British Comedy Guide

The Fast Show cast consider 25th anniversary special

Monday 29th October 2018, 2:31pm

The Fast Show. Image shows from L to R: Caroline Aherne, Simon Day, John Thomson, Mark Williams, Paul Whitehouse, Arabella Weir, Charlie Higson. Copyright: BBC
  • The cast of The Fast Show are reportedly considering making a new special to mark the show's 25th anniversary
  • Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, John Thomson said "We're hoping to do a special, which is very exciting"
  • If confirmed, the special would air in 2019

The cast of The Fast Show are reportedly planning a special episode to mark the 25th anniversary of the sketch show.

The BBC Two comedy started in September 1994, meaning the show will be 25 years old in early Autumn 2019.

John Thomson, who played characters including jazz presenter Louis Balfour in the popular series, has revealed he is in talks with the rest of the surviving cast about an anniversary special. Co-star Caroline Aherne died in 2016.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester's Mike Sweeney this morning, Thompson said: "We're hoping to do a special, which is very exciting. You heard it first here. We're in talks, as they say."

The format - which also starred Paul Whitehouse, Simon Day, Mark Williams, Charlie Higson, Arabella Weir and Caroline Aherne - was noted for its quickfire, catchphrase-based sketches.

Higson, Whitehouse, Weir, Thomson, Aherne and Day, but not Williams, reunited in 2011 to film a series of sketches for Foster's Funny, an online channel sponsored by the lager brand. Some of these new sketches were then repackaged in 2014 to make The Fast Show Special, a two-part BBC Two series to mark 20 years of the comedy.

John Thomson was appearing on BBC Radio Manchester to help promote Mike Sweeney's Children in Need Extravaganza on 6th December at The Lowry Theatre in Salford. Tickets

The complete original Fast Show collection is available on DVD.

The Ultimate Fast Show Collection

The Ultimate Fast Show Collection

The complete collection of The Fast Show, featuring characters such as Ted and Ralph, coughing Bob Fleming, the "Suit you, sir" tailors from hell and the bloke in the stupid hat.

First released: Monday 5th November 2007

  • Distributor: 2 Entertain
  • Region: 2
  • Discs: 7
  • Minutes: 700
  • Subtitles: English
  • Catalogue: BBCDVD2268

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