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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BRITAIN
 
  More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

 
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
'Can you hear me, mother?'

Radio's earliest catch phrase, popularized by the comedian Sandy Powell (1900–82). He came across it accidentally in about 1932, when he was doing a sketch supposedly broadcast from the North Pole. After reading one of the lines ('can you hear me, mother?'), he dropped his script; to cover the gap he repeated the same phrase until he had found his place, and from then on audiences wanted to hear it again and again.
 








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