"Transistor Radio" is a comic song written by Benny Hill and Mark Anthony (a pseudonym of record producer, producer Tony Hatch), and performed by Hill. The song revolves around the story of a man whose attempts at intimacy with his girlfriend are constantly thwarted by music played from the girl's transistor radio. The song spoofs Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Chipmunks, Elvis Presley's "Wooden Heart", the BBC Shipping Forecast and Jimmy Jones (singer), Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man (song), Handy Man". "Transistor Radio" finished with the now-married couple alone in bed, with the expectant wife disappointed when her husband asks "'Ere, where's the radio?" Released as a Single (music), single in 1961, the song reached the #24 in the UK Singles Chart.

Revised version

In 1972, Hill performed a radically revamped version of this song, now called "Portable TV Set," on his The Benny Hill Show, television show, on which he offered impersonations of ''Ironside (TV series), Ironside'', Clement Freud, ''Stars on Sunday (TV series), Stars on Sunday'' host Jess Yates and Maggie Stredder of the Ladybirds. The role of his television-obsessed girlfriend was played by Jenny Lee-Wright.

References

{{Reflist Comedy songs British songs Benny Hill songs 1961 singles 1961 songs Songs written by Tony Hatch Song recordings produced by Tony Hatch Pye Records singles Songs about radio