Catterick is quite simply a work of genius. Popular UK comedians Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer play brothers who have been reunited after a number of years while Bob's character has been away with the army. He's returned home to make contact with the son he abandoned. A simple journey to the town of Catterick becomes a nightmarish adventure as the brothers collide with a psychotic young man and a hotel owner with a shocking secret among others. Filled with outrageous characters, hilarious dialogue and performances from some of the UK's finest comedy actors, Catterick is one of the finest, and most ambitious, comedies in recent memory. With nods to everything from Dennis Potter to The League Of Gentlemen, this is a truly British show and a definite must-see.
9 Reviews
I liked this so much more than I expected!
katrinapalumbo9 August 2006
Catterick's main premise is that Carl Palmer (Bob Mortimer) returns to his hometown in search of the son he left behind. However, things don't go to plan, and various exploits occur along the way.
I tried this series by chance, and I didn't expect to like it very much as I'm not generally a fan of Vic and Bob, but I thought this was actually quite good. Very unusual, odd humour and a dash of slapstick. This series is full of bizarre characters like Matt Lucas' hotel manager and Reece Shearsmith's superb madman.
This series contains a surprisingly good comedy cast, with Vic and Bob supported by Reece Shearsmith (League of Gentlemen), Matt Lucas (Little Britain), Morwenna Banks (Saxondale), Mark Benton (Murphy's Law) and Tim Healy (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet).
Reece Shearsmith was the best thing about this series, his performance as Tony, a psychopath who still lives with his mother, was in turn vicious and hilarious. Without Shearsmith's performance, this series could not be as great as it is.
I tried this series by chance, and I didn't expect to like it very much as I'm not generally a fan of Vic and Bob, but I thought this was actually quite good. Very unusual, odd humour and a dash of slapstick. This series is full of bizarre characters like Matt Lucas' hotel manager and Reece Shearsmith's superb madman.
This series contains a surprisingly good comedy cast, with Vic and Bob supported by Reece Shearsmith (League of Gentlemen), Matt Lucas (Little Britain), Morwenna Banks (Saxondale), Mark Benton (Murphy's Law) and Tim Healy (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet).
Reece Shearsmith was the best thing about this series, his performance as Tony, a psychopath who still lives with his mother, was in turn vicious and hilarious. Without Shearsmith's performance, this series could not be as great as it is.
Superbly Hilarious
suepreston91430 November 2023
This comedy has everything for me. My favourite comedians/actors. I have never laughed at any other comedy like I have this one. It's cleverly under-acted, which makes it a winner. All the characters are real to me. Even the sinister parts have me in stitches. Only criticism is there was only one series. Please make more! I'm still quoting lines from it and am always imitating Chris staring through the window. As for the bullet scene, this literally kills me with laughing. I cannot recommend this enough. Why isn't it on TV more? Thank you, Vic and Bob, for bringing such humour into the world. I salute you both!
Brilliant!
moleskij20 September 2004
"Catterick", starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer is brilliant! The first episode is very strange, but rest assured all will be explained--eventually.
The series premise is that Chris Palmer (Bob Mortimer) returns to Northern England, to find the son he abandoned years ago (when the child was four). He meets up with his brother, Carl (Vic Reeves); and the two go in search of Chris's son. They do this by interrupting the robbery of a car dealership to steal a car (yes, you read that right); thus invoking a series of catastrophic events without realising it).
The end, which I CAN'T reveal here is a brilliant piece of existentialism! (And trust me, I normally can't stand existentialism, but in this it's brilliant).
In terms of style, *Catterick*, mixes music, humor, comedy, drama, and some VERY dark bits, into a sublime mix.
The series premise is that Chris Palmer (Bob Mortimer) returns to Northern England, to find the son he abandoned years ago (when the child was four). He meets up with his brother, Carl (Vic Reeves); and the two go in search of Chris's son. They do this by interrupting the robbery of a car dealership to steal a car (yes, you read that right); thus invoking a series of catastrophic events without realising it).
The end, which I CAN'T reveal here is a brilliant piece of existentialism! (And trust me, I normally can't stand existentialism, but in this it's brilliant).
In terms of style, *Catterick*, mixes music, humor, comedy, drama, and some VERY dark bits, into a sublime mix.
Much under-seen and under rated.
ApplePiePerson7 January 2005
I saw Catterick when it was first on BBC3 and was indifferent to it. But i saw it again and it's a real grower. More in the style of BANG BANG Its Reeves & Mortimer and the 1-off bizarre show, The Weekenders - Catterick is original and funny and well worth a second look. And this is in total opposition to the woefully bad All Star Comedy Show. Vic & Bob are back on form. Ture that Bob is not allowed to be funny enough and should be less of the straight man. Even so - that's minor. The show is an acquired taste granted but even so, the BBC are utter @rses for not showing this on terrestrial TV yet. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR YOU LOONS!!! SHOW THIS NOW!!!! They might as well have buried it in the Blue Peter Garden.
The show also boasts fantastic performances from Matt Lucas, Morwenna Banks, Mark Benton, Reece Shearsmith and the wonderful Tim Healy ("nah, no need man, no need it's just a matter of keeping her waaarmm"). As well as great cameos from Julie T Wallace, Charlie Higson and Mark Gattiss. And i really love the Dennis Potter-style use of music from Chris Rea to the Smiths to Crystal Gayle.
This show has keep me in quotes for a while now - stuff like "your tickling my turnips intcha?", Tess's icy box, dogs that sh*t fruitcake and Bilberry Polar crush all make me laugh. Pity more people can't see it. I cannot look at a George Clooney poster now without smirking.
The show also boasts fantastic performances from Matt Lucas, Morwenna Banks, Mark Benton, Reece Shearsmith and the wonderful Tim Healy ("nah, no need man, no need it's just a matter of keeping her waaarmm"). As well as great cameos from Julie T Wallace, Charlie Higson and Mark Gattiss. And i really love the Dennis Potter-style use of music from Chris Rea to the Smiths to Crystal Gayle.
This show has keep me in quotes for a while now - stuff like "your tickling my turnips intcha?", Tess's icy box, dogs that sh*t fruitcake and Bilberry Polar crush all make me laugh. Pity more people can't see it. I cannot look at a George Clooney poster now without smirking.
Surreal humour from Vic and Bob
sleeping_pirate9 May 2005
Catterick may not be as hilarious or well-polished as Spaced and The League of Gentlemen, but it's definitely worth a watch if you like that kind of comedy.
Written by and starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, it is clear from the start that it isn't going to be an ordinary sitcom. The show follows two brothers, one of whom is searching for his estranged son, around the town of Catterick. Along the way they encounter some very odd people, such as a cruel but very funny hotel owner played by Matt Lucas, and a psychopath played by Reece Shearsmith.
It's pretty surreal humour at times, with characters suddenly miming along to songs in the middle of scenes, and others having conversations that appear to make no sense whatsoever.
It may not set anyone's world alight, but it's definitely worth a watch.
Written by and starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, it is clear from the start that it isn't going to be an ordinary sitcom. The show follows two brothers, one of whom is searching for his estranged son, around the town of Catterick. Along the way they encounter some very odd people, such as a cruel but very funny hotel owner played by Matt Lucas, and a psychopath played by Reece Shearsmith.
It's pretty surreal humour at times, with characters suddenly miming along to songs in the middle of scenes, and others having conversations that appear to make no sense whatsoever.
It may not set anyone's world alight, but it's definitely worth a watch.
One of the funniest and most original comedies ever!!!
njg29107522 February 2004
Vic & Bob are back!!
Irreverent humour at it's absolute best. This program shows exactly the sort of python-esk comedy that the BBC so badly needs, but this show is definately a post-watershed show and is all the better for it as there is nothing else like it (or ever imho).
Vic plays Chris, a 70's permed guy who is a few cans short of a six pack with Bob playing Carl, a man whose come back home from the army to look for his long lost son. Both Vic and Bob also play other roles including a nutty police inspector and a cross eyed accident victim getting laid respectively.
Add in Matt Lucas as (amongst other roles) the Psycho Hotel Manager with the strangest accent ever heard (Scouse meets Geordie meets Indian meets German meets French) who constantly picks on the porter which must be a tip of the hat to Basil Fawlty, Charlie Higson as a Barman and Morwenna Banks as the Hotel Receptionist who is married to the Hotel Manager.
Can't wait to watch the rest of the series and would recommend it to any fan of the genre.
Irreverent humour at it's absolute best. This program shows exactly the sort of python-esk comedy that the BBC so badly needs, but this show is definately a post-watershed show and is all the better for it as there is nothing else like it (or ever imho).
Vic plays Chris, a 70's permed guy who is a few cans short of a six pack with Bob playing Carl, a man whose come back home from the army to look for his long lost son. Both Vic and Bob also play other roles including a nutty police inspector and a cross eyed accident victim getting laid respectively.
Add in Matt Lucas as (amongst other roles) the Psycho Hotel Manager with the strangest accent ever heard (Scouse meets Geordie meets Indian meets German meets French) who constantly picks on the porter which must be a tip of the hat to Basil Fawlty, Charlie Higson as a Barman and Morwenna Banks as the Hotel Receptionist who is married to the Hotel Manager.
Can't wait to watch the rest of the series and would recommend it to any fan of the genre.
Catterick
markdavies19817 June 2005
Catterick is excellent in fact i would go as far to say it is the best work reeves and Mortimer have done. With the added extras of Matt Lucas and co makes this series a classic. If you don't like Vic and bob this series is not for you, its stupid one liners is what makes the series. Good work, hope something similar will come soon.
The last comment compared this series to the league of gentlemen. The two can not really be compared, where as the whole weirdness and eccentricity are the same, the humour is not. I think catterick will be loved by northern people but southerners would struggle to find it funny, its the northern humour that really makes the series hilarious.
The last comment compared this series to the league of gentlemen. The two can not really be compared, where as the whole weirdness and eccentricity are the same, the humour is not. I think catterick will be loved by northern people but southerners would struggle to find it funny, its the northern humour that really makes the series hilarious.
Not sure I get this.
rupertbreheny7 May 2004
I have to say that I was a little disappointed. I feel that League of Gentlemen moved the goalposts for this kind of thing, and just felt that this didn't measure up. It just seemed to be trying a bit too hard and lacked the intensity of acting of something like League or Spaced.
Love Little Britain though. Big fan of Matt Lucas.
I remember seeing a one off the Vic and Bob did for Channel 4 years ago. I think it was really funny as I recall. It must have been a good number of years ago though.
That one where they played a detective and his ghostly sidekick. Randall and Hopkirk deceased. That was good stuff.
Love Little Britain though. Big fan of Matt Lucas.
I remember seeing a one off the Vic and Bob did for Channel 4 years ago. I think it was really funny as I recall. It must have been a good number of years ago though.
That one where they played a detective and his ghostly sidekick. Randall and Hopkirk deceased. That was good stuff.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
