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ComedyBRIGHT THOUGHTS COMPANY PRODUCTIONS
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Stand-up and more
Comedy shows for Channel 4 with comedic talent largely from the 'alternative' style at that time made popular by The Comedy Store. Based on ideas where comedians made political satire and topical (weekly) comment, Interference and Book Em' & Risk It, all shot on location.
Book 'em and Risk It & Interference
NOTES: 'Interference' a comedy series based on a concept of a pirate TV station. Six episodes of 'Interference' (6 x 30 mins) each from a different London 'pirate' location and which was topical of the news for that specific week. Cast included Jim Barclay, Arnold Brown, Ronnie Golden & The Dialtones (Mac Macdonald and Ritchie Robertson) and Martin Beaumont & Nikki. The 'intro' and 'outro' links recorded in the Continuity Studio of Channel 4 by Fiona Richmond as agony aunt for a programme we never actually see, 'A Friend on Four'.
'Book 'em and Risk It' a pilot (90 mins) for the Interference series, recorded in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall with Jim Barclay, Mark Arden & Steve Frost (The Oblivion Boys), Steve Dixon, Adrian Hedley, Arnold Brown, Jock McLog & McNikki, The Joeys, Andy de la Tour, and others. Piano by Kenny Clayton.
'Book 'em and Risk It' a pilot (90 mins) for the Interference series, recorded in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall with Jim Barclay, Mark Arden & Steve Frost (The Oblivion Boys), Steve Dixon, Adrian Hedley, Arnold Brown, Jock McLog & McNikki, The Joeys, Andy de la Tour, and others. Piano by Kenny Clayton.
Commissioning Editor: Cecil Korer
... even the format of the show takes on an ad-libbed air proved the perfect way to give some deliberately pocket-sized comedy material an airing rather than crushing it beneath a mountain of the usual studio production.
As for the acts, anything went. I particularly liked The Chip Shop Show, whose miniature Star Trek, complete with do-it-yourself special effects in a set the size of a Punch and Judy show ran through the programme.
It ended as it began, with the dragons receptionists who had kept them at bay, now approached once more by the mime, Adrian Hedley, now acting out - hands only - that action-man chocolates-by-parachute commercial and presenting them with the real thing.
Bouquets all round, I'd say, for a show that ran an hour with so light a touch.
Peter Fiddick, The Guardian, 1983
