British Comedy Guide

British Comedians - Best 11 of the 90s

As inexperienced as I am in British comedy and as unacquainted to a sea of quality material, and as whimsical as I could be, I composed a "Best-11" football team as a metaphor of the British comedic landscape of the 90s.

Explanations
Groups of comedians/writers/actors who collaborated very much with each other were grouped together as much as possible. Comedians were chosen for influence, quality and volume of work in the 90s.
I am not sure whether going for a strongly Ianucci-inspired team and formation would be a good idea, so I did put several others. The more whimsical/sketch show-based comedians tend to be at defence, while the more satirical etnd to be at offence. It's difficult for me to judge if any of them would be in the right place, but this is my current position so far.

British Comedians - Best 11 (90s Stars)
Position: 3-4-3
Manager: Malcolm Hardee
Goalkeeper/Captain: Armando Iannucci

Left Defender: Harry Enfield
Center Defender: Paul Whitehouse
Right Wing Defender: David Baddiel

Left Midfielder: Stewart Lee
Left Wing Midfielder: Richard Herring
Center Midfielder: Steve Coogan
Right Midfielder: Steve Punt

Left Forward: Rory Bremner
Center Forward: Chris Morris
Right Forward: Paul Merton

Substitutes
Center Defender: Jack Dee
Left Wing Midfielder: Eddie Izzard
Right Midfielder: Hugh Dennis

Of course, comments, opinions and harsh corrections are welcome.

Is Steve Punt substituting himself?

Wish I knew anything of football so that I could comment more here...

My team would be managed by Benny Hill and adopt a traditional long ball 4-4-2 formation.

Goalie - Stephen Fry
Right Back - John Sessions
Centre Backs - Smith & Jones
Left Back - Frank Skinner, Capt.
Right Wing - Paul Merton
Defensive Midfield - Jim Davidson
Creative Midfield - Rick Mayall
Left Wing - Alexi Sayle
Inside Right - Peter Cook
Centre Forward - Steve Coogan

Subs
Victoria Wood
Dawn French
Jennifer Saunders
Mark Steel
Paul Whitehouse
Lee Evans
Paul Kaye

Interesting choice, but I am thinking of creating a separate squad for Stephen Fry, Rik Mayall and those who appeared in their breakthroughs in the 80's (probably managed by Ben Elton or Richard Curtis). I was hoping with this squad to portray those who had their breakthroughs in the 90's.
Since the Young Ones appeared in 1982, Alas Smith and Jones in 1984, and French and Saunders in 1987, I was hoping to put them in that 80s squad.
Hope that's cleared a few things up. Good choices though. I didn't think about Mark Steel.

Yes I thought he'd add a bit of er, steel. As for the ageing core of the team that you refer to, I prefer to go for proven experience over unproven youth. And I'd say this team were at their peak in about 1990, which is the 90s, as you asked for. I did very reluctantly leave out Kenn Dodd and Frankie Howerd, who were still playing in the 90s. The greatest of them all, Benny Hill, asked to be coach instead of playing, but I regret not having such a good chaser in the side now. So Benny, get your Kit on, your playing, lad! Sorry Davidson, tried me best, not to be.

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