Hit CBBC sketch show 'Sorry, I've Got No Head' axed by BBC
The BBC has axed the popular BAFTA-nominated CBBC sketch show Sorry, I've Got No Head.
The comedy, which was primarily aimed at a young audience but enjoyed by many adults too, clocked up a total of 39 episodes across three series.
When it launched in 2008, the programme was widely-praised for the quality of its sketches, and for pioneering the concept of using experienced comic actors and writers to create a children's comedy show - an idea which was also later used to create fellow CBBC sketch show Horrible Histories.
Top comic actors were recruited to take part in Sorry, I've Got No Head, with the stellar cast list including Marcus Brigstocke, Anna Crilly, Justin Edwards, James Bachman, David Armand, Mel Giedroyc, Marek Larwood and Nick Mohammed. Meanwhile the writing team was recruited from some of TV's top sketch shows, with the likes of Mark Evans, Moray Hunter, Kevin Eldon, Toby Davies and Chris Reddy asked to provide scripts.
The programme, produced by Graham Norton's production company So Television, was soon labelled as being 'a child friendly version of The Catherine Tate Show and Little Britain' by the press, and praised for revitalising CBBC's comedy output.
The sketch show was so popular that it even got its own 26-episode sitcom spin-off. Pixelface, broadcast at the start of this year, was based on a series of sketches about an assortment of characters living in a computer game console.
Sorry, I've Got No Head was created by experienced producer Jeremy Salsby, who is now running production company Saltbeef TV. Salsby, talking to British Comedy Guide this evening, confirmed the news that the show was not coming back. He says: "After 39 episodes, Sorry, I've Got No Head is no more. Really sad news, but hopefully we contributed to raising the bar for family pre-watershed sketch shows." He also added: "High volume ensemble comedy shows are hard to get right but I'd like to think we got close on occasion. Everyone on the cast and the writers are disappointed but all good things have to come to end."
Fans of the show have already begun posting their disappointment on Twitter, with comments such as "Absolutely gutted that there's going to be no more Sorry, I've Got No Head. Why are the BBC cutting all the good stuff?"; "A real shame about SIGNH. I used to watch Monty Python when I was ten years old - good idea to make a sketch show for that audience."; and: "SIGNH started a new wave of comedy programmes for kids that are far better then any adult comedy programme for years."
Popular recurring SIGNH sketches focused on characters including Jasmine & Prudith, two cantankerous women who believe everything will cost them a thousand pounds; The Witchfinder General, seen living in the present day; Phillipe the French exchange student, who has been living with a boy's father for twenty years now and won't leave; The Office of International World Records, which must endure the visits of a keen but useless man who is determined to set a record; The Fearless Vikings, who are scared of everything; and a carefully crafted mockumentary which observes goings on at a school on a remote island where there is only one teacher and one pupil (pictured, above right).
Wednesday morning update: The BBC have issued a statement saying: "We won't be producing another series of 'Sorry, I've Got No Head'. We're extremely grateful to the talented team of cast and crew for pushing the boundaries of children's comedy, but we're currently exploring options for new children's sketch shows and hope to be able to make some exciting announcements soon."
Below are some clips from the show...
James Bachman and Marcus Brigstocke in drag as Jasmine & Prudith...
David Armand and Mel Giedroyc in a Witchfinder General sketch...
Fergus Craig, Justin Edwards and Marcus Brigstocke in a French Exchange Student sketch...
Anna Crilly, James Bachman, William Andrews and Mel Giedroyc in a Outer Hebrides school sketch...