Peter Rogers

Now, Carry On Sergeant, the first Carry-On film, didn't cost much money, did it?

No. But it made a bomb.

And after two or three carry-on films you bought your own studio. You have virtually a repertory company playing in these films?

Yes, yes. Two a year. Yes. There's a reason for that. [Because the artists in the carry-ons are either in pantomime or a summer show, so the films have to be made between the two.]

What's your theory about the comedy that you use? You use the same jokes over and over again. But they weren't new when you first started using them. Is it the reassurance of familiarity? What is it?

Well, I don't know. You know, if I kept a sweet shop. And someone came in every week for licorice all sorts, and I said, 'Don't have those, dear, have these fancy chocolates from France or Belgium or somewhere.' And they took them away, they wouldn't come back again. They'd go somewhere else for their licorice all sorts, but they'd still want licorice all sorts. I think give people what they want.