British Comedy Guide
Paul Whitehouse's Sketch Show Years. Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse's Sketch Show Years

Paul Whitehouse's Sketch Show Years

  • TV documentary
  • U&Gold
  • 2024
  • 4 episodes (1 series)

A journey through Paul Whitehouse's favourite British sketch shows of the past 60 years.

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 2 - The 1980s

This time, it is into the 1980s, when the turbulence of the new decade was reflected by a new wave of alternative comedians bursting onto our screens.

Further details

Oxbridge loomed large over many of the decade's big hitters, not least in the biting satire of Not The Nine O'Clock News - though for every savage slice of ultra-topical wit, like the racist copper sketch with Griff Rhys-Jones and Rowan Atkinson, there was always room for daftness in a poor quality gorilla suit....

The Footlights also gave us the genius of Fry & Laurie, whose early sketch comedy still stands up among the best work of their glittering careers. But elsewhere, newer, regional voices were also emerging, with the razor-sharp northern humour of Victoria Wood, the distinctly Scottish flavour of Naked Video (which gave us Gregor Fisher's iconic Rab C Nesbitt character) - and the long overdue arrival of more black talent on our screens, most notably courtesy of the young, trailblazing Lenny Henry.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 4th July 2024
Time
10pm
Channel
U&Gold
Length
40 minutes

Catch-up

Cast & crew

Cast
Paul Whitehouse Narrator
Writing team
Paul Whitehouse Writer
David Cummings Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Chris Hill Series Producer
Julia Hunter Producer
John Quinn Executive Producer
Helen Nightingale Executive Producer
Nicola Breadin Line Producer
Ben Cooper Development Producer
Rhys Barter Editor
Martyn Kilvert Graphics

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