accent I'd assume it's West Country

[@smokerjim]

When I was a postman, one of the fellas was nicknamed Ernie, the fastest postman - he knocked it on the head, when job and knock was killed off

[@lextex3280]

Classic Benny Hill. Loved Benny Hill as a kid, watched his shows all the time.

[@karenward267]

Oh happy days. The lyrics immediately came back after all these years.

[@Cobalt-Jester]

As I child I stay over at my grandparents house of a Saturday. We'd get out a record player and I would listen to all my Grandmothers old records. This one was always my favourite...

[@IcanBePsycho]

Growing up in Australia in the 70’s, Benny Hill was a regular. 40 odd years later, I still remember this song.

[@acmdv]

The Young Ones - University Challenge episode... Got to do that one :)

[@paulhanson5164]

Memories of a more innocent time. I was 7 back then and love it today as much as I ever did. Me and my mate play it occasionally when we're getting drunk, the wives sit rolling their eyes as we sit singing our heads off as best we can between fits of laughter. There was a time when songs like this regularly made the charts. I always loved the Terry Scott song, My Brother.

[@davidhoward2487]

You just gave me an idea..It's my bro's 89th. b/day come Sept.I hope I can send "My Brother" to him in Australia, he's 9 years older, and like Terry's...

[@maudeboggins9834]

Dick Emery, Tommy Cooper & Benny Hill all passed with heart attacks due I bet because of the stress of performing to such a high level. May they all RIP. All fab & made me laugh all the way through the 70's & 80's.

[@nickc9100]

@@maudeboggins9834 benny hill heart attack was due to eating and drinking to death after his being broke due to his show being axed

[@mervinmannas7671]

I loved this song as a kid. We have a radio programme here called Desert island Disc's where the presenter talks to a famous guest and gets them to chose the 8 records they would take to a desert island to play. They play a bit of each and ask why the song is special tothem. Our ex priminister David Cameron chose this as one of his 8 songs. And also i think the one record he would save above all the rest because of the happy family memories associated with it.

[@beyondthepage9389]

Ernie has to be the funniest comedy sketch song ever written and performed. It's over 50 years old and still makes me laugh as much today as it did when I heard it for the first time. Brilliant!!

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Peter sellers. His cover of the Beatles.. Hard days night ☺

[@JamesPlaysPool]

This is my karaoke song. Always goes down a treat.

[@pzpete]

High Noon meets doorstep delivery. Benny Hill was a brilliant lyricist and this is the best example.

[@thatfelladownunder9396]

This hit number one in Australia too in Feb 1972. I was 9 at the time and Benny Hill was always a favourite with us lads at school. He was a major topic of discussion and laughter the day after the screening of his show. A true gentleman and comedic legend.

[@grapeman63]

This was the first single I ever bought and I've still got it. It was number one at Christmas 1971.

[@Gravel-Idle]

I'm old enough to remember as a child this being played on the radio when it was in the charts. It still makes me chuckle

[@andybaker2456]

The first record I ever owned at the tender age of 5 years old!! Many happy memories. 😊

[@hazel5505]

I was never a fan of Benny Hill, but Ernie is fabulous. And I love your reactions to it!

[@andrewmoore5628]

This song was in the pop charts when I was a lad, love that you loved it... Brings back so many memories of Christmas in the 70s in Birmingham England.

[@Lee0568]

I loved this song back in the day.

[@sicr7373]

I was seven when this was out, such happy days and great memories.

[@eddiebirdie1545]

Thanks so much for putting this song from my childhood back into my head, brilliant simply brilliant

[@startledmoose]

Two Ton Ted from Teddington was played in the video by Henry McGee, who was a regular foil/stoodge to Benny Hill on his TV show. Teddington is just to the west of London (which is what I always took to be the West in the title of the song, rather than the West Country of England) and is where the TV studios where The Benny Hill Show was produced were located.

[@asherloat8570]

Based on the accent I imagine it's West Country

[@gremlinuk1968]

I said on an other comment on one of there other videos of Benny, ! I was a milkman back in 1984 , a 16 year old back then, when I lift high school , I love this song ,,! God Bless from northern Ireland UK,

[@carlbigeasy]

Benny hill was one of the greatest wordsmiths ever, it spilled out all thru his comedy.

[@vernonstevens3915]

That was just GREAT i remember when it 1st came out, and it was playing all the time just wonderful haven't heard this for a long time and still as I remember it?.Benny Hill was a top notch comic and the way he was treated is nothing short of a crime. 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 ✌ ALL THE BEST FROM THE U.K

[@nickc9100]

the high production costs was why the show ended after a no expanse spared formed on the production line due the overseas sales, the tv company's waited till till 1992 when they had no more shows left to sale overseas to bring it back three years later for a planned budget of £510,000 per show, the show still had high ratings overseas but the uk ratings that halved at 9 million viewers were only just about good for thames at the time (which got a uk repeat in three years in 1992 at 12 million due to there no benny hill show repeats in england during those three years) and the show was costing £450,000 per show, four times the average budget, where as the budget the year before the overseas break through in 1979 was only £47,000 per show in 1978, the show wouldn't of been able to continue past 1982 without the overseas sales when the uk ratings dropped to 15 million as the show was already costing more than £227,000 per show without the overseas sales, post 1982 the show was only being made due to his global success that compare to england hadn't yet fell out of favour with his humor as the uk already had him on their tvs for 32 years but the way they done it without telling him why and stopping the repeats of his shows for three years was the problem

[@benbim540]

AND HE LOOKED UP IN PAINED SURPRISE AND THE CONCRETE CRUST OF A STALE PORK PIE CAUGHT HIM IN THE EYE AND ERNIE BIT THE DUST. Classic.

[@ezza5857]

christmas number one 50 years ago! great stuff

[@vickymavir3626]

I have not heard Benny hill song for a while forgot how funny it is

[@Tugsim]

Warms my heart to see the Leeds Utd banner in the background :D

[@trespire]

Benny Hill was a lyrical geniouse, some of his singing scetches are hallarious, and very clever.

[@alicemay6613]

my dad used to sing this a lot when i was a sprog. thanks for the reaction. it’s brought up some lovely memories.

[@TheNakedWombat]

Benny Hill is the best. I grew up watching The Benny Hill Show from the age of 9 years old as I lay underneath the lounge until one day my laughing gave my secret position away. So they let me stay up to watch. LOL

[@lynneivison5773]

So happy to see this. The line 'Do you like it pastureyes, she said earnie I'd be happy if it came up to me chest' is a famous line I have never forgotten for 40 years. Brilliant.

[@lynnhamps7052]

I was eleven when this was played constantly, sadly I still know every single word...lol

[@joandar1]

I too Lynn was also eleven in that year and still love the whole song/sketch! Fond memories from my younger days and still love this. John, Australia.

[@lynnhamps7052]

@@joandar1 Good times, both sides of the world :)

[@joandar1]

@@lynnhamps7052 Agreed and will add that we have one World and I am Stuffed if I know WTF the Powers that be think they are doing. I am Old school in my ways. John.

[@GregorKropotkin-qu2hp]

Why Sadly?-I remember them too and feel quite relieved that I am still able to!

[@andybaker2456]

@@GregorKropotkin-qu2hp Same here! 😁

[@johnc2988]

Milkman Joke Husband: I've been told that the milkman's had every woman in the street except one. Wife: I bet it's that stuck up cow in 37

[@jamesadcock5235]

Benny hill wrote this song. Christmas number one the year I was born

[@weedle30]

If things look like they might be going “tits up” an oft repeated phrase in THIS house is “things are not going the way Ted planned…” 😆I’m sure I’m not the only one who sang along, knowing it word for word? 😉😁 brings back happy memories of fun times, when worrying about something/someone being offensive/offended was never part of anyone’s thought processing…. Nice one, person who recommended it! 🥰

[@highpath4776]

Always wondered what happened to (A) Trigger and (B) Ernie's milk round.

[@OEDODRAGON]

I was wondering when you'd watch this. This is one of two things that I remember from Benny Hill, the other being the Benny Hill chase theme.

[@highpath4776]

Yakketty Sax by Boots Brown I think

[@bobby666666]

Love this song. Remember when it came out 50 plus years ago. Clive Dunn's Grandad is another good song. He was in Dad's Army.

[@nicknellany2336]

The Benny Hill Show was a weekly staple of ludicrous situations and double entendres. Outrageously hilarious for its day.

[@andrewclayton4181]

He sang a version of this on his TV show in the late 60s In 1970 (?) It was released as a single and got to No 1 in the charts. Very successful novelty hit. Still love it. He did quite a few musical numbers on his TV shows. This one was the best in terms of success. Glad you've found it.

[@pamelapayne4701]

if you like this try the corries , a scottish folk duo, they had a few funnies- "the bricklayers song" " the sunday driver " or the "portree kid " they also are famed for "flower of scotland" my scottish hubby introduced me to them. or the big yin himself- billy connolly, " the welly boot song " " D,I,V,O,R.C.E. " or "in the brownies"

[@1998TDM]

Pamela, you've just sent me off down the rabbit hole (again). I love The Corries, probably my first live gig when I was about 7. Think I will start with rattlin bog.

[@hazelmurdoch6529]

Grew up listening to the Corrie's, loved The Teuchter whae came frae Skye aka (the Portree kid)

[@nzmoggy3898]

My I recommend The Goodies "Bun Fight at the OK Tearooms."

[@timholder6825]

We did this as a sketch/skit in a school play when I was about 10. I played Two Ton Ted from Teddington. I remember Paula/Pauline played the girlfriend (and I had to kiss her on the cheek end, yuk). Can't remember who played Ernie. But when it came to the showdown the bread roll I threw caught him right under the chin and in a great piece of acting went down as if poleaxed. My god, this has bought it all back. Thanks.

[@GSD-hd1yh]

The UK charts have always had novelties in them that have done well. Ernie reached Number 1 for 4 weeks in 1971, partly because of its silliness and also because Benny Hill had a weekly TV show at the time.

[@nickc9100]

monthly tv show

[@PALACEKAV]

Had this 7" in the house at the time as a kid, wonderful.....

[@neilchapman9387]

Benny Hill was a milkman in Eastleigh in Hampshire and came from Southampton he is buried in that same place my mum is ....he was muched loved in Southampton and Eastleigh ..

[@daveyjones6465]

Great fun this reached No1 in the charts Christmas 1971 in the UK and Australia

[@ggenie7489]

I used to be able to recite this, now I can't remember why I came upstairs.

[@highpath4776]

neither can I, which is odd, i live in a bungalow

[@Colin-mc4ml]

The song was first performed on The Benny Hill Show in 1970, and released as a successful recording, topping the UK Singles Chart in 1971,reaching the Christmas number one spot. The song also peaked at number 1 in Australia in December 1971. Memories have come flooding back of having Breakfast as a child listening to this on the radio, and the days when everybody had their milk delivered to the doorstep. Great Comedy from Benny Hill. Thanks for this reaction!

[@rowanstephenson3192]

Your laugh is the best hehe thanks a lot from UK 🤣

[@ead9726]

Such a funny song, now I will have this one going around in my head all night 😩🤣 All good fun, every time I hear this song I still laugh. Have you heard “My Boomerang Won’t come back” by. Charlie Drake? I know it off by heart as I have it on my Alexa playlist 🥴🤣

[@anthonyhaylock6655]

Genius of Benny Hill

[@jimmybisk]

Thanks for a great reaction. Believe it or not, this song made it into the top 40 music charts over here in the UK, going all the way to number 1! Benny Hill had a unique talent & will be sorely missed! I love his 'How to pick up Girls' skit, really funny. So many to choose from!

[@helenbailey8419]

Love this.So glad you have seen this

[@davidlynch433]

The concrete hardened crust of a stale pork pie caught him under the eye and Ernie bit the dust, The best lyric ever.

[@barryeva9186]

This song made it to number one in the charts he also had transistor radio

[@francis2811]

The road names in this song like Market Street actually exist in the town of Eastleigh, near Benny's home town of Southampton in the south of England. As a child, I loved this song!

[@georgetriggs9228]

Benny hill is a legend 🤠👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@thephantomraspberryblower2675]

Mate, I've had to pause before playing to say, you're most definitely in for a treat!

[@darrenbuckley2082]

Great flashback buddy, thanks.

[@MikeEvans-d2y]

I was a milkman for 30 years , great song and laugh .

[@raydowley1038]

and it hit No 1 in the pop charts for 4 weeks back then Christmas 1971

[@gaelsomerville5163]

And even dafter, it got to number one in the UK singles chart!

[@j0hnf_uk]

Unbelievable to think this song is approaching 50 years old, now.

[@tonypate9174]

!In the name of Cresta frothy lemonade and Cola Spangles ....STOP IT , STOP IT NOW

[@tonypate9174]

@TheRenaissanceman65 From Hawkwind and "Sabbath" to the Foxhole been a long and bewildering trip ! The on/off in/out plandemic lockdown daily ....META TARO BLURAY...up n at 'em may a got me through it..but at what cost..

[@tonypate9174]

@TheRenaissanceman65 When?

[@tonypate9174]

@TheRenaissanceman65 Who?

[@stevenwinn3636]

It was released as a single and reached the number one spot Christmas 1971 !

[@huwgriffith1138]

That song was number 1 in the charts in the 70s.

[@johnmiller0000]

I remember when this was in the charts! It's engraved on my brain. It made number one for 4 weeks in 1971. I was only five but it was funny even then. Yeah, they start us early in the UK with double-entendres and toilet humour.

[@barbaragreen3742]

I loved that. Very popular in the 70s.

[@christofferknight8567]

eastleigh , southern hampshire south of england , is a small town ....where it was filmed, i lived near , about 2 miles away .... the clip brought back memories of the place from the time 1960s 1970s.......... realy good reaction.he was famous for his slapstick comedy , but like all in that genre a great deal of tallent

[@Doug5524]

The song was first performed on television in 1970, and released as a successful recording, topping the UK Singles Chart in 1971, reaching the Christmas number one spot.

[@donaldduck2139]

this was a big hit in New Zealand when it came out around 1970 . . . mighta gone to number 1 from memory. . .

[@stephenhowell5611]

No 1 in the charts christmas 1971

[@vaudevillian7]

Absolutely classic, great to see this and Joe’s poem on the same day

[@davidgreen6143]

Love a bit of Benny Hill…. Comes from my home town and I often see his grave when taking a short cut through the cemetery

[@barrygentry5364]

Benny was a milkman in Southampton before finding fame and in a town adjacent to Southampton he is remembered by the street named Benny Hill Close.

[@chriscaspian2280]

loved this as a kid