The Waterloo Bridge Handicap ~ Leonard Rossiter (1978)

Each weekday morning, a group of commuters on the 8.15 from Surbiton race each other from Waterloo station to the north side of Waterloo Bridge. On this particular morning, Charles Barker (Leonard Rossiter), the favourite, is confident of winning. As the train enters the station Barker is on the wrong side of the carriage and subsequently sets off in 6th place behind Red Hair (G.B. Zoot Money), The City Gents, Likely Lady (Lynda Bellingham), Lincoln's Inn (Ian Marter) and Austin Reed (John Quentin). Barker makes his way through the field and is delighted to see his opponents fall by the wayside -- but he's not prepared for the late run of newcomer Chubby Chap (Gordon Kaye). The film is narrated throughout by Rossiter and horse-racing commentary is provided by Brough Scott.
Cast
Leonard Rossiter: Charles Barker
Gorden Kaye: Chubby Chap
Lynda Bellingham: Likely Lady
Patricia Hodge: Gossiping girl
John Quentin: Austin Reed
Brough Scott: Commentator

[@mercuryrising4323]

Leonard Rossiter could make taking a poo fascinating. Brilliant comic genius gone too soon but never forgotten.

[@Jackomac43]

A disturbingly brilliant comment.

[@davecook3840]

Great. My depot was at the station so used to watch the commuters every day. They where possessed with rushing about and would jump off moving trains and race off as if their lives depended on it. I always thought that when they did get where they where going they would sit there and do very little in no rush whatsoever !

[@jess1990cat]

I'm very happy I've found this again This sketch is relevant to all work places where employees live in the same area Short cuts ,less traffic lights etc It does not matter if travelling to work or leaving work to go home The race is always there! Although just remember , it's just a game !! Also big respect to the great actors/ actresses that have passed away!!!! Regards Jess

[@davefandango1303]

What a cast!

[@Iain1962]

11 minutes late, Congestion on Waterloo Bridge.

[@Londonfogey]

Thanks for uploading. I used to commute to Waterloo, but walked in the opposite direction to the Cut. However in the evening we used to walk over the bridge to visit some of the City pubs, I know that walk well. Now that I work remotely from home, I find it odd to think I did that same sort of race every day for years and years. It's inhuman really, but you get used to it.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Why was in called " The Cut " Lower Marsh street ! And l thought it was only railwaymen that called it " The Cut " !

[@paulhunter123]

happier times before technology ruined our mental health

[@slhgina]

Saw this as a trailer film at the cinema in the late 70s, and have been looking for it online for years..... thanks for posting it, was great to see it again!

[@paulyarrow9857]

Wonderful time capsules. Majority of the cast of this short film for example Leonard Rossitter, Ian Marton, Linda Bellingham or the guy who played Rene in Allo, Allo TV series. RIP

[@Sam_Green____4114]

l thought l spotted Alun Armstrong ?

[@OlafProt]

@@Sam_Green____4114I think that’s Zoot Money

[@OlafProt]

Interesting that they don’t use that walkway that came out of the back of Waterloo past County Hall.. maybe that went to Hungerford Bridge…? I started work in a solicitors office as a junior clerk in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, January 1989, aged 16. This would’ve been the walk to Waterloo Station for me. To catch my train to Dorking. Down Kingsway, Aldwych and then the Bridge. However I despised it and frequently, laughably, took the tube from Temple to Embankment, then to Waterloo. Which usually took longer. But I did also sometimes listen to Waterloo Sunset on my cheapo Saisho walkman just to live the dream. The better part was in the winter, coming down Aldwych and the pavements were lit up by theatre lights. Good to see 9:38 Zoot Money. This scene from 1978 was utterly unchanged in 1989/1990. Now almost all of it is unrecognisable.

[@ferocel]

That's right! I've only seen this once on tv many years ago but I recalled much of the dialogue and the opening was pretty much as you describe. Thanks to the uploader for sharing this gem.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

l saw Arthur Scargill walk up those steps @03:07 in the late 90s /early 00s !! With his old dear and carrying a couple of suitcases !!! Going on holiday he was l reckon !!

[@shakespearo]

Wow - I've been looking for this for years, having seen it on TV in the early 8os. Thanks so much. If only it were released on DVD I'd willingly pay for it!

[@pcam100]

Fantastic! - Thankyou so much for uploading this film. I only every saw it once at the cinema in the early 80's and have always wanted to see it again. It is a pity that the opening sequence is missing. As I remember it, the Rossiter character waits for the very last second to board the train and jumps on as the doors are closing so his back is against the door and he will be first off at Waterloo. He then spots the other players and he gives a brief rundown of their form. It is brilliant.

[@richardmattocks]

Great upload!

[@nilambe08]

Thanks for the upload! "Regie Perrin" much, much missed!

[@evilrobottolhurst]

Shame this is missing the beginning where they are at Surbiton waiting for the fingerboard 'Waterloo Only' to be put into the socket and eyeing the participants up, and Leonard Rossiter jumps on at the last minute so as to be first off - hence "wrong bl**dy side!" Classic I've not seen since before I used to do it myself in the late 80s. I can smell that train!

[@evilrobottolhurst]

I remembered Rrrené and Leonard Rossiter, but had forgotten Lynda (now"Oxo Mum" but then "Sweeney Film Totty") Bellingham (who is familiar with Surbiton) and Patricia Hodge.

[@atoff]

I've been waiting years to see this film again. I wish I could remeber what film it was the trailer for. There is a bit missing at the start because i remember him assessing his competitors whilst on the station platform, he was determined to be the last one on. Amazing to see it again after all these years, thanks for the upload.

[@macronencer]

Very grateful for the upload - I've yearned to see this film again for years! Shame the opening credits are missing though. At least, I think they are. Wasn't there an opening scene where he's trying to get a good position on the train?

[@spinout3]

classic

[@iangoodfella]

I wonder if Frank Skinner and Team have seen this? He's always banging on about Pedestrian Racing on his Absolute Radio Podcast. Anyone else heard it?

[@Voxac100b]

Zoot money Red Head character

[@Tmuk2]

I do this - only on the way home!

[@terrytownsend5583]

Naked

[@thecultofjohnnydelr.soulsw7010]

Can just run 🤔🏃

[@lewisgreen2957]

Nope, that’s against the rules..

[@johannbrandstatter7419]

... and anywhere between 05:00 h PM and 06:00 PM a similar but much more hectic race, is repeated on a daily basis in central London for no discernible reason whatsoever...

[@evilrobottolhurst]

At the beginning the train must stop on Platform 2, on the fast line, judging by the side Rossiter got in. Isn't the headcode "63" a Southampton train? though I couldn't say if they are consistently on the same kind of train (4-VEP? no internal handles)

[@rau1seixas]

Very similar behaviour can still be observed in certain commuters departing from and arriving at Surbiton - if I never see him again in my life I will always remember the nutter in cycling gear who literally sprints up the stairs on platform 3 and runs out the station in the evening.

[@sproxtonthirsk]

Like all the other comments I have been wanting to see this for years but I thought Ronnie Barker was in it. Ian Marter went on to play Dr Who's (Tom Baker) assistant in his first series around 1974. And isn't the opinion poll guy a very young Tony Robinson (Baldrick from Black Adder)? Likely Lady went on to become the Oxo Family mum.

[@whiskeyriver4322]

'Allo, 'Allo........ Monsieur René Artois comes from behind to take 1st place

[@Sam_Green____4114]

What offence do a lot of people commit under the railway byelaws as the train comes in at 01:30 ?

[@Sam_Green____4114]

There's a least two of them !! Which could be subject to a fine issued to the offender if enforced under the Railways Act 1885 !

[@chriswaring5565]

WHY WAS REGGIE PERRIN NOT SAT IN HIS USUAL PLACE DOING THE CROSSWORD WITH THE SNEEZING MAN RENE ON THE TRAIN

[@fred-xb6dr]

I know what Redhair means !