Inside number 9 , Crackers & Cheese , 10 Brown Bottles

Spoilers this whole sequence in itself is genius - it tells the story of Tommy and Len's friendship and comedy partnership (symbolised by 'the wall') from beginning to end. It begins with the highly elaborate slapstick with both men having to work closely together to make the wall work properly and move forward. This symbolises that at first Tommy and Len worked harmoniously and that they are both supporting each other . When Tommy starts singing the ‘Ten brown bottles’ song it marks the point where Len’s alcohol consumption started to become an issue in their partnership. Len’s behaviour throughout the routine becomes increasingly affected by the ‘ten brown bottles’ (knocking over a bottle and needing to relieve himself), reflecting the disruptive influence of his alcoholism on his and Tommy’s career, with his behaviour finally resembling that of an obnoxious drunk. (it is interesting we see Tommy taking bottles away at the end symbolising his wish that Len had dealt with his drinking) Tommy is increasingly left to support the wall himself symbolising how he had to support Len and their act through Len's alcoholism. At the end there are ‘no more bottles’-Tommy can no longer deal with Len's behaviour hitting him over the head with the last bottle when he gone too far, quite literally knocking their act on the head. There is ‘no more wall’ with the collapse of the wall symbolising the end of ‘Cheese and Crackers’.

Despite the emotional sad twist ending of this episode, this 10 brown bottles sketch is the funniest part of the episode for me. I love that kind of clean sitcom style of humour. 0:28 "8 brown bottles sitting... *YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DRINK THEM*!!!" 😆😆

*I can't believe it's 4 years since I uploaded this,, I'm just re visiting every episode, each special , all Shearmsith and Pemberton at their very best! Yet still this episode has every emotion in its what 25 minutes, IT touches every feeling if your hearts still beating...

This YouTube channels name sounds wrong it goes down, it should be the other way around "You'll Never Leave Royston VaSEYYYYY", it's the music of it see.