Reacting to The Two Ronnies - Four Candles

Today I'll be reacting to The Two Ronnies Four Candles sketch. I've never watched anything by the Two Ronnies before so that was exciting. Now I can confidently say that I watched a classic British comedy sketch! Let me know what you think of the sketch and what I should watch next. Lots of love and elbow bumps x

[@KeplersDream]

This sketch was actually inspired by a real life story. A guy was in his local hardware shop and witnessed the four candles/fork handles happening. He wrote to Ronnie Barker about it, who loved it and wrote this under a pseudonym. The rest is legend.

[@clivenewman4810]

Nearly 50 years on, this is still a work of genius 😂

[@aquienpuedaimportar3028]

Ronnie Barker (the customer) wrote it. He was a real master of wordplay.

[@mervinmannas7671]

When Ronnie Corbett (the shopkeeper) died His coffin entered the church flanked by four alter boys carrying 4 candles

[@Silentaudits7]

True !

[@321bytor]

Unnecessary capital letter

[@benwiles7433]

They did the same for Ronnie B.

[@Silentaudits7]

@@benwiles7433 So it's goodnight from me.......

[@davidbailey6563]

10 minutes with Vanessa. Always a treat. Thank you.

[@nicksmallwood8828]

So good to see a non Brit appreciate the wordplay and innuendo of this sketch. The Two Ronnies are well worth a further look. They were prolific and every sketch is gold.

[@davecleggett9371]

Brilliant reaction girl! "You have to know British accents" you say. Too true, and you obviously pass the test with flying colours. Great channel.

[@medic7698]

Ronnie Barker (the big bloke) did most, if not all, of the writing. He had a love of the oddities of the English language. Always struck me as a very nice man in his interviews on TV.

[@Bridgejunky2]

This is even funnier when you've seen it before and know what's coming.

[@ajs41]

One of their funniest sketches. The best one is the Mastermind sketch in my opinion.

[@righthandofdoom77]

I've heard the mastermind sketch is (or was) in the Guinness book of records for the most punchlines in a sketch.

[@righthandofdoom77]

@@hughtube5154 Not everything can or should have universal appeal. Can't we have our own things?!

[@qwizzle78]

Name droppers and mispronounciation are awesome too

[@d2factotum]

The one where he answers the question before last each time? Yep, definitely a classic.

[@Trev359]

The Mastermind sketch was ripped off from Benny Hill.

[@alankenny8650]

Classic Two Ronnies, Ronnie Barker (the customer) was the master of word play.

[@alankenny8650]

You're the first person I've seen who got that punchline, however Ronnie Barker later said he wasn't totally happy with it, and he wished he'd written that a lady came out of the back, looked at the list and said "certainly sir, what kind of knockers would you like?"

[@carlhartwell7978]

Yeah, though don't forget he'd have had the lady rather generously 'endowed' :-)

[@alankenny8650]

@@carlhartwell7978 haha, yes I missed that important detail.

[@kamelionify]

I would have changed the p's line with 2 tins

[@MeFreeBee]

A weakness in the original gag is that billhooks are quite an obscure implement so that many viewers get the innuendo but not the origin. They are sort of a cross between an axe and a machete which have been around since Roman times.

[@TallSilentGuy]

I'm glad that didn't happen! The whole sketch prior to the punchline had been about homonyms. To abruptly switch to a double entendre right at the end would have spoilt it.

[@MichaelSmith-bn6hm]

This is the beautiful use of the English language and how funny it can be

[@abarratt8869]

"I've never heard of the Two Ronnies, I know nothing about them". Well, that's about to change I suspect!

[@redsquirrel1086]

This is arguably the cleverest comedy sketch ever written.

[@NotQuiteFirst]

Their "name dropping" sketch is much cleverer in terms of wordplay

[@aswadsaswad1759]

Not really. Tut

[@samclinton874]

Vanessa just love the fact that you’re virtually the only Austrian/ American who actually gets British humour.

[@Isleofskye]

She is very good but I have seen a host of Americans reacting who now get our humour, my friend. Not many Austrians though...haha

[@TallSilentGuy]

Eclectic Beard Reactions: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@Isleofskye]

If you don't know then its "Goodnight Vienna", mein freund...

[@Isleofskye]

True but there are plenty that does not.. The other day everyone was congratulating a Young American Guy on x Thousands of Subscribers, possibly 500,000, and this Woman said "I am 61 and a White Woman from The Bay Area". As I am 67 next week I said to her with a smiley face "Excuse me but no young pups here!" :) to which she replied, " I did not come here to be insulted, you're rude, dude ".....Truthfully :)

[@hywodnsu]

I wish the England cricket team were playing Austria for the Ashes. We might stand a chance. Maybe...

[@cuthbert246]

I have seen this clip perhaps about 20 times and it still makes me laugh. Ronnie Barker (the big one) wrote the sketch as he did a lot of comedy. The Two Ronnies both now dead. May they rest in peace!

[@flappingarms9335]

Just 20?

[@hywodnsu]

Actually Gerald Wiley wrote the sketch. To this day nobody knows who he is. The royalties for this sketch go to the Loyal Society for the Prevention of Pisspronounciation.

[@jamiephillips1317]

@@hywodnsu Ronnie Barker was Gerald Wiley, this was discovered over 30 years ago and is widely known, it’s also on his wiki page.

[@hywodnsu]

What? Really??

[@cuthbert246]

@@jamiephillips1317 Barker kept it secret for a long time because he did not want the awkwardness, I think one of the producers said to him (Baker) 'that Wiley, done it this time, terrible script,' [Barker read the script again and said] 'oh yes terrible' later he rewrote the piece and it passed muster. Brilliant. Best Wishes.

[@robertblucher5780]

Ronnie Corbett made this sketch, the facial expressions, the gestures, genius.

[@davidcollins9335]

Even Ronnie C didn't know who Gerald Wiley was, and it was his good friend Ronnie B. ✌️

[@Isleofskye]

Even Gerald Wiley did not know who Gerald Wiley was :)

[@tinfoilhat-hater6125]

was such a laugh the way he confused the other writers of the sketches 😂😂😂

[@ethanprince356]

yeah, Ronnie B didnt want the identity to b reavealed to anyone

[@davidcollins9335]

@@ethanprince356 Ronnie C said, he done it for two wages, but i think he was joking.

[@CrazyInsanelikeafox]

Ronnie Corbett is soo funny in this sketch. His reactions have me laughing my head off.

[@chrishamlet3470]

Great to see a younger person enjoying the comedy from my youth.

[@Isclachau]

Ahhh, these guys were just great. So many quality sketches as well.

[@righthandofdoom77]

Ronnie Barker wrote for the show but under a pseudonym and no one knew it was him. Until he announced it at the shows Christmas party in a restaurant.

[@AdjustableSquelch]

that was much earlier in the 60s as he wrote under 'Gerald Wiley'

[@tonygriffin_]

The Two Ronnies were a saturday night tv staple all throughout the 70's, along with Morecambe and Wise. Ronnie Barker went on to star in a classic Brit sit-com called Porridge, set in a prison, which is worth checking out as it's a real classic of the time. The Two Ronnies used their language sskills to the full in their shows, playing with the words and sounds in some very clever ways. The Crossword sketch, the Mastermind one, the Racing Duck....the list is endless, thankfully! Another great reaction and video.

[@willrichardson519]

Open all hours is worth a shout, introduced us to David Jason of Only Fools and Horses fame

[@dinger40]

It was what you were thinking ;¬) Ronnie Barker wrote alot of the sketches for many years under pseudonyms,Bob Ferris, Jack Goetz, Gerald Wiley,David Huggett andJonathan Cobbald, before he was revealed as the author

[@malph9216]

Yes Vanessa, you guessed right at the end.......good to see you're coming down to our level😂 You should try Dave Allen "Teaching your kid time", hilarious.....as is all his stuff.

[@nickbrough8335]

Dave Allen another brilliant raconteur style comedian. Grw up watching him (BBC 2 I think).

[@LaughingDisciple]

the two ronnies and carol bunet are all classics and legends. nice clean comics

[@terrywright7470]

It is so good to find an American who "Gets" British humour, and unlike so many of the people who watch these sketches, Vanessa WATCHES the videos, and does not talk over them. Vanessa, you are a star

[@terrywright7470]

@@kevinhorrell4700 Thanks for your comment. That goes a long way to explaining her lack of the American accent.

[@davidwallin7518]

Probably the funniest sketch of all time - and written about a shop in Broadstairs, Kent.

[@MsGeoffh]

you've never seen humour until you encounter British humour it is just fabulous!

[@clownworld-honk410]

That smile is priceless. 😁

[@michaelstamper5875]

Abso - blooming - lutely!

[@stevenmacdonald9619]

I miss the corner hardware and general shops of decades ago. One small shop, but you really could get anything you needed. The Two Ronnies, genius comedians, actors and yes writers. Ronnie Barker even more so. He wrote and starred in an entire prison sitcom called 'Porridge,' alongside Kate and Samantha Beckinsale's dad Richard who sadly died aged just 31 in his sleep. How you see him as 'Godber' in Porridge, is how the world will always remember him. Ronnie Corbett had a sitcom too called 'Sorry,' That was written by two of the supporting writers on the Two Ronnies show.

[@Chris-pv2ht]

Never get tired of that sketch, well delivered and well written. Two of UK best comedy writers. I always remember an iron mongers in my home town that was like that but bigger called Taylor and Jones even in early 70's it was dated but always first class service. A billhock is a genuine tool that is used for cutting wood and shrubs, but can also have a subtle other rude meaning

[@markdermody9698]

Spot on about the 'Bill Hooks', especially awkward when you get a load of them😉😁😂🤣😂🤣

[@markdermody9698]

The oldies are the goodies, aren't they! Don't you agree? 🤣😂😁❤️

[@deniseperryman2814]

You should have left it until the end Ronnie Barker explains when he wrote the sketch he wasn’t happy with the end and then he explains how he would have finished the sketch Love 💕 from Denise in Yorkshire England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿😂😂🤣🤣👍👏👏👏👋

[@butterflyeffect8924]

Hi, there is an updated version of this that you might want to check out sometime with the One Ronnie (Corbett, the shorter one) who starts off complaining about his frozen BlackBerry...

[@cliffhulcoopofficial8075]

Only just saw this one also, i provided a link for her.

[@mymartianhome]

Glad to see you enjoyed it. As has been mentioned both are now sadly passed but at their funerals four candles burned prominently in a final tribute.

[@susanashcroft2674]

Back then they had this kind of general store that sold everything, there is one remaining in a neighbouring town but they don't sell panty hoes or peas but still wear the brown overcoats and have the long counters like these. I bet they've heard four candles more times than they care for. A fond memory from my childhood.

[@davidedbrooke9324]

there is one in Christchurch too.

[@shanenolan8252]

In Ireland too , our local place. The place was a mixture of a hardware store , newsagents , off licence alcohol , grocery , a pub and an undertakes for funerals that eventually became a post office , all the same family in different parts of the building , great part was you could walk in without money and they would give you anything and let you pay later every regular customer had an account , little kids would walk in , say my mother sent me to get milk . No money , everyone knew everyone even in city's , up till the 90s store like this

[@davidedbrooke9324]

@@shanenolan8252 Lovely! You can go in wanting out of the ordinary and they have know where it is and it’s fairly priced, love em!

[@shanenolan8252]

@@davidedbrooke9324 agreed , and I would rather spend money in a local business or a family run business than a chain store

[@davidedbrooke9324]

@@shanenolan8252 yes me too!

[@colinhughes916]

This is HILARIOUS, best sketch of the two Ronnie's 🤣😆 Your reaction is So Funny 🤣🤣

[@abarratt8869]

Ronnie Barker (the large one) wrote the sketch under a pseudonym. Apparently it was based on a real incident in what was known as a General Store (i.e. sold everything). At both their funerals, there were four candles on the altars instead of the normal two.

[@chriscann7627]

The Two Ronnies Show was the absolute highlight of Saturday Night TV in my childhood. It followed a well trod formula of opening jokes told from behind a desk in the form of mock "news" stories, followed by sketches involving both or either of them, a musical interlude by a well known singer (by the 1980s really big names like Elton John were appearing). The half way point was marked by a "serial" with a new episode of the story each week. This was often a parody of a well known genre. Several of these featured the hapless detectives Piggy Malone and Charley Farley, but there was also the well-know Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town, a parody of Jack the Ripper Victorian crime stories. The second half of each episode included more sketches and a famous long-winded shaggy dog story/joke told by Ronnie Corbett just sitting in an armchair. The grand finale of each episode was a musical extravaganza, often using well know tunes with new words. Each episode ended with more "news items" and their familiar sign-off: "Its goodnight from him", "And its goodnight from me".They had a team of some of the best comedy writers of the time, but many of the best sketches were written by a mysterious recluse named Gerald Wiley, who submitted his sketches by mail. No one knew Gerald Wiley's identity, but one Christmas, mr Wiley agreed to attend the writers annual Christmas lunch. At the end of the lunch, Ronnie Barker stood up and confessed that he was Gerald Wiley and had submitted the sketches anonymously so they were judged by their merit, and not because he had written them.

[@davidcollins9335]

They don't make them like this anymore, thank you.

[@Silentaudits7]

I love you getting our Brit humour , so rare. and your giggle is the best . A bit like when I often went to California, fam and friends asked if I was from London.... I'd say yeah to make life easy .. about 200 miles away ...a 24 hour trip ! ... do you know John... 10 million population , sure .. I know John . he's the one with the cockney accent eh, me ol' bamboo !

[@pch2230]

The peas bit gets me every time.

[@robhogan5205]

i love your channel, you are always so entertaining and warm. So many other classic two ronnies sketches to choose from too.

[@bobbod8069]

This shop sells everything.

[@wingzero2348]

So glad you enjoyed this Vanessa!

[@lynette.]

I have seen this so many times but it never fails to make me laugh just as hard as I did back then. Genius. Bill hooks. Any sketch you choose will be great.

[@bendover9663]

This is one of those sketches that no matter how many times you watch it it is still funny.... just genius

[@shanenolan8252]

This is my dads favourite , I grow up on this , they have so many classic sketches and funny songs .

[@bubo1]

I'm so glad you made a video on Four Candles! You're cheek grin muscles must have been so painful after that one :) I also recommend the Mastermind Two Ronnies sketch, another classic.

[@Isleofskye]

VANESSA VANESSA !!!!!!! I love your reactions including this one but you have just lost me £1 as I said to my friend that YOU will be one of the few reactors to this who will realize there is still time on the clip and that was for a very good reason. haha The Two Ronnies explained that they were not happy with the ending and mentioned the new ending when they performed this live at The London Palladium. Ronnie Barker retired after this and we lost one of our greatest ever wordsmiths. He also, anonymously, sent in the scripts as well calling himself "Gerald Wiley" :)

[@peterrichards7387]

I love this sketch. These stores were in every town, they sold everything and as a boy I loved going to them with my dad. He was a carpenter so it was great because now and again he bought me some small tools of my own. They also sold airfix models which was fantastic. I used to save up my newspaper round money and treat myself. Great memories.

[@JeffBlackham]

Haven't watch that sketch for ages. So good.

[@riadoc7001]

apparently this sketch is used in many corporate training courses to demonstrate the importance of clear communication

[@tsrgoinc]

You need to watch to the end of that clip, including the studio part!

[@jgreen2015]

A great modern follow up to this sketch is the "One Ronnie show - Ive got a problem with my apple"

[@alabama1413]

The Two Ronnies are geniuses of comedy. They made numerous series in the 1970’s that were ‘must watch’ TV & became cultural icons. As you realised, they were marvellous at word play, expressions & timing. Their comedy catalogue is a bottomless pit of hilarity. Look up The Two Ronnies ‘Simpkins’ sketch. That’s hilarious too. Best wishes 🙂

[@johnatkins2665]

I'm not sure I've seen a vlogger who is as happy and smiles as much as you do. Do you smile in your sleep ? Makes for great viewing, seeing you enjoy everything ! Keep it up Vanessa !

[@greenion1]

Vanessa love the reacts and the channel. The Two Ronnies were great, they did a sketch show and every episode would end with a big musical number with comedy songs performed by both. Ronnie Barker was truly a character comedy actor, apart from TTR he is best known for two sit-coms Porridge , set in a prison, and Open All Hours, set in a store like the one in the Four Candles sketch. Both are classics of British comedy. According to the actor David Jason, Ronnie Barker's nickname with the BBC was "the Governor", he was held in very high regard with everybody. He got his start in TV with David Frost in The Frost Report performing comedy with Ronnie Corbert and John Cleese. This is some background, it might be of interest to you or even a starting point.

[@jillelliott8175]

Probably the funniest 2 Ronnies sketch ever IMHO

[@jerrybootneck1736]

Ronnie Barker did a sketch on the BBC back in the 70's called Rindercella a real classic as he mixes up the letters in the Cinderella story. Very funny and well worth a watch.

[@dinerouk]

I vaguely remember one sketch wher they spole with letter of the alphabet only: Like AFEG = A effifgy

[@Dazzler2339]

You have no idea how much love I have for you enjoying that. This is one of the classic all time British comedy sketches. You even got "billhooks". You are now an honorary Brit. End of.

[@pch2230]

Agreed. That's the test.

[@jno5]

You now need to watch their Mastermind sketch and Drinks Order sketch…..

[@tommoncrieff1154]

You got the punchline - you’ve totally integrated into Great Britain!! Ronnie Barker wrote this brilliantly but it’s really Ronnie Corbett’s performance of confusion, frustration and latent fury and the detailed direction (things like going to get the ladder, going up the ladder, taking the ladder back, raking through a box) that elevate it to be a classic. There were actually such stores once, exactly like this, independent, fusty, in every town, where a man in a brown coat had to go up a ladder to get everything for you, and you were amazed they knew where everything was and that they carried such a variety of stock of obscure ironmongery and things no one knew what they were for or were called, except the man in the shop.

[@debbiebanister7111]

I love your ap yes the two Ronnie s icon's of TV. And sadly missed this four candles brilliant. It's great to see your reaction as well.

[@robertblucher5780]

Great comedy when you just know what is going to happen before it happens. When RC puts the box of letters back onto the shelf you just know he's going to have to go back to it.

[@nigellusby8256]

My ex-father in-law had a DIY/hardware shop like this in East London, & these misunderstandings were what he experienced. One day he was visiting a friend (& competitor) in South London when Ronnie Barker (the bigger man) came in. Spotting the opportunity, Ken gave him the outline of the sketch, the rest is history. For years, he had a cheque (check) - uncashed - from RB framed on the wall....!

[@lewisner]

I saw Ronnie Corbett in the street near Piccadilly Circus in the 1980s. He was a tiny guy, immaculately dressed and carrying a suit from the dry cleaners.

[@jaymac7203]

Such a simple but genius sketch 😂

[@Jamie_Pritchard]

You are to be commended... You're the first non-Brit reactor to have caught the meaning of the punchline!

[@kenchristie9214]

Bollocks!

[@jameswg13]

TBF as a brit I always thought it could be Pillocks as well as B*llocks

[@bendover9663]

@@jameswg13 kinda works both ways so alls good haha

[@aitvabingdonindependent9949]

This is a great piece of comedy. Please go down the vintage rabbit hole. Fawlty towers, Allo Allo, Dave Allen, Morcombe and wise.... Love it, thank you!!

[@BlameThande]

If you watch the clip to the end, Ronnie Barker on their later Sketchbook show says he never liked that final punchline and brings up a later one they did for a live show. Anyway, lots of great Two Ronnies stuff, I recommend Crossed Lines, Mastermind and Round of Drinks.

[@VazVT]

Man, I miss these two guys.. pure peak of British Comedy.

[@DG-EditsYT]

From the UK I can confirm this is how some shop interactions are done

[@geraldryan8562]

What a smile you have, made my day 🇬🇧😘

[@margaretnicol3423]

They say that learning the English language is one of the most difficult in the world. This sketch is a brilliant example of that. :-D

[@peterbridges5781]

One of the most funny sketches ever in British comedy. Nice to see you worked out the ending. Ronnie Barker (the big guy buying the stuff) did in fact write the sketch along with most of what they did, but he was never happy with the ending. Their shows were an hour long and consisted with a series of different things. Ronnie Corbett used to do a sit down rambling monolog, Ronnie Berker often did a "Man from the ministry" monolog. They always started and ended the shows with a "few items of news", and they always did a musical number and most series had a running serial story - such as The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town".

[@ianwallace16]

British comedy at its best.Good to see someone so young appreciating it.🤣

[@mcfcguvnors]

i love you love UK comedy & you have THE CUTEST smile :)

[@nichemphill8321]

This truly classic sketch was written by a genius comedy writer called Gerald Wiley who would send in sketches that the 'TWO RONNIES' would accept. Except 'Gerald wiley' was actually the pseudonym of Ronnie Barker who wanted pieces accepted on merit not just because he had written by him. He continued this tradition throughout his career including his work away from Ronnie Corbett including on Porridge and his last ever tv work 'clarence' which was about a blind and clumsy removal man in the 1920's/30's. Ronnie B retired in 1987 Ronnie Barker died OCT 2005 aged 76 Ronnie Corbett died MARCH 2016 aged 85

[@mthraves]

Stunned that you got the Billhooks ending, you truly get British humour!

[@robertsnare1411]

Yes, the ending is what you think it was. However, Ronnie Barker, who wrote the sketch under the pseudonym ‘Gerald Wiley’, later admitted dissatisfaction with the original ending, as he considered the Bill hooks reference to be too obscure. He went on to say that he believed a better ending would have been that, instead of another male shop assistant taking over, a "big slovenly girl" would come out and say "Right then sir, what kind of knockers are you looking for?"

[@colinweir5807]

Ronnie Baker also played the character of Albert Arkwright in the show Open All Hours. He played a tight fisted owner of a corner grocery / sell anything store.

[@charlottejames7908]

Fun fact for you. The Guy playing the shop keeper is called Ronnie Corbett. He died about five years ago at his funeral, four candles where brought into the church. Which I thought was lovely. 😊🥲

[@mazdamps]

Another entertaining video from the Vanessameister! The Ronnies were so inventive, and Ronnie C was struggling not to laugh, a couple of times here! Many on here have used that sketch, but two other classics, I don't think have been aired..... 'Jewish Insurance' and also the Accountant sketch, are epic.... Oh and btw Vanessa, whilst I can't get enough of your pretty face, and cheerfulness, I can't fully enjoy without subtitles.....:-(

[@Hieronymous69]

Recommended: 'Racing Duck', 'Crossword', and 'Mispronounciation''.

[@seanscanlon9067]

As a nod to this sketch, I always thought it would have been amusing to have a play on words scenario regarding a packet of mince and packet of mints involving Ronnie Barker in Open All Hours, being that he was in that programme too. A kind of crossover, viewer recognition laugh that will add a little extra to the joke itself.

[@112sje]

The Two Ronnies recreated this sketch many years later with the roles reversed, It was called "The Sheikh In The Grocery Store" where Ronnie B played the shopkeeper and Ronnie C played the Arab customer. It is well worth watching.

[@HMOCreations1807]

Classic Britsh humor. Love it 😀😂😍

[@joshtherahrah]

Honestly, anything by the two ronnies is nothing short of genius. Their round of drinks sketch had me in bits.

[@mohsinsyedain1754]

You are one of the very few that got the last one right..Well done.

[@alansmith3781]

A bill hook is like a heavy machete for farm work.

[@markrich7171]

Two absolute geniuses

[@Jobladesuck]

Hi I’m new to your channel and I can’t believe you got that at the end 😂 Good job 👍

[@dragonmac1234]

They were both masters of comedy, Ronnie Barker used the pen name Gerald Wiley to write most of the sketches for the show (including this one). I only have to hear the words "fork 'andles, 'andles for forks" to be laughing.

[@ClassicWorld19]

At last! A reactor who understands the ending! :D

[@grahambarlow1308]

One episode had Ronnie Barker reading the BBC news , which had been type written on a repaired old fashioned typewriter and the vowels were faulty with e and u being replaced withed o. You have to be wide awake and on your metal, but it is very funny, outrageous and brilliant script writing delivered by the master. with full gravitas

[@retrogamer33]

Vanessa you have to watch/react to The Two Ronnies - Ponting Punting, the word play between the two is just amazing as to how they remembered their lines.

[@hughfranklin4002]

Ronnie Barker was a wordsmith.

[@jennymckinnon9528]

we had a hardware shop just like that near here - all set out with wooden drawers. it was amazing

[@robertmcintyre9073]

Watched it in 1976 was about 18. Has to be the funniest comedy sketch of the 70s, possibly one of all time . Four candles 🕯. And what about those missing, tin of pineapple chunks. BARKER fans will get it.