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Andy is a working-class figure who never actually works, living in Hartlepool, a harbour town in County Durham, in North East England. The title of the strip is a pun on the local pronunciation of "handicap"; and the surname Capp signifies how Andy's cap always covered his eyes along with, metaphorically, his vision in life. Handicap racing and handicapping, in sport and games, is part of betting, a favourite activity of Andy Capp.

Whenever this happened (also mainly in the earlier strips), the roles are then reversed, with Andy usually confronting Flo for being late from going to bingo and sometimes striking her with either his fist or chasing her out the door with a push broom or a chair with the intent to clobber her with said object. Reg Smythe was born Reginald Smyth in Hartlepool, in the north of England, on 10 July 1917. He was the son of Richard Smyth, a boat-builder in the Teesside shipyards, and his wife Florence. The family was poor, and Smythe later described himself as a "canvas shoes kid", just one step up from going barefoot. "My father hadn't worked since the First World War", he later recalled. He attended Galleys Field School in Old Hartlepool, but left aged fourteen to work as an errand boy for a butcher. Victor E. Neuburg (1983). The Popular Press Companion to Popular Literature. Popular Press. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-87972-233-3. The international appeal of Andy Capp has proved remarkably durable. In 2010 the strip was accidentally omitted from an issue of the local paper in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and the editor found himself inundated with "profanity-laced" phone calls. "One or two of them said 'Andy Capp' is the only reason they buy the paper", he confessed: "Who knew that a comic strip could mean so much to so many? Particularly this comic strip, set in a foreign milieu and celebrating the life of a character who's not very likeable and not at all admirable?" As Smythe himself admitted of Andy Capp, "He may be a horrible little man - but he's been very good to me." Shenton, Mark (9 February 2016). "Andy Capp the Musical review at Finborough Theatre, London – 'utterly charming' ". The Stage. London . Retrieved 23 March 2016.Early on, the Andy Capp strip was accused of perpetuating stereotypes about Britain's Northerners, who are seen in other parts of England as chronically unemployed, dividing their time between the living room couch and the neighbourhood pub, with a few hours set aside for fistfights at football games... But Smythe, himself a native of that region, had nothing but affection for his good-for-nothing protagonist, which showed in his work. Since the very beginning, Andy has been immensely popular among the people he supposedly skewers. [9] Maley, Don. "Super Roads to Riches are Paved with Comics", Editor & Publisher (30 November 1968). Archived at The Internet Archive. Accessed 12 November 2018.

Percy is also always confronting Andy on the way he treats Flo. It's obvious Percy has a crush on Flo and believes he would treat her far better than Andy does. This has led the two men to fight. In 1976 Smythe returned to live in Hartlepool, which he felt had changed very little since his youth, despite the decline of local industry. "The mindset's exactly the same", he later claimed: "I can still go down to the Boilermarkers' Club and get two or three ideas just listening to the conversation." Andy Capp was now being used to advertise beer, Post Office bonds, etc., and in 1982 became the star of the musical Andy Capp, featuring Tom Courtenay and with music by Alan Price. The drama critic of the Financial Times did not find it "particularly rewarding to watch Tom Courtenay shambling about as a drunken half-wit," but the show successfully transferred from Manchester to London, and later proved enormously popular in Finland. Two of the constables who observe Andy's drunken behavior are named Alan and Trevor. [10] Continuation [ edit ] Their furniture has been repossessed on several occasions. Somehow they always manage to retrieve it, and Andy is always able to afford beer and gambling money, usually by borrowing from Florrie.

Andy Capp - 24th November 2023

Reg Smythe died on 13 June 1998, but the original strip has continued. For some time, the writer and artist were uncredited, but in November 2004 the strip began to carry a credit for Roger Mahoney (artist) and Roger Kettle (writer). Circa 2011, Kettle discontinued his work on the strip and was replaced by Lawrence Goldsmith and Sean Garnett, while Mahoney continued to draw. The appearance of the characters did not change perceptibly. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sourcesin this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) a b Leatherdale, Duncan (23 March 2016). "The mirth and misogyny of Andy Capp". BBC Online . Retrieved 23 March 2016.

Smythe's mother Florence believed that her husband Reg was the model for Andy Capp, although she said he was "never an aggressive man." She herself provided the name for Andy Capp's wife, Florrie, andSmythe admitted that Florrie was his favourite character in the strip. "She should have been included in the title," he admitted, "but I wanted a single name and the pun on 'handicap' was irresistible." Strips into 2021 and beyond only show credits for writers Goldsmith and Garnett and continue the subtly different style. Cigarettes and Alcohol: Andy Capp, extensive article about Reg Smythe and the comic strip, at PlanetSladeAlmost all the characters occasionally " break the fourth wall" by delivering asides directly to the reader, or even as a very terse 'thought bubble', usually referring to Andy's low character, but more regularly by a character simply cutting their eyes to the reader in the final panel whenever something is said or done by Andy that the character finds unbelievable. The 24 October 1972 strip revealed that Andy once worked as a sign painter, but had not worked at that trade (or any other) for many years. Should anyone suggest he get a job, his response is often very terse and along the lines of 'Don't be so ridiculous!' and sometimes leads to fisticuffs. A statue of Andy Capp was erected in Hartlepool on 28 June 2007. It was sculpted by Jane Robbins. [14] Book collections and reprints [ edit ] United Kingdom [ edit ]

Reg Smythe "My father was an Andy, cap and all...", The Cream of Andy Capp (Daily Mirror, London, 1965) Minor recurring characters include various constables, barmaids, barmen, referees, footballers, pub locals, door-to-door salesmen, debt collectors, job centre employees, and Guitar Bob.Andy's and Flo's best friends are their neighbours Chalkie and Rube White. Chalkie is a hard-drinking working-class type like Andy, who can often be seen sharing a pint with him at the corner pub, but Chalkie seems mellower than Andy, and more tolerant of his wife. Rube is Flo's confidante, and the two often trade gossip over the clothesline about their husbands' latest escapades. The local vicar is also often seen. Andy despairs of his holier-than-thou attitude, as he is constantly criticising Andy for his many bad habits and vice-ridden lifestyle. He often lets his opinion be known to Flo, who agrees with his low assessment of Andy's character. boxes originals (AC0001 - 4540) (AC0001 - 1454 catalogued) 2 boxes memorabilia 1 photographed image (AC0614) 105 framed originals (6 catalogued, 99 uncatalogued) (no.s 1 - 39a, 55 - 77, 213 - 220) Prism: AC0001 - 1454 Date range