"An extravaganza specially written for the wireless by several persons, featuring a number
of performers"
Opening credits Program One
In the beginning there was Cambridge, there were students and there were the Footlights Revues.
Then came 1961, and then some other numbers. From the '61-'63 revues came most of the
names to be mentioned on these pages.
The first three shows, were produced from some new, and some previously unbroadcast material,
from Cambridge Circus, a stage show that had gone to America in 1963. The title I'm Sorry I'll
Read That Again was taken from the standard newsreaders' apology at the time. The first of
these three shows was aired on 3rd April 1964. These shows were in a more formal revue
structure, were not completely understood or accepted by their audience, but can be considered
the breeding ground for the show that was to steal their name.
There followed a gap of close to 18 months before the fourth show (the start of the real first
series) was broadcast on 4th October 1965.
The second series began transmission on 14th March 1966, and the third on 3rd October the
same year. Now with a settled cast ISIRTA ran to seven series, and came back in 1973 after a
three year gap for a final (eighth) series. In all some 103 shows were transmitted over a period
spanning 10 years.
On 25th December 1989 the 25th anniversary show was transmitted making a grand total of 104
shows in 25 years! Something of an achievement for a radio comedy program.
Above all, ISIRTA is fun to listen to. Certainly it is undisciplined and frequently self-indulgent, but the exuberance and sheer enjoyment of the cast communicates itself clearly to the listener. Barclay:`We were very lucky to get away with it, . . . and the listeners were willing to follow us and support us through a great deal of public experiment.'
The experiment can be classed as an unqualified success; seen in perspective, ISIRTA belongs in the top handful of radio comedy shows.
FFFC - p134