Overview[]
The Comic Strip Presents... is a series of television episodes, feature films and live shows featuring various comic alumni from The Comic Strip group founded by Peter Richardson in the 1980s. The group featured the alternative comedians of the era, primarily Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Nigel Planer, Robbie Coltrane and Richardson himself. Many of these would go on to collaborate on many other non-Comic Strip projects throughout their careers.
History[]
The group was born out of the alternative comedy boom of the 1980s, centered on the London-based Comedy Club founded by Don Ward and Peter Rosengard in 1979. Two double-acts, Mayall and Edmondson under the moniker "20th Century Coyote," and Planer and Richardson as "The Outer Limits," began performing at the club in 1980 alongside solo act Alexei Sayle. Later, as the desire to turn their performances into a theatrical sketch show developed, Richardson put out a casting call for female performers, which was answered by French and Saunders. The troupe then went on a tour of the UK and Australia, which was accompanied by a documentary film of the show in 1981. The success of the tour prompted Richardson to approach Channel 4 with ideas for a television show, and so The Comic Strip Presents... was born. At around the same time, Mayall, Edmondson and Planer were recruited by the BBC for The Young Ones.
Between 1982 and 2012, 41 episodes and 3 films were created with the core cast members playing various characters in a myriad of stories ranging from mockumentaries, murder mysteries and political satire. Of all of the comedians involved, Richardson has featured the most frequently.
Cast[]
Rik Mayall - 19 Episodes
Adrian Edmondson - 30 Episodes
Peter Richardson - 41 Episodes
Jennifer Saunders - 30 Episodes
Dawn French - 26 Episodes
Nigel Planer - 27 Episodes
Robbie Coltrane - 19 Episodes
Episodes[]
Series One[]
Five Go Mad In Dorset
War
The Beat Generation
Bad News Tour
Summer School
Series Two[]
Five Go Mad On Mescalin
Dirty Movie
Susie
A Fistful of Traveller's Cheques
Gino: Full Story & Pics
Eddie Monsoon: A Life?
Slags
Series Three[]
The Strike
More Bad News
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
The Yob
Didn't You Kill My Brother?
Funseekers
Series Four[]
South Atlantic Raiders
South Atlantic Raiders: Argie Bargie!
GLC: The Carnage Continues
Oxford
Spaghetti Hoops
Les Dogs
Series Five[]
Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown
Space Virgins From Planet Sex
Queen of the Wild Frontier
Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase
Demonella
Jealousy
Films[]
The Supergrass
Eat The Rich
Churchill: The Hollywood Years
Specials[]
The Bullshitters: Roll Out The Gun Barrel
Consuela, Or The New Mrs Saunders
Private Enterprise
Red Nose of Courage
The Crying Game
Wild Turkey
Four Men In A Car
Four Men In A Plane
...Sex Actually
The Hunt For Tony Blair
Five Go To Rehab
Trivia[]
- The alternative comedy scene was born from the belief by its founders that stand-up comedy in the late 70s/early 80s had become stale and was led largely by older male performers (exceptions apply) who relied on racist and sexist jokes. Similarly, and especially in respect of the later creation of The Young Ones, alternative comedy performers believed that sitcoms had become too "safe" and "nice", hence The Young Ones being deliberately neither.