British Comedy Guide

Fluffy Friends

An old sketch idea I came across. All comments welcome.

SCENE: TV STUDIO WITH 2 TYPICALLY ENTHUSIASTIC PRESENTERS EMPLOYING A BREATHLESS PRESENTATION STYLE

RON: Hello and welcome to Fluffy Friends, I'm Ron!

JENNIFER: And I'm Jennifer! What's new this week Ron?

RON: Well, this week Jennifer I'm really excited.

JENNIFER: Why's that Ron?

RON: This week we're having our first live phone-in.

JENNIFER: Wow!

RON: (DEADPAN) Exactly. Wow.

JENNIFER: And our very first caller is 7 year old Liam Manchester from Manchester.

LIAM (V.O.): It's just Liam from Manchester.

JENNIFER: (IMPATIENTLY) OK Kid. What's the question?

LIAM (V.O.): (HESITANTLY) It's my hamster, Fluffy. He's not very well.

RON: (LOOKING AT A PHOTO AND SHOWING JENNIFER) Liam has kindly emailed us a photo. (POINTING) You can see the discolouration at the base of the tail.

JENNIFER: The classic sign of wet tail.

RON: Yes, how old is Fluffy?

LIAM (V.O.): He'll be one next week.

RON: And did you buy him any presents?

LIAM (V.O.): Yes! I got him a new cage and some lovely toys…

JENNIFER: And did you keep the receipts?

LIAM (V.O.): What?...

RON: How have you tried to treat the wet tail Liam?

LIAM (V.O.): Well, I've wiped his tail clean every day.

JENNIFER: That's not really going to help, Liam. You see the discharge is Fluffy's insides melting and running out of his bottom.

RON: Fluffy really isn't too well champ.

LIAM (V.O.): Oh...

JENNIFER: Nope, he's basically just a big bag of pus.

LIAM (V.O.): He doesn't seem too ill.

JENNIFER: Can you see the little dark marks under Fluffy's eyes, Liam?

LIAM (V.O.): (TEARFUL) Yes...

JENNIFER: Tears of pain buddy; your little friend's life is a nightmare of extreme pain alternating with short bursts of excruciating agony. Believe me when he finally bursts it will be a relief.

LIAM (V.O.): (TEARFUL) Bursts!?

JENNIFER: Oh yeah! You might want to warn Mum to keep a mop handy cos its gonna get messy (MAKES AN EXPLOSION SOUND AND MIMES BLOWING UP).

LIAM (V.O.): Oh no...(BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS)

RON: (TRYING TO GET THINGS ON TRACK AND STOP THE SOBBING) So Liam... anything else you'd like to ask?

LIAM (V.O.): (PULLING HIMSELF TOGETHER) No, not really. (SNIFFS) Thanks for your help.

RON: No, thank you Liam for being such an excellent caller. And give our regards to Fluffy.

JENNIFER: (UNDER HER BREATH). Quickly.

RON: That's all we have time for now, but don't forget to visit our website for lots of handy hints on pet care, forums and, of course, our famous second-hand market for pet-related items.

JENNIFER: Might be some hamster bargains up there soon (SHE MIMES BOOM AGAIN).

Something about this one appealed to me. I can't really tell what just I was smiling throughout this one. Exploding hamsters. Like it.

I like the pace and characterisations and it's a deliciously nasty concept. How ever is Fluffy going to explode or are they winding the kid up?

Thanks guys.

Sootyj: My view is that they are being accurate but brutally so. It was inspired by hearing some kid call the vet on one of the saturday morning shows on BBC years ago about his poorly hamster only to be told live on air it was going to die pretty quickly and unpleasantly (although sadly not explode).

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