A few weeks back, I reported on the haul of VHS tapes I had recently picked up and, since then, I've been slowly going through them when I've had half a chance. As expected, there's been an awful load of codswallop to wade through and, believe me Auntie's Bloomers doesn't get any funnier with age.
However, in amongst this mediocrity, there have been a few gems which are worth revisiting. They're not ridiculously old although they are between 20 - 25 years old which, rather disturbingly, is actually a bloody long time ago. Anyway, here they are:
Punt and Dennis Series 2 Episode 6 - BBC1 - 1995
Following their success as part of The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Punt and Dennis were rewarded with a sketch show of their own. The first series aired in 1994 under the rather lengthy title of The Imaginatively Titled Punt and Dennis Show, but the second series saw it re-titled Punt and Dennis. And here's the final episode.
Norman Wisdom Maryland Advert 1991
I've sat through countless adverts whilst sorting through the tapes, but one from 1991 caught my eye as it featured the late, great Norman Wisdom advertising Mayland Maxis cookies.
Fantasy Football League Promo - BBC2 - 1995
Comedy was always at the heart of Fantasy Football League and this promo for the second series in 1995 shows Baddiel and Skinner taking on the inimitable guises of Saint and Greavsie. I tweeted the clip to Baddiel and all he could say was "Blimey!"
The Preventers - ITV (Carlton) - 1996
Now this is a real oddity and the sort of thing that I get up for in the morning. Starring Morwenna Banks, Robert Harley and Chris England, The Preventers was a one-off comedy which relentlessly spoofed British spy thrillers from the 1960s and 70s. It's quite, quite hilarious and incredibly unknown - you need this in your life.
Hopefully there's still plenty more to find, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates. Other tidbits and oddities can be found over on my YouTube page, so make sure you saunter over there at some point too.
Bloody hell this (esp Preventers) is treasure indeed!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, some nice bits in amongst all the rhubarb! The dream is to get a huge collection of tapes from the 80s, but this appears to be getting harder and harder!
DeleteI still have a copy of The Preventers! Such a shame that never got a series, especially when you consider Austin Powers was only just around the corner
ReplyDeleteDefinitely deserved a series! Plenty of great gags, very Airplane.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks - I'd forgotten all about that Norman Wisdom Maryland Cookies advert - it's delightful isn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteYou should've told Baddiel to get his life partner to look The Preventers; if he's got any sense he'll probe a bit and come across it! Good to see Chris Langham in action before ... you-know-what.
ReplyDeleteI tweeted Baddiel to see if he could ask Morwenna about the show (she's not on Twitter), but no response!
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