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Ted Kavanagh
Ted Kavanagh
Ted Kavanagh
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Kavanagh in 1949

Henry Edward Kavanagh (7 March 1892 – 17 September 1958) was a British radio scriptwriter and producer.[1]

Life and career

[edit]

Ted Kavanagh was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1892.[2] He initially studied medicine in Edinburgh before pursuing a career as a writer. He is best remembered as the writer of It's That Man Again (ITMA), a radio comedy series which ran for a decade from 1939 and was immensely successful. ITMA was devised by Kavanagh, producer Francis Worsley and the Liverpudian comedian Tommy Handley as Handley's specific vehicle; Kavanagh had been writing for him since 1924, and co-wrote two feature films for Handley, It's That Man Again (1943) and science fiction/ comedy Time Flies (1944).

Kavanagh's biography of Handley was published in 1949, the year of the comedian's death and the end of their radio show. A prolific writer, ITMA and his work for Handley constituted only a small proportion of his total oeuvre.

In 1948, Kavanagh set up an agency for writers, Ted Kavanagh Associated (Entertainments) Ltd. The company was dissolved in 1963.[3]

He is credited as bringing solo comedy writers Frank Muir and Denis Norden together, resulting in a successful 30-year partnership that produced Take It From Here and other series.[4] Both writers worked for his agency.[5]

Kavanagh was invited to appear as a guest on Desert Island Discs in 1951, where he selected discs from Tommy Handley, Florence Foster Jenkins and Tod Slaughter.[6]

Ted Kavanagh married Agnes O'Keefe at St Alphonsus' Chapel, Glasgow on 31 March 1919. He died in London on 17 September 1958, aged 66.[7] His son was the poet P. J. Kavanagh who described childhood among the ITMA characters in his autobiographical The Perfect Stranger (1966).

Radio

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Selected radio series.

  • Stanelli's Bachelor Party (1936) – written by Stanelli with the addition of "ideas by Ted Kavanagh". "A Colossal Conglomeration of Capable Comedians Calculated to Convulse the Community."[8]
  • Follow The Band (1939) – "A Variety entertainment for the Army of today and yesterday," written by Ted Kavanagh with Frank O'Brian.[9]
  • ITMA (It's That Man Again) (1939–1948) – scripts by Ted Kavanagh.
  • Thursday 'Pop' (1940) – "Reported by Ted Kavanagh. Produced by Francis Worsley."[10]
  • Coupons, Please! (1940) – written by Ted Kavanagh (possibly with Bill MacLurg).[11]
  • Staying Put (1940) – "A holiday at home. The seaside comes to Suburbia." Written by Ted Kavanagh.[12]
  • Phoney Island (1940) – written by Ted Kavanagh, produced by Francis Worsley, with Dicky Hassett, Arthur Chesney, Frederick Burtwell, Dick Francis, Dudley Rolph, Vera Lynn.[13]
  • Send For Doctor Dick (1940) – A weekly series devised by Ted Kavanagh and Michael North with Dick Francis and Sonnie Hale. Script by Ted Kavanagh.[14]
  • Let 'Em All Come! (1940) – written by Ted Kavanagh and Bill MacLurg.[15]
  • Ack-Ack, Beer-Beer (circa 1940–1942) – A twice-weekly programme for Anti-Aircraft and Balloon Barrage personnel broadcast on the Forces Network, featuring "the adventures of Rough and Ready (two willing lads) concocted by Ted Kavanagh and Bill MacLurg."[16]
  • Dandy Lion (1940–1941) – Described as "a cartoon" and "invented by John Watt", written by C. Denier Warren and Ted Kavanagh, first broadcast on 28 October 1940 (after being postponed due to an important speech by the Prime Minister)[17]
  • So What? (1941) – "An inconsequent revue" written by Ted Kavanagh.[18]
  • How The Old Place Has Changed! (1941) – "... or where the soldiers fare well by Ted Kavanagh".[19]
  • Dial Doris! (1941) – Written by Ted Kavanagh.[20]
  • Everyman Jack (1941) – with Jack Train. Written by Ted Kavanagh.[21]
  • Irish Half-Hour with Jimmy O'Dea (1942) – Script by Harry O'Donovan and Ted Kavanagh.[22]
  • £250 Red Cross Radio Contest (1943) – "Tommy Handley presents his monthly problem, this time with Ted Kavanagh."[23]
  • Meet me Victoria (1944) – "Excerpt from the new musical play, written by Lupino Lane and Lauri Wylie from a story by H. F. Maltby , with additional dialogue by Ted Kavanagh."[24]
  • Cinderella (1945) – a pantomime; Book, lyrics, and incidental music by the producer, Ernest Longstaffe, with special scenes by Ted Kavanagh, and songs by various composers.[25]
  • The Private Life of Mrs Mopp (1946) – "A new series of interludes in the life of radio's most famous charwoman. With Dorothy Summers as Mrs. Mopp Script by Ted Kavanagh. Produced by Jacques Brown."[26]
  • Lucky In Love (1946) – Musical Theatre of The Air episode. "An original musical farce by Ted Kavanagh , with lyrics by Terry Stanford and music by Jack Strachey."[27]
  • Radio Crossword (1947) – "Programme compiled by H. C. G. Stevens , with listeners piloted by Ted Kavanagh."[28]
  • Talk Yourself Out of This (1949) – game show; panellist.
  • Now's Your Chance (1949) – radio panel show; "the little man, the consumer, gets his chance to question men of power and responsibility about what's right or wrong". Chairman/ host Ted Kavanagh.
  • The Great Gilhooly (1950) – with Noel Purcell, Jack Train and Barbara Mullen, by Ted Kavanagh with Joe Linmane.[29]
  • Dear Me (1951) – With Michael Howard. Script by Ted Kavanagh.[30]
  • Tommy Handley (1952) – The story of Tommy Handley told by a circle of his intimate friends, and illustrated by recorded extracts from his shows. Written by Ted Kavanagh.[31]
  • Melody Milestones (1953) – A musical miscellany of the songs that were hits from 1940 to 1943. Script and research Ted Kavanagh.[32]
  • Hi Neighbours (1953) – Starring Jack Jackson. Scripts by Ted Kavanagh.[33]
  • At Last! The true story of Humphrey Chinstrap (Col. Retd.) (1954) – Script by Ted Kavanagh. NB. some episodes feature additional dialogue by David Croft.[34]
  • My Word (1957) – panellist.

Television

[edit]

Selected TV work.

  • Pinwright's Progress (1946–1947) – written by Rodney Hobson; script editor was Ted Kavanagh.[35] The world's first regular half-hour televised sitcom.[36]
  • Such Is Life (1950) – Co-writer.
  • Out of This World: The Adventures of Sir Percy Howsey (1950) – script by Ted Kavanagh and Carey Edwards.[37]
  • What's My Line? (1951) – panellist on quiz show.[38]
  • It's A Small World (1952) – Series. "A strip cartoon by Ted Kavanagh with puppets designed and animated by Sam Williams."[39]
  • Top Town (1954–1956) – "A friendly battle of entertainment". Regular guest judge.

Filmography

[edit]
  • It's That Man Again (1943) – screenplay with Howard Irving Young[40]
  • Time Flies (1944) – screenplay with Howard Irving Young and JOC Orton[41]
  • George in Civvy Street (1946) – George Formby feature. Written by Howard Irving Young, Peter Fraser, Ted Kavanagh, Max Kester and Gale Pedrick.
  • Old Mother Riley Headmistress (1950) – screenplay with John Harlow, from an original story by Jackie Marks and Con West[42]

Publications

[edit]
  • Tommy Handley in Holidayland (London, 1946)
  • Tommy Handley (London, 1949)
  • Colonel Chinstrap (Evans Bros, 1952)
  • Why Die of Heart Disease? (George G Harrap & Co Ltd, 1953) – illustrated by CW Keeping

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ted Kavanagh

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
''Ted Kavanagh'' is a New Zealand-born British radio scriptwriter and producer known for creating and writing the hugely popular BBC comedy series It's That Man Again (ITMA), starring Tommy Handley. The series, which ran from 1939 to 1949, became one of the most beloved radio programmes of World War II, delivering rapid-fire humour, topical sketches, and iconic catchphrases that provided essential morale-boosting entertainment to British audiences during the conflict. Kavanagh's fast-paced writing and collaboration with Handley established ITMA as a groundbreaking force in radio comedy, with its ensemble cast and eccentric characters leaving a lasting imprint on British popular culture. Born Henry Edward Kavanagh on 7 March 1892 in Auckland, New Zealand, of Irish descent, he relocated to England in 1914 to study medicine but soon served with the New Zealand army during World War I. After the war, he worked as a London correspondent for New Zealand newspapers before transitioning to full-time scriptwriting. His career peaked with ITMA, but he also contributed to other projects, including script editing for the early television series Pinwright's Progress (1946), writing for radio programmes such as The Private Life of Mrs. Mopp and At Last! The True Story of Humphrey Chinstrap, and additional material for films like George in Civvy Street. Kavanagh appeared as a guest on BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs in 1951, reflecting his prominence in British entertainment. He died on 17 September 1958.

Early life

Birth and background

Henry Edward Kavanagh, better known as Ted Kavanagh, was born on 7 March 1892 in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand was then a self-governing British colony (becoming a dominion in 1907), and its residents held British subject status. He was of Irish descent and the son of Henry Paul Kavanagh, a public servant connected to the timber industry, and Jane Kavanagh (née Lorigan). The family traced its origins to Tasmania, having settled in New Zealand's Patumahoe area in the Franklin district by 1866. In his early years, Kavanagh attended Sacred Heart College in Auckland and passed the medical preliminary examination at Auckland University College. These formative experiences in New Zealand preceded his later relocation abroad.

Move to Britain and early journalism

Ted Kavanagh relocated to Britain in 1914 to study medicine in Edinburgh. While based in Britain as a medical student, he served with the New Zealand army during World War I from 1916 to 1918. After the war, he abandoned his medical studies to pursue writing and began his professional career as a London correspondent for New Zealand newspapers. This role in journalism represented his initial foray into writing before shifting toward radio work in the 1930s.

Radio career

Entry into BBC radio

Ted Kavanagh began his career as a scriptwriter for BBC radio in 1939, contributing to the long-running variety series Lucky Dip, which had already enjoyed a substantial run by that time. In this magazine-style programme, he worked with performers including Jack Train and Dick Bentley for the first time, developing his skills in crafting comedy material for broadcast. Kavanagh had previously provided comedy material to Tommy Handley, though he had not done so for some time prior to 1939. That year, Handley—dissatisfied with the scripts prepared for a proposed new series—personally recommended Kavanagh to BBC producer Francis Worsley as a source of fresh ideas. This led to their initial story conference in June 1939 at the Langham Hotel, marking the beginning of Kavanagh's significant role in BBC radio comedy.

It's That Man Again

It's That Man Again (commonly abbreviated ITMA) was a BBC radio comedy programme that Kavanagh created and wrote as the principal scriptwriter, in close collaboration with star Tommy Handley and producer Francis Worsley. First broadcast on 12 July 1939, the series took its title from a contemporary newspaper headline referring to Adolf Hitler. ITMA ran for twelve series from 1939 to 1949, encompassing hundreds of episodes that maintained a fast-paced, topical style through quick rewrites to reflect current events. The show became a major wartime morale booster on the British home front, offering light-hearted satire of bureaucracy, shortages, and officialdom that provided a cheerful escape for millions of listeners amid World War II hardships. Kavanagh's scripts featured an ensemble of recurring characters and iconic catchphrases, most famously "Can I do you now, sir?" delivered by the charlady Mrs Mopp (played by Dorothy Summers), alongside others like "I don't mind if I do" from Colonel Chinstrap (Jack Train). This distinctive blend of rapid-fire dialogue, sound effects, and relatable absurdity made ITMA one of the BBC's most popular programmes and a landmark in British radio comedy. A feature film adaptation titled It's That Man Again appeared in 1943, starring Handley and many radio cast members in their familiar roles, with Kavanagh receiving screenplay credit. The series' success solidified Kavanagh's reputation as a key figure in wartime broadcast humour.

Later radio work and production roles

Following the end of It's That Man Again in 1949, Ted Kavanagh's contributions to BBC radio were relatively limited compared to his earlier prolific output. In March 1951, he appeared as the castaway on the BBC Home Service programme Desert Island Discs, where he was presented as a comedy scriptwriter and selected music reflecting his interests and career associations. In 1954, Kavanagh wrote the script for a one-off 30-minute radio sitcom on the BBC Home Service titled At Last! The True Story Of Humphrey Chinstrap (Col. Retd.), broadcast on 1 January and starring Jack Train in the title role reprised from ITMA. No records indicate that Kavanagh assumed production or producer responsibilities in radio during this later period.

Film career

Screenwriting credits

Ted Kavanagh's screenwriting career in film was brief and included contributions to several British feature films during the 1940s and early 1950s. He received a screenplay credit for the 1943 comedy It's That Man Again, which adapted his BBC radio series for the screen, transferring many of the show's characters and humorous style to cinema. He also received an original screenplay credit for the 1944 science fiction comedy Time Flies. Additional credits include contributions to George in Civvy Street (1946) and screenplay for Old Mother Riley, Headmistress (1950). He is also credited "by arrangement with" for the 1950 crime thriller Dick Barton at Bay. These represent his primary screenwriting contributions to feature films, though his main career focus remained in radio.

Personal life

Family and personal details

Ted Kavanagh married Agnes O'Keefe on 31 March 1919. The couple had two sons, Kevin and Patrick, the latter of whom became known as P. J. Kavanagh, a poet, actor, and broadcaster. A devout Roman Catholic, Kavanagh served as chairman of the Catholic Stage Guild and was involved with the Catholic Writers' Guild of St. Francis de Sales. In recognition of his contributions, Pope Pius XII awarded him a knighthood of St. Gregory in 1952. His family had Irish origins, with roots in County Carlow. After settling in Britain, Kavanagh and his family resided in various locations, including Sussex where his son Patrick was born in Worthing.

Death and legacy

Death

Ted Kavanagh died on 17 September 1958 in London at the age of 66. He passed away in London, England, where he had spent much of his professional life.

Influence and recognition

Ted Kavanagh's most significant recognition stems from his authorship of It's That Man Again (ITMA), which became the BBC's most successful wartime comedy series and a vital morale booster for British audiences during World War II. The programme's quick-fire satire of bureaucracy, rationing, and restrictions allowed listeners to share punchlines and experience a sense of gentle rebellion, providing escapism and a common cultural reference point amid widespread hardship. By 1944, nearly 40% of the British population tuned in weekly, underscoring its profound popularity and role in sustaining civilian spirits. ITMA's format—fast-paced half-hour episodes built around recurring characters and catchphrases rather than complex plots—proved highly influential, establishing catchphrase comedy as a staple of British radio humour and demonstrating the power of shared phrases to unite listeners. Memorable lines such as Mrs Mopp's "Can I do you now, sir?" and Colonel Chinstrap's "I don't mind if I do" entered everyday language nationwide, creating a collective vocabulary that extended beyond the broadcasts. The show's innovative structure and wartime relevance laid groundwork for subsequent British radio comedy, influencing the development of character-driven, catchphrase-heavy formats in later programmes. Kavanagh's contribution continues to be acknowledged in histories of broadcast entertainment for helping to define comedy's capacity to support national resilience during crisis.
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