Rhubarb (1969 film) three principals, who would pretend to try to sound like a larger group by repeating "rhubarb" very quickly but clearly, with outbreaks of "Custard!" for good measure. Sykes was a close collaborator and friend of the Goons. He remade the piece in 1980 for Thames Television, as "Rhubarb Rhubarb". A Police Inspector and a vicar play a round of golf. The Police Inspector has a Constable help him to cheat by removing his golf ball from awkward situations, and the vicar ultimately requests divine intervention. Allmovie wrote, "sight gags and pantomime dominate this engaging 37 minute feature." Rhubarb (1969 film)
Eric Sykes pantomime called "Pantomania", which featured many well-known BBC personalities of the era; it was directed by Ernest Maxin, who went on to produce some of the most famous comedy routines for Morecambe & Wise. That same year Sykes signed a contract as scriptwriter and variety show presenter for the newly formed independent television company ATV, while continuing to write and perform for the BBC. In 1956, Sykes performed, wrote scripts, and acted as script editor for the pioneering Rediffusion TV comedy "The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d", the first attempt to translate the humour of the Goons to television. It starred