This witty series of short films helped put 'alternative comedy' on the comedy map in the early '80's. 'The Comic Strip Presents' started life in the Comedy Store club in Soho in 1980 when a young group of comedians banded together to form 'The Comic Strip Club' which consisted of three double acts - Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson ( under the name '20th Century Coyote' ), Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders ( who simply became known as 'French & Saunders' ) and Peter Richardson and Nigel Planer ( who became known as 'The Outer Limits' ). Alexei Sayle acted as compere. Along with Pete Richens, Peter Richardson decided that there was potential to bring the team to television and so 'The Comic Strip Presents' was born. It debuted on Channel 4 in 1982 ( one of the first things to be shown on the newly launched channel, the first being the dreadful Liverpudlian soap 'Brookside' ) a week before 'The Young Ones' debuted on BBC2. The first edition, 'Five Go Mad In Dorset' was a spoof of Enid Blyton's 'The Famous Five' and drew complaints from viewers for the way it satirised the show.
The first series of films was patchy at best but when it returned at the end of 1983 with a second season, it had taken a huge leap in quality, bringing us some wonderful editions such as 'Dirty Movie' and 'Susie'. The films, which were a cross between 'Carry On' and 'Monty Python', were often beautifully written and proved highly influential. Keith Allen, Peter Richardson and Robbie Coltrane featured in a one off television spin-off 'The Bullshitters' which was a blatant spoof of 'The Professionals'. Several cinematic releases also came about as a result of the show's success. The first film, 'The Supergrass' ( which had Ade Edmondson as a reluctant police informer ) came in 1985, the second film, made in 1987 was 'Eat The Rich' ( which sees a disgruntled restaurant owner fall on hard times ), 'The Pope Must Die', made in 1991 saw Robbie Coltrane unwittingly becoming the new pontiff and lastly, in 2004 we were given 'Churchill: The Hollywood Years' which saw Hitler trying to marry into the monarchy.
Of all the show's stars, Rik Mayall was probably the one to profit the most from the success of the show. Mayall had previously gained television exposure in as eccentric investigator Kevin Turvey in the BBC Scotland sketch show 'A Kick Up The Eighties' but it was with 'The Young Ones' and 'The Comic Strip Presents' that he really found his niche.
Unfortunately, 'The Comic Strip Presents' overstayed it welcome but when it was funny it was hilarious and for many helped brighten up many's a dark night throughout the 80's and 90's.
Favourite edition? 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' in which Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson play two bumbling assassins who are hired to 'take out' Nicholas Parsons.
The first series of films was patchy at best but when it returned at the end of 1983 with a second season, it had taken a huge leap in quality, bringing us some wonderful editions such as 'Dirty Movie' and 'Susie'. The films, which were a cross between 'Carry On' and 'Monty Python', were often beautifully written and proved highly influential. Keith Allen, Peter Richardson and Robbie Coltrane featured in a one off television spin-off 'The Bullshitters' which was a blatant spoof of 'The Professionals'. Several cinematic releases also came about as a result of the show's success. The first film, 'The Supergrass' ( which had Ade Edmondson as a reluctant police informer ) came in 1985, the second film, made in 1987 was 'Eat The Rich' ( which sees a disgruntled restaurant owner fall on hard times ), 'The Pope Must Die', made in 1991 saw Robbie Coltrane unwittingly becoming the new pontiff and lastly, in 2004 we were given 'Churchill: The Hollywood Years' which saw Hitler trying to marry into the monarchy.
Of all the show's stars, Rik Mayall was probably the one to profit the most from the success of the show. Mayall had previously gained television exposure in as eccentric investigator Kevin Turvey in the BBC Scotland sketch show 'A Kick Up The Eighties' but it was with 'The Young Ones' and 'The Comic Strip Presents' that he really found his niche.
Unfortunately, 'The Comic Strip Presents' overstayed it welcome but when it was funny it was hilarious and for many helped brighten up many's a dark night throughout the 80's and 90's.
Favourite edition? 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' in which Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson play two bumbling assassins who are hired to 'take out' Nicholas Parsons.