"A Bit of Fry and Laurie" (1986) TV series 1986-1995

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

As the title suggests, "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" is less of a specific format then a 'coat-hanger' for short sketches...

Plot Keywords:

British | Double Act | Sketch Comedy

Cast

Stephen Fry	...	Various Characters (26 episodes, 1987-1995)
Hugh Laurie	...	Various Characters (26 episodes, 1987-1995)

Series Directed by
Roger Ordish		(13 episodes, 1987-1990)
Bob Spiers		(7 episodes, 1995)
Kevin Bishop		(6 episodes, 1992)

Series Writing credits
Stephen Fry		(26 episodes, 1987-1995)
Hugh Laurie		(26 episodes, 1987-1995)

Series Produced by
Roger Ordish	....	producer (13 episodes, 1987-1990)
Nick Symons	....	producer (12 episodes, 1990-1992)
Janice Thomas	....	assistant producer (7 episodes, 1995)
Kevin Bishop	....	producer (6 episodes, 1992)

Series Original Music by
Hugh Laurie		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Vic Vine		(6 episodes, 1990)
Rob Poole		(4 episodes, 1995)
Colin Jones		(3 episodes, 1992)

Series Production Design by
Victor Meredith		(7 episodes, 1989-1990)
Grenville Horner		(7 episodes, 1995)
Steve Keogh		(6 episodes, 1992)
Steve Sharratt		(6 episodes, 1992)
Paul Munting		(5 episodes, 1990)

Series Costume Design by
Sarah Burns		(7 episodes, 1995)
Jan Hughes		(6 episodes, 1989)
Richard Croft		(6 episodes, 1990)
Lyn Avery		(6 episodes, 1992)
Anna Stubley		(3 episodes, 1992)

Series Makeup Department
Jayne Buxton	....	hair designer / makeup designer (7 episodes, 1995)
Martha Livesley	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1990)
Benita Barrell	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1992)
Judith Morgan	....	makeup designer (5 episodes, 1989)

Series Production Management
Babara Jones	....	production manager (12 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gareth Carrivick	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1995)
John L. Spencer	....	production manager (4 episodes, 1992)
Richard Valentine	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1992)
Terry Pettigrew	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Art Department
Bernard Heyes	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1992-1995)
Bob Warans	....	production buyer (7 episodes, 1995)
Liz Jones	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1989)
Paul Richmond	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1989)
Chris Ferriday	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1990)
Andrew Smee	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1990)
Amanda George	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1992)
Oliver Elmes	....	graphic designer (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Sound Department
Stuart Moser	....	film sound (7 episodes, 1995)
Laurie Taylor	....	sound supervisor (7 episodes, 1995)
Keith Gunn	....	sound (6 episodes, 1989)
Tony Revell	....	sound (6 episodes, 1990)
Jem Whippey	....	sound supervisor (6 episodes, 1992)

Series Visual Effects by
Andy McVean	....	visual effects (1 episode, 1992)

Series Stunts
Steve Dent	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1995)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Goss	....	camera supervisor (12 episodes, 1987-1990)
John Vincent	....	camera supervisor (11 episodes, 1989-1995)
Graham Rimmington	....	lighting director (8 episodes, 1987-1995)
Robert Pascal	....	film camera (7 episodes, 1995)
Duncan Brown	....	lighting (6 episodes, 1989)
Alan Horne	....	lighting (6 episodes, 1990)
John Daly	....	film camera (6 episodes, 1992)
Chris Kempton	....	lighting director (6 episodes, 1992)
Chris Miller	....	camera supervisor (5 episodes, 1992)
Bill Dudman	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1990)
David Whitaker	....	camera supervisor (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Editorial Department
Carol Abbott	....	vision mixer (10 episodes, 1989-1990)
Chris Booth	....	editor: video tape (7 episodes, 1987-1989)
Lee Eynon	....	editor: video tape (7 episodes, 1995)
Damian Raistrick	....	editor: video tape (6 episodes, 1990)
Heather Gilder	....	vision mixer (6 episodes, 1992)
Mark Lawrence	....	editor: video tape (6 episodes, 1992)
Hilary West	....	vision mixer (5 episodes, 1995)
Kathryn Randall	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1989-1992)
Hilary Briegel	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1995)

Series Music Department
Simon Brint	....	musical director / composer: incidental music (9 episodes, 1992-1995)
Philip Pope	....	composer: theme music / musical director (8 episodes, 1990-1992)
Harry Stoneham	....	composer: title music (6 episodes, 1989)
Camille Saint-Saëns	....	composer: theme music: closing theme (3 episodes, 1990)

Series Other crew
Jon Canter	....	script editor (12 episodes, 1990-1992)
John Latus	....	resource coordinator (7 episodes, 1995)
Rebecca Martin	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1995)
Michael Towner	....	assistant floor manager (7 episodes, 1995)
Trudy Waldron	....	production secretary (7 episodes, 1995)
Sally Bates	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Bill Cole	....	technical coordinator (6 episodes, 1989)
Lydia Setton	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Julia Hancock	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1990)
Ray Hider	....	technical coordinator (6 episodes, 1990)
Terry Pettigrew	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1990)
Simon Foster	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1992)
Mike Spencer	....	film recordist (6 episodes, 1992)
Valerie Wilson	....	production assistant / script supervisor (6 episodes, 1992)
Lance Wood	....	resource coordinator (6 episodes, 1992)
Nicky Hinkley	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1990)
Melanie O'Toole	....	design assistant (2 episodes, 1990)
Richard Laxton	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1992)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Also Known As:

A Bit of Fry & Laurie (UK) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

UK:30 min (26 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:PG | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Hugh: [as Peter] What the hell ever happened to the old John?
Stephen: [as John] We pulled it up when we put in the carpark.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: A Bit of Fry and Laurie (#3.7)" (2005)

A Duo Doubling Comedy for the Viewer

If you love comedy that can be intelligent and frivolous at the same time, A Bit of Fry & Laurie is the perfect show to view. Fry and Laurie each bring to the table their own form of comic genius which when combined becomes an explosion of guaranteed laughs. Anyone who has seen this show has their own favorite sketches. Some love the spy sketches in which Fry & Laurie satirize the British Secret Serivce and the mechanically amiable Tony and Control. Others may prefer the Utoxiter sketches featuring the pair as scotch-sucking John and Peter, always trying to outwit their rival, Margorie. My own personal favorites are Hugh Lauries singing numbers (particularly in the fourth series) and any sketch that involves Hugh Laurie and a bar (in particular the one with Fry as the piano player whom he forces to play "Strangers in the Night." For those who enjoy satirical comedy at its best, you will love the work of Fry and Laurie.

As a citizen of the United States, my exposure to the brilliance of British comedy is limited to one night a week on public television. I was familiar with Hugh Laurie from Stuart Little and his guest appearance on Friends. It was in 2004 when I began watching House and became fascinated by the acting of Hugh Laurie. Okay that's an understatement, I fell in love with him. I searched his name on my library database and found that he was in a show called Blackadder. This was my first experience with British comedy and I think it was an amazing show to begin with. With Blackadder I became familiar with British terms and slang, and I began to watch more British comedy on television. When I found this show that was chocked full of Hugh Laurie, (I mean, his name was in the title!) I jumped at the opportunity to view all four series. I was now familiar with some British pop culture and the work of both Fry and Laurie, and I feel that a better pair could not join together than these two brilliant gentleman. Each of them has their own unique qualities that makes the show twice as hilarious. Stephan has the ability to say any random phrase that can make absolutely during conversation without breaking the tone, and his satirical comments are classic. Laurie possesses brilliance with accents and musical talent as well as his ability to play a range of characters from an uptight and short tempered upperclassman to his rather goofy side that is often used in the introduction. (I apologize for that run-on sentence. I get carried away when I discuss Hugh Laurie.)

Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry bring something very rare to comedy (especially in the United States). They don't spell everything out for the audience. It's hard to explain if you have never before seen their comedy, but what would be a complete joke for another show is only a section of a joke for Fry & Laurie, and not even the punchline. I guess what I mean is that they keep the entire sketch funny, rather than the traditional way of keeping it serious to the punchline. Well, I think I've bored you enough with my thoughts of the show so I will leave you with a phrase which I think sums up all of my thoughts completely: Soupy Twist.