British Comedy Guide
The Young Ones. Image shows from L to R: Vyvyan (Adrian Edmondson), Neil (Nigel Planer), Mike (Christopher Ryan), Rick (Rik Mayall). Copyright: BBC
The Young Ones

The Young Ones

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 1982 - 1984
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

Hippy Neil, nerdy Cliff Richard-obsessed Rick, psychopathic punk Vyvyan and smooth Mike share a squalid and collapsing student house together. Stars Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan and Alexei Sayle

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The Young Ones. Image shows from L to R: Neil (Nigel Planer), Rick (Rik Mayall), Mike (Christopher Ryan), Vyvyan (Adrian Edmondson). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1982 - 1984
Channel
BBC 2
Episodes
12 (2 series)
Stars
Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan and Alexei Sayle
Writers
Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer and Alexei Sayle
Director
Paul Jackson
Producer
Paul Jackson
Company

The Young Ones are misfit, house-sharing students at Scumbag College - Neil the hippy, Rick the "right-on" leftist anarchist, Vyvyan Basterd the punk medical student, and Mike The-Cool-Person. Only Mike attracts any respect: Vyvyan and Rick loathe each other, and all three look down on Neil, who acts as the unappreciated mother of the house.

Their dysfunctional relationships with each other, lack of money, squalid surroundings, reluctance to attend any lectures and violent landlord Mr Balowski regularly combine to create anarchy in and around the house, even - or perhaps especially - when they're all deathly bored.

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Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Tuesday 9th November 1982 at 9pm on BBC Two
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • BBC Television Centre
  • Bristol - Locations

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