Andy Capp Is Brilliant

[Malc]

My partner's mum gets the Mirror daily, so I get the chance to read Andy. It's been superb. The drawing is fine, but the humour now takes it to a new level. Andy was in the bath singing "I was Born Under A Wand'rin' Star" and Flo says (to the reader) "so says the man who's always lived in the same house".
All right, we all have off days, but that was but one example. The writing is consistently good.
It seems to me that in the days of Pound Shops and bookies crowding every high street, and gambling ads everywhere on TV, there's an ideal opportunity to take Andy Capp back to his roots, to make social commentary.

[Diane CBPFC]

I never liked Andy Capp when I was young and living in the UK, so I was surprised that Roger took him on. I saw a few of the Roger’s first strips and he made him less detestable and a bit more like a bungling human getting through life.
 
So I don’t care what happens to Mr. Capp now – he can fall in the fire and wait for someone to pull him out as far as I’m concerned.

[Roger Kettle]

I took Andy Capp on, Diane, because...I was asked! Whatever you think of the character, it is the most successful, and famous, British strip ever. I simply couldn't turn down the chance to write it and I enjoyed my 10/11 year stint a lot. I had regrets when I finally had to say "no more" but the writing of three daily strips was starting to get to me.
The current duo who are scripting Andy Capp these days have said that they wanted to return to the feel of the early strips. (This wasn't a criticism of my time---they were very complimentary). It's a tricky job----balancing the essence of the original Andy with today's social climate---and I'm both glad and proud that I gave it a go.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

I'm both glad and proud that I gave it a go.

Me, too. I mean that you gave it a go... I've never given it a go... yet (never say never - there's still time)... but you should be proud, and you did both Andy and Reg Smythe proud in my opinion, and you already know that you're missed. And that's all I have to say about that.

[Roger Kettle]

I've just seen tonight's result. I'm not talking to you.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

 

[Diane CBPFC]

That was one of my dad's old lines "move me out the fire, I'm burning" - meaning "I know I'm being a lazy git" 

 

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

I know I've probably said this before, but I never grasped the appeal of Andy Capp and any time I've read it, it was hit or miss. I know that just as others will dislike rock music and love opera, some will love Andy Capp and dislike Beau Peep. It's whatever appeals to you that matters. I would ask though, why the success? Why is it the most popular UK cartoon? How do they calculate its popularity? I am genuinely curious.

[Roger Kettle]

Andy Capp was the first British comic strip to be syndicated in America and it became HUGELY popular over there. (I know from my own trips to The States how fondly he is regarded---my connection with the strip was worth several free beers!) At one stage, I believe it was the second most syndicated strip in the world behind Peanuts. The simple premise of a workshy little guy seemed to have international appeal and it was translated into many languages. Reg Smythe was an absolutely brilliant artist and many of today's cartoonists openly admit to being hugely influenced by him.
Sandy, I suggest you check him out on Wikipedia---that will give you all the details you need. While you're there, you could also check if Reg Smythe hated Doctor Who.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

I'm still going to ask one question that I have absolutely no idea of the answer...how do they calculate the popularity of a cartoon strip? Do they calculate up the amount of people who write in to say how good it is?  Do they drop it and wait to see how many complaints they get? I'm not being a kiss-arse, but I just cannot understand how Andy Capp is better than Beau Peep. Maybe Andy Capp just hit the right generation at the right time? Question 2 then...would Andy Capp be picked up by a paper today? I don't know, but I'll gladly read the cartoonies views on the subject.

As long as George and Lynne don't get discussed, it's all good.

[Roger Kettle]

The books sold hundreds of thousands, Sandy. There was huge reader response in the shape of letters to newspapers. Andy Capp was made into a TV series and a West End musical. The merchandising took off in an era when such marketing was limited and the strip was snapped up all around the world.
As for your question about whether the strip would be picked up today, well, that's impossible to answer and a bit unfair. Everything is rightly judged on its time. Would Steptoe and Son be commissioned today? Would the drinking and smoking in Cheers be acceptable?
I am absolutely positive that Beau Peep would not sell today. As I've said many times before, the idea of spoofing an established hero character is not original and is now extremely dated.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

From the end to the start.

Nothing seems to be original these days though. Films,TV series, music etc., are all being re-worked/remastered. The common thread behind them all seems to be the acknowledgement of the quality of the original projects. Beau Peep would be picked up today because it is a genuinely laugh out loud, beautifully drawn strip. Great quality never goes out of fashion and it is always recognised.

I take your point on Steptoe and Son, but only on an age basis...ie my kids don't know what rag and bone men are, and scrap men are becoming a thing of the past to a certain extent as well. It's a job that just won't be remembered shortly. Would Cheers be the same without the smoking and drinking? Probably not, but again it was superbly written and I'm sure they could set it in a modern day coffee shop. It was that good.

Now...good old Andy.

I would be fighting a losing battle if I were to try and argue against what has been an obvious public fondness of the little guy. I do though, wonder whether he is being read by a fan, or skimmed over by a newspaper reader. I guess the discussion could rattle on for a goodly while, so I'll say this. If the two cartoons were put down to me side by side and I had to pick one for my paper, Andy would still be unemployed. BP wins every time. It is THE best strip that has been produced. Ever.

 

[Rob Baker]

Andy Capp was made into a TV series and a West End musical.

A little bit of trivia: The lyrics for the musical were written by Alan Price (ex The Animals) and Trevor Peacock. Trevor Peacock wrote a few pop songs in the 60s and is probably best known these days for his role as Jim "no, no, no, no ... yes" Trott in the Vicar of Dibley. A couple of weeks ago I was behind him in the lottery ticket queue in Morrison's (he only lives a few miles up the road).

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

It's a small and beautifully formed world, Rob. I never knew any of that, but I'm all the richer for doing so now. Thank you for that nugget.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

Andy Capp was made into a TV series and a West End musical.

A little bit of trivia: The lyrics for the musical were written by Alan Price (ex The Animals) and Trevor Peacock. Trevor Peacock wrote a few pop songs in the 60s and is probably best known these days for his role as Jim "no, no, no, no ... yes" Trott in the Vicar of Dibley. A couple of weeks ago I was behind him in the lottery ticket queue in Morrison's (he only lives a few miles up the road).

Yep, had to Google Trevor Peacock...and still don't know who he is. Then again, maybe if I watched Dibley, I would know.