A Bit of Fry & Laurie

Open University

Stephen addresses the camera.

Stephen You know, some of the funniest things that happen in television never actually make it to the screen. They're the out-takes, or bloopers, that we all get so embarrassed about. Here's one of my all-time favourites, from an edition of the Open University, recorded in 1979. Cut to: Possibly black and white scene of Hugh standing in front of a blackboard with a lot of incomprehensible symbols on it. He is looking appallingly early seventies, paisley, loons etc.

Hugh So that if we increase the non-reflexive integers in the equation by a marginal quantity denoted by D5, we can see that the parallel quantities D7 and D3 are inverted in the same direction, which gives us a resultant modular quantity of minus 0.567359. Now this should begin to give us a clue as to where the next ... Stephen enters, dressed as a floor manager, also in a paisley shirt and wide flares. He is laughing.

Stephen Sorry Brian.

Hugh That's alright. What's happened.

Stephen You said "0.567359".

Hugh I didn't, did I?

Stephen Yes. (Laughing violently) It should have been "0.567395".

Hugh Oh no. Oh I don't believe it. They both laugh hysterically. We hear a succession of bleeps as thy swear good-naturedly about the stupidity of the mistake. Cut to:

Stephen (Wiping his eyes) Marvellous, bloody marvellous.

Vox Pop

Hugh My wife and I were thinking of going to Ireland personally, to see what all the fuss is about. But we couldn't face having all the injections.

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