"The Comic Strip Presents..." (1982) TV series 1982-

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

2 November 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A series of self contained TV films starring performers from London's "Comic Strip" comedy club and their friends. Noted for a high sense of parody of previous films, literature, and generally everyone in sight.

Plot Keywords:

Parody | Alternative Comedy | Comedy Team | Satire | Actor Playing Multiple Roles

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Peter Richardson	...	Julian / ... (41 episodes, 1982-2012)
Adrian Edmondson	...	Billy / ... (30 episodes, 1982-2012)
Jennifer Saunders	...	Anne / ... (30 episodes, 1982-2012)
Nigel Planer	...	Den Dennis / ... (27 episodes, 1983-2012)
Dawn French	...	Frances / ... (26 episodes, 1982-2012)
Robbie Coltrane	...	Max / ... (19 episodes, 1982-2012)
Rik Mayall	...	Colin Grigson / ... (19 episodes, 1983-2012)

Series Directed by
Peter Richardson		(18 episodes, 1988-2012)
Bob Spiers		(8 episodes, 1982-1988)
Sandy Johnson		(5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Stephen Frears		(3 episodes, 1984-1988)
Keith Allen		(3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Adrian Edmondson		(2 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Writing credits
Peter Richardson		(27 episodes, 1982-2012)
Pete Richens		(24 episodes, 1982-2012)
Adrian Edmondson		(6 episodes, 1983-1988)
Keith Allen		(4 episodes, 1984-1993)
Rik Mayall		(3 episodes, 1984-1988)
Dawn French		(2 episodes, 1983-1986)
Jennifer Saunders		(2 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Produced by
Michael White	....	executive producer / producer: Comic Strip (36 episodes, 1982-1993)
Peter Richardson	....	producer: Comic Strip / executive producer / ... (21 episodes, 1982-1993)
Lolli Kimpton	....	producer (15 episodes, 1990-1993)
Sarah Radclyffe	....	producer (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Elaine Taylor	....	producer / associate producer (5 episodes, 1984-1988)
Simon Wright	....	producer / producer: Comic Strip (4 episodes, 1988)
Andrew St. John	....	producer (3 episodes, 1983)
Ben Swaffer	....	producer (3 episodes, 1998-2005)
Nick Smith	....	producer / executive producer: Great Western Features (3 episodes, 2005-2012)
Michael Hall	....	producer (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Victoria Poushkine-Relf	....	producer (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Chris Brown	....	producer (2 episodes, 1988)
Mandy Ruben	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1988)
Charles Brand	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1998-2000)
Sarada McDermott	....	line producer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Wood	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Original Music by
Simon Brint		(16 episodes, 1983-2000)
Vic Martin		(3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Peter Richardson		(3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Rod Melvin		(2 episodes, 1983-2005)
Bud Beadle		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Rowland Rivron		(2 episodes, 1988)
Jeff Beck		(2 episodes, 1990)
Tony Hymas		(2 episodes, 1990)
Brian Burrows		(2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Cinematography by
John Metcalfe		(14 episodes, 1983-1993)
Oliver Stapleton		(6 episodes, 1983-1988)
Frank Gell		(6 episodes, 1990-1993)
Peter Middleton		(4 episodes, 1982-1984)
Mike Robinson		(3 episodes, 2005-2012)
Richard Greatrex		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)

Series Film Editing by
Peter Delfgou		(18 episodes, 1982-1993)
Beverly D'Souza		(16 episodes, 1983-1993)
Geoff Hogg		(11 episodes, 1984-2005)
Rob Wright		(7 episodes, 1983-1988)
Fiona MacKenzie		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ron Michael Blythe		(3 episodes, 1984)
John Delfgou		(3 episodes, 1990)
Mike Heales		(3 episodes, 1990)
Mick Rudman		(3 episodes, 1990)
Chris Dickens		(3 episodes, 1993-2000)
Nick Smith		(3 episodes, 2005-2012)

Series Casting by
Simone Reynolds		(1 episode, 1988)

Series Production Design by
Marcus Rowland		(11 episodes, 1990-1998)
Christopher Hobbs		(8 episodes, 1983-1984)
John Ebden		(7 episodes, 1988-2000)

Series Art Direction by
Michael Buchanan		(7 episodes, 1984-1986)
Adrian Smith		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Denise Ruben		(2 episodes, 1988)
Harriet Porter		(2 episodes, 1993)

Series Costume Design by
Frances Haggett		(15 episodes, 1983-1988)
Janty Yates		(10 episodes, 1990-1998)
Julie Grout		(4 episodes, 1990)
Rebecca Hale		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Makeup Department
Stephen Rose	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (8 episodes, 1992-1998)
Sally Sutton	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (7 episodes, 1986-1990)
Magdalen Gaffney	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Naomi Donne	....	makeup artist / hair stylist / ... (6 episodes, 1986-1990)
Anne Spiers	....	makeup artist / prosthetics (4 episodes, 1983-1988)
Louise Fisher	....	makeup artist / chief makeup artist (3 episodes, 1983-1993)
Sarah Cherry	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Sheila Davy	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Norma Hill	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1983-1993)
Debbie Scragg	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Penny Bell	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1984)
Norma Webb	....	makeup artist / makeup assistant (2 episodes, 1988)
Claire Faithful	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1990)
Maureen Hetherington	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1990)
Karen Hyams	....	makeup artist / makeup designer (2 episodes, 1998-2000)

Series Production Management
Elaine Taylor	....	production manager (9 episodes, 1982-1984)
Nira Park	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Sarah Radclyffe	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1983)
Christopher Sprague	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1988)
Laurie Borg	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1990)
Sophie Cuthbertson	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1990)
Fiona Sutton	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1990)
Rebecca Jeffrey	....	production manager (2 episodes, 2000-2005)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Glynn Purcell	....	first assistant director / assistant director (20 episodes, 1983-2012)
Mel Nortcliffe	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (9 episodes, 1990-2000)
Luc Roeg	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1984)
Laurie Borg	....	first assistant director / assistant director (5 episodes, 1990-1993)
Mikaela Skinner	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
James Corbett	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Lloyd Stanton	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 1990-1993)
Mark Layton	....	second assistant director / assistant director (3 episodes, 1990)
Mark Cooper	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1983)
Simon Hinkly	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1984-1988)
Iain Patrick	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
Terry Pasfield	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 1992)
Jo Chate	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 1993)
Ray Corbett	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1993)
Trevor Puckle	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jack Richardson	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Art Department
Kit Line	....	construction / construction coordinator (9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Alastair Gow	....	construction (8 episodes, 1983-1984)
Richard Maris	....	props stand-by / properties / ... (8 episodes, 1992-1993)
Anna Kasabova	....	props buyer / art department runner / ... (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jonathan Maris	....	art department (6 episodes, 1988-1993)
Steve Wheeler	....	properties / props master / ... (6 episodes, 1988-1993)
Jonathan Hurst	....	props (6 episodes, 1990)
Jocelyn James	....	art department assistant (5 episodes, 1984)
Jules Bradbury	....	properties buyer / assistant art director (5 episodes, 1988-1990)
Ty Teiger	....	property master (3 episodes, 1988)
Harriet Porter	....	props buyer (3 episodes, 1992)
Celia Barnett	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Richard Ede	....	art department assistant / construction (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Eric Strange	....	props master / stand-by props (2 episodes, 1988-1992)
Murray Dale	....	stand-by carpenter (2 episodes, 1988)
Clive Gribble	....	stand-by carpenter (2 episodes, 1988)
Wesley Peppiatt	....	properties (2 episodes, 1990)
Geoff Hudson	....	scenic artist (2 episodes, 1993)

Series Sound Department
John Hayes	....	sound / sound recordist (30 episodes, 1982-2012)
Hugh Strain	....	dubbing mixer / sound mixer (12 episodes, 1988-1993)
Simon Hayes	....	sound / sound recordist (8 episodes, 1990-1998)
Austin Bisgood	....	sound (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Simon Hayter	....	sound / boom operator (6 episodes, 1984-1990)
Chris Dickens	....	dubbing editor (6 episodes, 1992-1993)
Rod Guest	....	dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 1983-1988)
Andrew Morris	....	boom operator / sound (5 episodes, 1986-2000)
Clive Pendry	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1982-1984)
Paul Filby	....	sound (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Colin Nicolson	....	sound (4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Tony Anscombe	....	dubbing mixer (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Ian Voigt	....	sound (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jean-Raphaël Dedieu	....	sound designer (3 episodes, 2005-2012)
André Jacquemin	....	sound / sound designer / ... (3 episodes, 2005-2012)
Ivan Sharp	....	sound / sound recordist (2 episodes, 1983)
Andy Nelson	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 1984-1986)
Colin Martin	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 1988-1993)
Paul Carr	....	dubbing mixer / sound mixer (2 episodes, 1988)
Nigel Duthie	....	dubbing editor / sound editor (2 episodes, 1988)
Philip Bothamley	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1990)
Rupert Castle	....	sound (2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Tony Cook	....	sound (2 episodes, 1993)
Dave Cooper	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chris Nuttall	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 2004)

Series Special Effects by
Dave Barton	....	special effects technician (1 episode, 1988)
Ian Emes	....	special effects (1 episode, 1988)
Christopher Tucker	....	transformation special effects (1 episode, 1988)
Richard Van Den Bergh	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 1998)
Lottie Cooper	....	digital fx supervisor (1 episode, 2011)

Series Visual Effects by
Buddy Blackwell	....	video effects operator (1 episode, 1988)
Clive Dawson	....	visual effects (1 episode, 1988)
George Snow	....	video effects (1 episode, 1988)
Matthew Turner	....	telecine (1 episode, 1998)

Series Stunts
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (2 episodes, 1988-1993)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Metcalfe	....	focus puller / assistant camera / ... (8 episodes, 1983-1993)
David Johnson	....	assistant camera / focus puller (8 episodes, 1983-1986)
Stuart Godfrey	....	grip / key grip (7 episodes, 1992-2005)
Deborah Imogen Beer	....	still photographer (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Riki Butland	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 1990-1993)
Larry Park	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 1990-1993)
Jim Monks	....	key grip (4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Andy Hebden	....	gaffer (4 episodes, 1988-1990)
Rob Roy	....	clapper loader (4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Carole Stapleton	....	focus puller (4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer / electrician (3 episodes, 1983-2000)
John Lake	....	key grip (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Nick Ray	....	grip / key grip (3 episodes, 1984-1993)
Angus Hudson	....	assistant camera / clapper loader / ... (3 episodes, 1984-1988)
Stephen Morley	....	still photographer (3 episodes, 1988-1998)
Bob McShane	....	assistant camera (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Brandon Apps	....	assistant camera (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Bruce Kington	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1983)
Jim Lennon	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1983)
Paul Donachie	....	clapper loader (2 episodes, 1988-1992)
John Donoghue	....	electrician / gaffer (2 episodes, 1988)
Richard Haw	....	camera grip / grip (2 episodes, 1988)
Gary Varney	....	best boy (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Gary Hammil	....	still photographer (2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Nico Cummins	....	clapper loader (2 episodes, 1993)
Roz Naylor	....	clapper loader (2 episodes, 1993)
Andy Edridge	....	grip (2 episodes, 1998-2000)
Jo Charlesworth	....	grip (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dominic Colchester	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ben Crossley	....	assistant camera / camera assistant (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chris Davies	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Born-Thompson	....	wardrobe mistress / wardrobe assistant (8 episodes, 1983-1988)
Amanda Trewin	....	costume assistant (8 episodes, 1992-1993)
Frances Haggett	....	wardrobe (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Editorial Department
Ron Michael Blythe	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1983)
Mike Heales	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1988)
Will Yarrow	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Location Management
Paul Barratt	....	location manager (1 episode, 1988)

Series Music Department
Steve Parr	....	music recordist (2 episodes, 1992-1993)

Series Production Department
Rachel Krish	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1988)

Series Script and Continuity Department
Annie South	....	continuity (1 episode, 1988)

Series Transportation Department
Crispin Buxton	....	driver: unit minibus (1 episode, 1988)
John Doran	....	driver (1 episode, 1988)
Colin Gray	....	driver (1 episode, 1988)
Clive Miles	....	driver (1 episode, 1988)
Howard Pugh	....	transportation manager (1 episode, 1988)
John Rankin	....	driver (1 episode, 1988)
John Vaughan	....	driver (1 episode, 1988)
Larry Williams	....	driver (1 episode, 1988)
Richard Booz	....	transportation captain (1 episode, 1990)

Series Other crew
Annie South	....	continuity / script supervisor (21 episodes, 1983-2000)
Pete Richens	....	associate director (11 episodes, 1988-1993)
Bill Craster	....	production accountant (9 episodes, 1983-1986)
Simon Wright	....	biz: Comic Strip / manager: Comic Strip (9 episodes, 1983-1986)
Michael Wood	....	accountant (9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Nigel Wood	....	accountant (9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Nira Park	....	assistant to producer / production coordinator (8 episodes, 1990-1993)
Jane Frazer	....	secretary to producer (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Ralph Kamp	....	runner (6 episodes, 1983-1984)
David Stacey	....	runner (6 episodes, 1984)
Jonathan Hurst	....	production team (6 episodes, 1990)
Amanda Posey	....	assistant to producer (6 episodes, 1990)
Paul Walker	....	production team (6 episodes, 1990)
Rawdon de Fresnes	....	production runner (6 episodes, 1992-1993)
Diana Dill	....	continuity (5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sophie Richardson	....	production team / runner / ... (5 episodes, 1984-1988)
Adam Black	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jenny Borgars	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Sam Garwood	....	runner / runner/trainee (4 episodes, 1984-1986)
Rosie Bowen	....	assistant to producer / secretary to producer (4 episodes, 1988)
Wesley Peppiatt	....	production team (4 episodes, 1990)
Tanya Findel-Hawkins	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Lucy Hoare	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Rachel Krish	....	production assistant / production team (3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Roger Pomphrey	....	production team (3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mike Amos	....	production accountant (3 episodes, 1988)
Anthony Bryans	....	production runner / floor runner (3 episodes, 1988)
Mark Allett	....	production team (3 episodes, 1990)
Marcus Rowland	....	production team (3 episodes, 1990)
Leo Cullen	....	production runner (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Keith Milton	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Emma Richards	....	production coordinator / production assistant (3 episodes, 2005-2012)
John Hackney	....	location coordinator (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Alasdair McGaw	....	production accountant (2 episodes, 1983)
Robert Wallace	....	runner (2 episodes, 1983)
Susanna Merry	....	continuity (2 episodes, 1984)
Daphne Carr	....	continuity (2 episodes, 1986-1990)
Maggie Rhys	....	continuity (2 episodes, 1988)
Tony Clarkson	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1990-1993)
Greg Jordan	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1990)
Poppy Luard	....	production team (2 episodes, 1990)
Matthew Penry-Davey	....	production runner (2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Sophie Cuthbertson	....	location coordinator / production coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)
Derek Harrington	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1998-2000)
Dan Haslam	....	production runner (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Thomas Woods	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Thanks
Lita O'Sullivan	....	thanks (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jeremy Wooding	....	thanks (2 episodes, 1993)

Production Companies

• Channel 4 Television Corporation
• Comic Strip
• Michael White Productions

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1992)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (1982-2000)
• PolyGram Video

Also Known As:

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (episode "Beat Generation, The") | Black and White (episode "Spaghetti Hoops") | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

ABC Cinema, Ewell, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Trivia:

Only five of the planned six shows from the first series were produced when Channel 4 decided that "Back to Normal With Eddie Monsoon" (also referred to as "An evening With Eddie Monsoon" by some sources) was unsuitable for broadcast. The character was revived in the second series episode "Eddie Monsoon: A Life" and features Adrian Edmondson in the title role as the washed-up South African TV host. The name Eddie Monsoon is, of course, a pun on the name Edmondson. Many years later, Edmondson's real-life wife Jennifer Saunders resurrected the name Eddie (short for Edina) Monsoon for her character in the sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992).

Quotes:

Colin Grigson:[trying to sound cool] Uh, yeah, thanks, Mrs Grigson.
Colin's mum:No need to be so formal Colin. After all, I am your mother.
[he cringes]

Movie Connections:

Featured in 50 Most Shocking Comedy Moments (2006) (TV)

New Romantics and a single white glove

9 discs of the entire cast of The Young Ones and French and Saunders before they hit their stride. From the opening night of Channel 4 in 1982, to mid-nineties burnout. "Hit 'n miss" is the best description for this collection, but you will have to sit through every episode to find the few you agree with (keep in mind they are over an hour long each, with some at feature length). Each (with the exception of the Famous Five, Bad News and Bullshitters reprises) is completely different, and range from bold and original, to unfunny, or unbearable.

Personal favourites include:

Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door - resides somewhere between Rick and Viv, Bottom and the movie Guest House Paradiso. No-brow humor that will only appeal to those born with a penis. And depends on whether you find Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson screaming "Nicholas, Bloody, Parsons! You BASTARD!" funny. Most will.

Bad News / More Bad News - Predated Spinal Tap. As this is made by actual Brits, it gets right a lot of what Tap got wrong.

The Strike / GLC - Brilliant send-up of pretty much everything, the real highlight of the collection and espoused by all. You will never view a British film in quite the same way after seeing this.

Four Men in a Car/Plane - One-offs independent of the series, and the comedians at the height of their maturity. The best each has to offer.

Spaghetti Hoops - Not laugh-out-loud funny, but not meant to be. Toward the end they were finally able to make the art house short they were aiming for.

Private Enterprise and Gino don't have belly laughs, but they do have an enjoyable forward momentum. Whilst others will make you ask "what the hell were they thinking?" The entire series was timely and topical, which means that all the short films are incredibly dated. And most will no doubt play better in the mind's eye than actually watching them again. Making the first few discs write-offs on repeat viewing. Even at their worst, you have to admire their originality.