British Comedy Guide
It's That Man Again. Image shows from L to R: Jack Train, Tommy (Tommy Handley). Copyright: BBC
It's That Man Again

It's That Man Again

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Home Service / BBC National Programme / BBC Regional Programme
  • 1939 - 1949
  • 307 episodes (12 series)

Wartime comedy series starring Tommy Handley, which spawned many of the catchphrases popular all over the country during the 1940s. Also features Cecilia Eddy, Eric Egan, Vera Lennox, Dino Galvani, Diana Morrison and more.

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It's That Man Again. Image shows from L to R: Dorothy Summers, Tommy (Tommy Handley). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1939 - 1949
Channels
BBC Home Service, BBC National Programme, BBC Regional Programme
Episodes
307 (12 series), plus 5 additional specials
Stars
Tommy Handley, Cecilia Eddy, Eric Egan, Vera Lennox, Dino Galvani, Diana Morrison, Hattie Jacques, Hugh Morton and more
Writers
Tommy Handley and Ted Kavanagh
Producer
Francis Worsley
Company

ITMA followed the adventures of Tommy Handley as he undertook a series of (fictional) bizarre jobs that involved working with strange characters.

The first series began with Handley working on a private radio station, but he later moved on to work as Minister of Aggravation and Mysteries at the Office of Twerps; the Mayor of seedy seaside resort Foaming at the Mouth; and Governor of the South Sea island Tomtopia.

Accompanying Handley during the twelve series were a range of characters with their own catchphrases, most notable of these being Mrs Mopp (Dorothy Summers) the char-lady whose line "Can I do you now, sir?" was the most popular catchpharse of the day; and Colonel Humphrey Chinstrap, who managed to interpret almost any remark as the suggestion for a drink, quipping in reply: "I don't mind if I do".

Additional details

Also known as
  • ITSA (Acronym)
  • ITMA (It's That Man Again!)
  • It's That Sand Again (Series 3 title)
  • ITMA (Acronym)
Production
Studio

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 12th July 1939 at 8:15pm on BBC National Programme
Most recent repeats
  • Saturday 12th November 2022 at 7:30pm on Radio 4 Extra
  • Saturday 12th November 2022 at 9:30am on Radio 4 Extra
  • Saturday 5th December 2020 at 7:30pm on Radio 4 Extra

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