Memorable TV

BRITCOM U-V - THE UK SHOW to VIVA CABARET

THE UK SHOW

BBC1 / 2x40m-e / 1978 19 - 26 August

Producer: Barry Bevins

A pair of stand up specials featuring Peter Maloney, JohnLaurie (show 1), Chic Murray (show 1), Kenny Smiles (show 1), Barbara Windsor (show 2), Joe Brown (show 2) and James Ellis. The shows contrasted humour in the four countries of the United Kingdom.

UNCUT FUNK

BBC2 / 6x40m-e / 1999  First episode: Friday 17 September 11.15pm

A mixture of sketches and dance music with Mark Tonderai, Melissa Lloyd, Crunski and Jay Simpson.

THE UNRECORDED JASPER CARROTT

London Weekend Television / 1x60m-e / 1979 18 February - Sunday 9.15pm

Writer: Jasper Carrott / Producer/Director: Paul Smith

Live stand up special starring Jasper Carrott from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

UNZIPPED

Channel 4-Rapido / 6x65m-e / 1999 22 May - 26 June Saturdays 9.30pm

Executive Producer: Mark Ford / Producer: John Godfrey

A series of comedy documentaries in which comedian Graham Norton examined scandal and decadence among the rich and famous. The shows never missed an opportunity to show dubious material. Topics covered were:- 1. FOOTBALL, 2. ROYALTY, 3. TELEVISION, 4. FASHION, 5. HOLLYWOOD, 6. POLITICS  

UP SUNDAY

BBC2 / 34x25m-e 21x30m-e / 1972-73 4 Seasons plus 2 specials

Producer: Ian Keill

A late night satire based look at the weeks news starring Clive James, John Wells, William Rushton, James Cameron, Kenny Everett (seasons 1-2) and Keith Dewhurst (season 3). Special One was a common market special and was called Up The Market (31 December 72) and special two was called Up Christmas (23 December 73).

UP THE JUNCTION

Anglia-Mentorn / 6x45m-e / 1991

Producer: Alexandra Jackson

A stand up series hosted by Will Durst and recorded at Cambridge's Junction Club. Bob Mills, Jo Brand, David Baddiel and Jack Dee were among the acts appearing.

UP TO SOMETHING

BBC1 / 7x30m-e / 1990 2 July - 13 August Mondays 8.30pm

Producer/Director: Michael Leggo

Fast moving sketch series starring Suzy Aitchison, Shane Richie, David Schneider, Frances Dodge, Mike Hayley and Lewis MacLeod. The behind the scenes crew had previously worked on Something For The Weekend (the sketch show not the Denise Van Outen show).

VALENTINE'S NIGHT

ATV / 1x60m-e / 1958 6 September Saturday 8.00pm black and white

Producer: Brian Tesler

One off special starring singer and comic Dickie Valentine.

Reg VARNEY

Comedic actor best known for his role as Stan Butler in the sitcom On The Buses. Varney interestingly was also in a post war double act with Benny Hill. Varney starred in several comedy sketch/stand up shows, these were:- 

1. REG VARNEY BBC 1x15m-e 1952 3 October Friday 9.00pm / 2. THE OTHER REG VARNEY LWT 1x60m-e 1970 9 August Sunday 8.50pm / 3. THE REG VARNEY REVUE LWT 5x45m-e 1x60m-e 1972 / 18 November - 23 December Saturdays 6.15pm / With:- Pat Coombs, Elizabeth Counsell, Frank Thornton and David Lodge. / 4. REG VARNEY ATV 14x30m-e 1973-74 also with Henry McGee and Pat Coombs 

VELVET SOUP

BBC2 / x30m / 2001?, 2003

Producer: Gary Chippington

Offbeat sketch show. With:- Julie Duncanson, Gavin Mitchell, Mark McDonnell and Steven McNicholl

VERY IMPORTANT PENNIS

BBC / 3x30m-e / 1996-97

Producer: Lucy Robinson

3 compilations of clips from The Sunday Show in which Dennis Pennis (aka Paul Kaye) rips into celebrities at various functions. Dates were 1. 9 August 96 / 2. 16 August 96 / 3. 6 June 97 

VIC REEVES BIG NIGHT OUT

Channel 4-Channel X / 14x30m-e 1x45m-e 1x60m-e / 1990-91 2 seasons plus 2 specials

Writers: Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer / Producer/Director: Peter Orton

Definitely strange mixture of sketch and stand up presented in a surreal style by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. Highlights included The Man With A Stick, Wavy Davy and Novelty Island. Vic and Bob then went over to the BBC with their series The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

VIC'S GRILL

BBC / 6x30m-e / 1951 18 April - 27 June Shown fortnightly black and whhite

Writer: Sid Colin / Producer: Bill Lyon-Shaw

Sketch based variety series starring Vic Wise (fresh from appearing on Variety Bandbox on the radio). Also featured on a regular basis were Norman Wisdom, Beryl Reid, Eddie Leslie, John Hanson and Ernest Maxin.

VICTOR BORGE

Copenhagen born comendian and pianist who appeared in several UK specials.

1. VICTOR BORGE PRESENTS...COMEDY IN MUSIC Four BBC specials 1956/58/59/64 / 2. BORGE PRESENTS BORGE Thames 24 December 1968 1x60m-e / 3. BORGE ENCORE Thames 18 March 1969 1x45m-e / 4. THE LP SHOW WITH VICTOR BORGE LWT 24 December 1972 1x60m-e / 5. THE COMPLETE VICTOR BORGE BBC 6x30m-e 1974 31 Ocotber - 5 December / 6. VICTOR BORGE IN CONCERT Thames 27June 1979 1x60m-e

VICTORIA WOOD - AS SEEN ON TV

BBC2 / 12x35m-e 1x40m-e / 1985-87 2 season plus one special

Writer: Victoria Wood / Producer/Director: Geoff Posner

Victoria Wood's premier sketch series; this is the one that featured spoof soap opera Acorn Antiques (the one that makes Crossroads look like Shakespeare). Each show started with a stand up routine from Victoria followed by a number of sketches, each show Victoria also played her piano and sang an amusing song. Wood's supporting cast consisted of Julie Walters, Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Susie Blake and Patricia Routledge.

VICTORIA WOOD: LIVE IN YOUR OWN HOME

BBC1 / 1x50m-e / 1994 25 December Sunday 9.40pm

Writer: Victoria Wood / Producer/Director: Geoff Posner

A stand up special with Victoria Wood, by now so popular she was given one of the prime time Christmas day slots.

VICTORIA WOOD'S ALL DAY BREAKFAST

BBC / 1x50m-e / 1992 25 December Friday 9.00pm

Writer: Victoria Wood / Producer/Director: Geoff Posner

Christmas day special from Victoria a mixture of stand up and sketches, also appearing were her usual suspects of Julie Walters, Duncan Preston, Lill Roughley, Susie Blake and Celia Imrie. Latterly Victoria has concentrated less on sketch type material instead coming up with the popular sitcom Dinnerladies.

VICTORIA WOOD: SOLD OUT

London Weekend Television-Good Fun / 1x65m-e / 1992 25 April Saturday 9.25pm

Writer: Victoria Wood / Executive Producer: Geoffrey Durham / Producer/Director: Marcus Mortimer

A stand up special recorded by Victoria at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre.

VICTORIA WOOD STILL STANDING

ITV Network / 1x60m-e / 1998

Writer: Victoria Wood / Producer/Director: Geoff Posner  

Stand up in concert style special recorded by Wood after a lengthy stage tour.

VICTORIA WOOD WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS

BBC1 / 1x50m-e / 2000 (Monday 25 December 9.20pm)

Writer: Victoria Wood / Executive Producers: Phil McIntyre, Jon Plowman / Director: John Birkin

Comedy. Christmas Day sketch and musical special for Victoria with a high calibre of appearing guest stars including Pete Postlethwaite, Robert Lindsay, Derek Jacobi, Richard E. Grant, Julie Walters, Bob Monkhouse, James Bolam, Delia Smith, Michael Parkinson, Alan Rickman, Hannah Gordon and June Brown. 

VIVA CABARET!

Channel-TV21 / 7x50m-e 6x45m-e / 1993-94 Season 1: 14 April - 26 May 93 / Season 2: 20 May - 24 June 94

Producers: Dave Morley, Graham K. Smith, Ivan Douglas

A stand up series supposedly set in a Cabaret Club (the Viva Cabaret! club of the title). Acts appearing included Lee Evans (five times), Lily Savage, Mark Thomas, Harry Hill, Greg Proops, Bob Downe, John Thomson, Gayle Tuesday, Rowland Rivron, Mike McShane and Barry Cryer. 

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