British Comedy Guide
Drunk History. Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
Drunk History

Drunk History

  • TV comedy
  • Comedy Central
  • 2014 - 2017
  • 29 episodes (3 series)

British version of the hit US format in which an inebriated narrator attempts to recount an event from history. Stars Jimmy Carr.

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Series 3, Episode 1

Drunk History. Image shows from L to R: Sir Barnes Wallis (Chris O'Dowd), Sir Arthur Harris (Alexander Armstrong), A.R. 'Dick' Collins (Tom Bennett). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
In the first episode Chris O'Dowd and Alexander Armstrong star in Joel Dommett's drunken Dambusters. Plus, watch the Impractical Jokers' tipsy take on a presidential disaster, starring Joe Thomas, Joe Wilkinson and Brett Goldstein.

Further details

Alexander Armstrong and Brett Goldstein talk about their roles to BCG...

Alexander Armstrong interview

Alexander Armstrong is in a couple of episodes of Drunk History this series. He's in this opening tale about the Dambusters, and in Episode 6.

Which historical figures do you play?

I play two colossi of British history: King Alfred the Great and Some Army Person During World War 2.

How much did you know about them before taking on this role?

Well, King Alfred's role in history is reduced often and solely to some squalid tale of cake burning on the Wessex marshes. This is unfair as it overlooks his many other notable achievements. Like um... er, something to do with education?

What was it like having to mime along to the storyteller's words?

That is the tough part of Drunk History right there. To do it convincingly you have to learn the narrator's words like it's a tune, every slip, hiccup and burble has to be timed so that you can reproduce it faithfully. I now go to sleep humming along to Joel Dommett's inflections and sing Adam Buxton to my children on long car journeys.

Are you interested in history? Did you pay attention to the subject at school?

I wish I'd been more interested in history at school - it's one of my biggest regrets. I now devour history like it's Lion bars but at school I just hadn't quite got it. In those days it seemed more of a vegan nut-based snack

If you had a time machine, which time period would you most like to go back to, and why?

I'd go back to 2016 so I could put my house on Leicester City.

Meanwhile, if you could have a night at the pub with any historical figure (or group of people), who would you invite?

I'd go for John Wilkes, Douglas Bader, Witney Houston and Princess Margaret.

Brett Goldstein interview

Drunk History. James Garfield (Brett Goldstein). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Brett Goldstein talks about his role in Drunk History...

Which historical figure do you play?

I play President Andrew Garfield.

How much did you know about them before taking on this role?

Not to brag, but I didn't even know there was a President Garfield, let alone that he got shot in the bumhole.

What was it like having to mime along to the storyteller's words?

You get the audio the day before, so I spend that day listening on repeat to drunk people as I go about my day, lipsyncing in Asda. It's the closest I'll get to being Lady Gaga at the SuperBowl.

Next time, would you be up for getting drunk and being a storyteller, or is the prospect of a hangover too scary to contemplate?

I don't drink a lot so my fear is more that I don't know what I'm like when I'm that drunk, and I might turn out to be a violent drunk and batter the crew.

Are you interested in history? Did you pay attention to the subject at school?

Sure. No.

If you had a time machine, which time period would you most like to go back to, and why?

I would like to go back to the very start and see the prequel.

Meanwhile, if you could have a night down the pub with any historical figure (or group of people), who would you invite?

Howard Hughes. Just him. And a load of antibacterial wipes.

What are you working on next?

I'm in LA at the moment about to do a pilot for NBC. But I'm not sure I'm allowed to talk about it, so please don't print this and just say I'm on gardening leave.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 8th March 2017
Time
10pm
Channel
Comedy Central
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Jimmy Carr Narrator
Guest cast
Brett Goldstein James Garfield
Richard Glover Railway Employee
Matthew Steer Charles Guiteau
Samson Kayo Bill
Joe Wilkinson Dr. Doctor Bliss
Joe Thomas Alexander Graham Bell
Bruce Mackinnon Charles Sumner Tainter
Chris O'Dowd Sir Barnes Wallis
Lucy Middleditch Librarian
Tom Bennett A.R. 'Dick' Collins
Alexander Armstrong Sir Arthur Harris
Theo Barklem-Biggs Guy Gibson
Joel Dommett Self
Brian Quinn Self
Sal Vulcano Self
Writing team
Dominic English Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Tom McKay Director
Ben Rogers Producer
Andy Brereton Executive Producer
Louise Holmes Executive Producer
Matt Tiller Executive Producer
Stuart Lutes Editor
Rachel Spann Editor
Jo Sutherland Production Designer
Sally Broome Casting Director
Lucy Williams Costume Designer
Ben Bee Director of Photography
Juliette Tomes Make-up Designer
Lisa Isles Make-up Designer
Nick Murray Willis Animation
Adam Morris 1st Assistant Director

Press

Return of the rarely funny - and even more occasionally educational - series in which inebriated comedians demonstrate historical events. Tonight includes Chris O'Dowd and Alexander Armstrong recreating the Dambusters raid as directed by Joel Dommett, and Brian "Q" Quinn and Sal Vulcano discussing Alexander Graham Bell. The flaw is in the format: to the sober, the drunk are mostly merely annoying and boring.

Andrew Mueller, The Guardian, 8th March 2017

Prview - Drunk History

Based on the hit American comedy show, the British version of Drunk History is back for a third series.

Ian Wolf, On The Box, 8th March 2017

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