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The phrase Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells is a proverbial sign-off-name in the United Kingdom for a letter to a newspaper complaining (often excessively) about a subject that the writer feels is unacceptable, usually with strongly conservative political views.[1]

The phrase apparently dates back to the 1950s. Historian and former newspaper editor Frank Chapman attributes it to the staff of the former Tunbridge Wells Advertiser. The paper's editor, alarmed at a lack of letters from readers, insisted his staff pen a few to fill space. One signed his simply "Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells".[2]

The phrase was given a wide currency in the early 1950s by the BBC radio comedy series Take it from Here in which Disgusted, played by Wallas Eaton, would make a ludicrous protest to give the cue for a sketch by Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley.

In 1978, Radio 4 called its new listener feedback programme, now called Feedback, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells.[3]

In recent times, some residents of Tunbridge Wells are calling the tag "inappropriate" and "stereotypical" and want the town to drop association with it in favour of "Delighted of Tunbridge Wells".[4]

See also [edit]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ "Tunbridge Wells: The spiritual home of Middle England". BBC e-cyclopedia (BBC). 1999-04-13. Retrieved 2008-08-22. 
  2. ^ "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells". Inside Out. BBC One. 3 October 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2011. 
  3. ^ "Disgust: How did the word change so completely?". BBC News. 15 November 2011. 
  4. ^ "We're not disgusted, we're DELIGHTED". This is Kent. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2011. 


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