Who is ITMA Vintage Radio Comedy

"It's That Man Again", shortened to the catchier 'ITMA', began in 1939. The BBC needed a weekly comedy show and picked Tommy Handley to star. With Ted Kavanagh, he created a show which would become one of the most popular radio series ever broadcast.

"It's That Man Again" was the newspapers' term for Adolph Hitler through the late 1930s, and a popular radio series was born...

ITMA was first set in a pirate commercial radio station, World War II pushed the show into a more appropriate setting: a government ministry, the Office of Twerps, where Tommy was to become Minister of Aggravation and Mysteries with a new cast.

Vera Lennox as Dotty the secretary, Maurice Denham as Mrs Tickle the office char
and Jack Train as Funf the German spy.

Other stars on ITMA include Sam Costa, Carleton Hobbs, Molly Weir, Deryck Guyler and Hattie Jacques.

In 1941, the show was renamed 'It's That Sand Again', this time set at the seaside resort of Foaming at the Mouth. Characters included Deepend Dan the Diver and Jack Train as Colonel Chinstrap.

Four series later, the show reverted to its original name.

ITMA became a stage show and a film, and though bothe were successful, they were never as popular as the radio show.

On January 6th, 1949, the final ITMA was broadcast. Three days later, Tommy Handley died of a brain haemorrhage. The show died with him.

ITMA's catchphrases live on long after the show is past.

"I go, I come back"
"Don't forget the diver!"
"After you, Claude - No, after you, Cecil"
"TTFN"
"Can I do you now, Sir?"
"I don't mind if I do"
"I'll 'ave to ask me Dad"
"I've brought this for you, Sir!"

The first series of ITMA was only four episodes in length. It was set in a pirate, commercial radio station; Cecilia Eddy played secretary Cilly and Eric Egan played a mad Russian inventor.

The Second World War saw the return of ITMA. This time it was set in the Office of Twerps, where Tommy was to become Minister of Aggravation and Mysteries with a new cast: Vera Lennox as Dotty the secretary, Maurice Denham as Mrs Tickle the office char and Vodkin the Russian inventor; Jack Train appeared as Funf.

June 1941 saw ITMA became 'It's That Sand Again', and now it was set in Foaming at the Mouth, a run-down seaside resort. New characters included Deepend Dan the Diver. Four series later, the show reverted to its original name.

In 1942, Foaming at the Mouth gained a war factory and Colonel Chinstrap. Later, the factory in turn became a spa, holiday camp and hotel.

Post war ITMA, saw a new cast and aan array of new settings; the South Sea Island of Tomtopia, Castle Weehouse and the Office of Industrial and Scientific Affairs, before Tommy Handley became a permanent guest in Henry Hall, a tramp's guesthouse.

Guest stars on ITMA included Sam Costa, Carleton Hobbs, Molly Weir, Deryck Guyler and Hattie Jacques.