Goodness Gracious Me is a BBC English language sketch show originally on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC TWO, based on four Indian-British actors: Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kulvinder Ghir , Meera Syal and Nina Wadia. In the television version most of the "white" parts are played by Dave Lamb , while in the radio version the white parts were played by the cast themselves.

The title and theme tune are based on a hit song of the 1960s in which Peter Sellers impersonated an Indian doctor and Sophia Loren his patient from the film The Millionairess ; the show's signature tune is a bhangra arrangement of the song. The show's original working title was "Peter Sellers is Dead", but was changed because the cast generally liked Peter Sellers (in spite of this bit of racial stereotyping).

Many of the sketches explore the conflict and integration between traditional Indian culture and modern British life. Some reverse the roles to view the British from an Indian perspective while others poke fun at Indian stereotypes.

The cast casually drop Urdu and Punjabi slang phrases into their speech, in the manner of many Indians living in the UK.

Recurring characters

• tactless Mr "Check Please"
• The Competitive Mothers
• Mr "Everything Comes From India"
• The Coopers (Kapoors) and the Robinsons (Rabindranaths) who snobbishly maintain they're English
• Superhero Bhangra-Man
• "Skipinder, The Punjabi Kangaroo" (redubbed Skippy)
• the streetwise Bhangra Muffins ("kiss my chuddies, man!")
• sexy Bollywood superstar Chunky La Funga
• A mother who decries the wasteful world declaring of everything "I can make it at home for nothing!" (frequently involving "a small aubergine!")
• The 'Innit' Girls
• The dodgy Guru Maharishi Yogi (based on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)
• Smeeta Smitten, Showbiz Kitten (Reporter)
• Uncle "You Should Have Come To Me!"

Seasons

Radio show

• 1996 June/July (4 eps)
• 1997 July/August (4 eps)
• 1998 May/June (6 eps)

Television show

• 1998 Jan/Feb - Season 1 (6 eps)
• 1998 Nov/Dec - Season 2 (6 eps)
• 1998 Dec - Christmas Special
• 1999 Theatre Tour
• 2000 Feb/Mar - Season 3 (6 eps)
• 2001 Feb - "Back Where They Came From" (Parts filmed in India!)

External links

• Goodness Gracious Me on BBCi