Britcom Goes To The Movies

We’re on a roll with the 70s sitcom spin-offs. Hot on the heels of George and Mildred and Mutiny On The Buses comes 1971’s Please Sir! This is, in no small part, down to our guest this week, Jason Hazeley, being the world’s loudest cheerleader for this film and its preceding sitcom. We didn’t even need to show him the list; he was straight in there for a personal favourite since his youth. But never two to hold back, would Rob and Guy’s thoughts on Please Sir! align with Jason’s? Certainly, the ingredients were there for that not to be the case. Some dated attitudes, men and women in their 20s playing teenagers, a rushed release capitalising on the success of its TV predecessor, and our old favourite, a flimsy pretext to get the cast to a holiday camp. Having said that, both Rob and Guy come to this fresh. Neither had ever seen as much as an episode of this once-beloved sitcom, but both were aware of the all-round entertainment chops of the cast. Not least Deryck Guyler, in whose washboarding hands anyone could feel at ease. Join us as we delve into one of the last ITV sitcom spin-offs left to cover, which could well prove the best of the lot. Please Sir! SE1 Ep1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8PVA-TDeYwDeryck Guyler on the Washboardhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWKHTcC-I8k&list=RDGWKHTcC-I8k&start_radio=1Derrick Geyler Scotch Tape Adshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL3mpzAvHFAMichael Winner Esure Adhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efl5pFTFnBUVictor Lewis Smith pranks Michael Winnerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTGc1PKVrH0Please Sir! (1971) Trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhhiqg0aKOMPlease Sir! Full Filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa0CL4bhlH8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time to get our teeth into another straight spin-off. It’s a significant one at that. The final of the ITC/EMI/Hammer spin-offs of ITV sitcoms, which many credit as the death of the genre altogether. That’s right, it is the 1980 big-screen adaptation of the long-running sitcom that in itself was a spin-off. George and Mildred. Long-time listeners will know that in the first series, Rob and Guy were pleasantly surprised by Man About the House...if not the movie, the sitcom itself. So there’s every chance that George and Mildred could follow suit. As we always end up repeating, this show is all about expectations, which would obviously be on the floor with the reputation this film has preceding it. So things could only look up, right?….RIGHT?! Joining us to find out is comedian Alison Dennison, so committed to the G&M cause she’d already watched every episode ever made in preparation. With attention to detail like this, episode two of series six would prove to be one of the best we’d ever made. A tale of comedy and tragedy, life and death, both metaphorical and literal. Join us for George and Mildred! George and Mildred Opening theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ygWHpvoFE Best of George Roper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQtqXTktY George and Mildred Last Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-3utPaAdU George and Mildred Movie in Full https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAaNz1DW1DY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy St David’s Day! To mark the occasion here at Britcom Goes to the Movies, we are celebrating one of Wales’ most beloved comedy sons, Rob Brydon, and…actually, it is just a ham-fisted way of doing a round table episode on Cruise of the Gods! This TV film was written by Tim Firth (remember him from our Blackball episode?) and contained not only some Britcom heavyweights of the time, but also ground zero for the careers of some of the most controversial Britcommers of the 21st century, including Russell Brand, David Walliams, and James Corden. Despite all that, its stars Brydon and Steve Coogan, along with its premise of forgotten 80s kids sci-fi being celebrated by nerds on a cruise, made it a firm favourite for Rob and Guy, and they welcomed back returning guests Steve Dunne and Stuart Laws, neither of whom had seen the film before. So how would this have aged, and would our guests immediately be regretting their decision? Only one way to find out. Join us in Leicester, 1982… Cruise of the Gods - Full Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uPsHGPKnWk Children of Castor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPOMIHJHPks Sherlock Holmes in Miami https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj8A3OEicBg Human Remains - Swingers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVAqWMGyqH0 Marion and Geoff - Student House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5V60QG0mJ0 You’re a Star - New Faces theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMfzr2Bufkk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas to our beloved BritCom Goes to the Movies listeners! Thanks for seeing in the festive period with us. This is our third Christmas episode, and while our previous two were a bit of a mixed bag, we’ve finally found a film we can all agree on: the 2009 classic, Nativity! Writer and director Debbie Isitt was already the pride of the West Midlands theatre scene before turning to film. Her previous feature, Confetti, boasted the cream of British comic talent, even if some of the cast later tried to disavow the experience! For her first festive foray, Isitt enlisted everyone’s favourite wise-cracking sitcom star, Martin Freeman, at a point in his career where he was firmly transitioning into a leading man. He’s joined by oddball comedian Marc Wootton as Mr. Poppy, Extras star Ashley Jensen and a whole host of familiar British faces, as well as an ocean of charming, non-theatre-school kids. Joining Guy and Rob to discuss Nativity! (and Martin Freeman’s forgotten early-2000s sitcom Hardware) is writer and film critic Kat Hughes. Kat is the co-host of Movies with Mummy—the podcast where she and her daughter watch films together. But does Nativity! have what it takes to meet their high standards? We also have the thrilling climax to our Quiz Season. With the scores currently deadlocked at 24-24, it’s all to play for! So, join us for some "Ho-Ho-Hos" and a whole lot of sparkle and shine. Merry Christmas! Bruiser - A Level Geography https://youtu.be/pHmcBFxgov4?si=pNC_rUWx7atIUPrU Bruiser - Martin Freeman https://youtu.be/8w55vM3jwuA?si=Z3rgT1xTas8zMsxM Robert Webb on Confetti https://youtu.be/16xLrzEuLoM?si=uwIRD78sQFGSZ7YI Hardware - Student https://youtu.be/EMDwINZmwp4?si=g68dvIPmkfsnx348 Hardware - S1e1 Dailymotion https://share.google/BACweRPsFHozyTy7o Martin Freeman argues with Tim Lovejoy https://youtu.be/cqK-i6KSY88?si=Mmi2JUZ-5usxeNNW Nativity! - Trailer https://youtu.be/6DaaTsSQktk?si=-tOiWjTSdavTjoaP Nativity! - Sparkle and Shine https://youtu.be/dO6qmNNiAts?si=NUKNVKIv49MFZZir Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a few entries from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on our long list at Britcom Goes to the Movies, but we start with perhaps their least remembered and least successful offering, the period coming-of-age comedy/drama Cemetery Junction. In contrast, the pair’s second sitcom offering, Extras, is in the annals of the all-time great British comedy shows. A by-product of a newfound celebrity and the connections it brought with it in 2005. Guest stars galore and a version of what might have been if The Office didn’t have the freedom to be itself. Cemetery Junction was Gervais and Merchant’s first foray into cinema after Extras and is still the only film they have co-written and directed. Based on an idea they’d had for a 70s set sitcom, Ricky and Steve turned “The Men At The Pru” into a feature-length offering, with only small roles for themselves and focussing on the journeys of three young men in 1970s Berkshire. They made it clear as possible that this would be a departure and for audiences to expect the hilarity of Extras and The Office. The result, it failed to penetrate the UK Box Office Top 10, but was that because it wasn’t any good? Stay tuned to find out what Rob and Guy made of it and a lengthy discussion about Extras as well. Ricky Gervais on the 11 o Clock Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl_gS0FsIsM The Ricky Gervais Show - Monkey News - Russian Chat Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikvq0wZAFLM Extras - Les Dennis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytDCab8ZoIM Extras - Ronnie Corbett Bloopers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FNaXLe_ro Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant - Finding Leo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHdTve2PpeI Gervais and Merchant on Mark Kermode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz3MTwufC5s&t=104s Cemetery Junction - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYDeHIszUqA Cemetery Junction - Snork performs Cum on Feel the Noize https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTRyiNVl_G0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Britcom Goes to the Movies, you are never too far from the next Goon-related movie. We last spoke in depth about Spike Milligan on our episode about The Bed Sitting Room. We’re going full Milligan again for his first starring role in a British movie, Postman’s Knock, and it is quite the departure for Spike. A role that perhaps you might expect somebody of the more Norman Wisdom persuasion to be inhabiting. This 1962 crime caper farce was the first of what was meant to be a five-picture British MGM deal for Spike. Even the sound of the word “Wisdom”, even knowing that he wasn’t in the film, was enough to send a shiver down Guy’s spine, so to help us dissect this oddity, we brought back the Goon Oracle, Tyler Adams. This is the second appearance of the host of Goon Pod to share his all-encompassing knowledge and love for all things Milligan and lend this episode that little bit more authenticity. As well as Postman’s Knock, we discuss Spike’s Australian radio show, Idiot Weekly, not to be confused with The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d, the ITV sketch show, which we mentioned the last time Tyler was on this show to talk about The Mouse That Roared. Generally, Milligan’s time down under was a mixed bag. Rob still trails Guy hideously in the quiz stakes and is running out of time to put things right, so check out episode 7 to see how it all unfolds! The Idiot Weekly; The Ashes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Bh8Q6JToU&t=323s Postman's Knock Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw92zbex4bw What a Whopper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgWlOpsuuPw The Adventures of Barry McKenzie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiLyKEYOOJQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where can you find the cream of Hollywood, rock and roll, and football punditry all on one suburban street? Surbiton, that’s where…or at least Shepherd’s Bush masquerading as Surbiton. We’re taking a trip to Stella Street on Britcom Goes to the Movies! That’s right, this late 90s cult, small-budget, and even smaller cast-list comedy had a 2004 big-screen adaptation! Something that seemed to pass a lot of British comedy fans by, not least Rob Heath. The genius mind of Peter Richardson, that brought us Comic Strip Presents, was busy in 1997 harnessing the comedy and impersonation talents of the then little-known Phil Cornwell and John Sessions to make an anarchic, foul-mouthed, and downright hilarious mockusoap about some huge stars descending on suburban London. Stella Street saw Michael Caine narrating, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards running the local corner shop, as well as Joe Pesci putting the Psycho in Psychotherapy. Cornwell and Sessions would play all manner of celebrity inhabitants as well as some less-famous but equally hilarious recurring characters such as Mrs Huggett and Len the arsonist gardener. In 2004, whilst also busy with Churchill: The Hollywood Years, Richardson made a feature-length version of his cult hit show for the Aspen Film Festival. The cast would grow by 33.3% with the addition of impressionist of the moment Ronni Ancona, but the premise remained the same. We revisit themes of direct spin-offs, recycling of material, and in some cases footage and some dodgy filmmaking, but did any of that matter given the essence of Stella Street was and remains to this day one of the unsung gems of British comedy? Find out by having a listen! Stella Street Se1 Ep1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI5vEevmbvQ Stella Street - Brando and Bowie Fight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqDKQ6vfEnc Stella Street - Bowie and Roger Moore exchange Christmas presents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbsmqeIdtTg John Sessions - Whose Line is it Anyway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb_v6ha1blI Phil Cornwell as Gilbert The Alien https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYyBi2Bgfvg Stella Street Film Trailer https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1384841497/?ref_=ttvg_vi_3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who fancies a Piltdown Glory? Guy and Rob return to Tony Hancock territory for a second time, and this time they’re joined by some proper experts. Tim Elms, Martin Gibbons, and Jon Street from the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society, as well as the presenters of the Very Nearly An Armful official Tony Hancock podcast, join us to discuss The Punch and Judy Man, the 1963 film that marked a significant departure for Hancock. For the first time, The Lad is not The Lad. Hancock plays the titular puppeteer, not named Tony Hancock, but Wally Pinner. This departure in name, character, tone, and filmmaking came as a shock to fans and critics alike in 1963. The Punch and Judy Man was not a success at the time and has long been considered one of Britcom’s great flops. But is that reputation entirely fair? Or have the intervening years been kind to a misunderstood gem? We’ll also explore Hancock’s move to ITV in the early '60s. That programme, simply titled Hancock, saw him leave behind not only the familiar Railway Cuttings setting but also his legendary writing duo, Galton and Simpson, who had moved on to Steptoe and Son. What followed was a hit-and-miss format featuring some intriguing guest stars and flashes of Hancock’s trademark wit. So join all five of us (a BritCom Goes To The Movies record!) for another slice of Hancock. Hancock - Man On The Cornerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpqLCOXu0ISylvia Sims - Ice Cold In Alex Carlsberg Adverthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsqZDl99PNkPunch and Judy Man - Trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph2Dzyjytzg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How time flies. It doesn’t seem feasible that we should be on series five already, but here we are. We begin with a huge figure in the British comedy landscape, The Banana Box. You may know it as Rising Damp, but Eric Chappel’s beloved sitcom began life as a stage play with this rather more visceral title. Indeed, everyone’s (least) favourite landlord Rigsby, although always portrayed by the magnificent Leonard Rossiter from stage to small screen to big screen, was originally known as Rooksby. Rob and Guy have had mixed experiences with 1970s straight spin-offs in the past, but surely a sitcom widely regarded as ITV’s best-ever could not diminish in quality too much in adaptation. Even if Chappel’s tactic of reworking multiple episode scripts to fit a film was reminiscent of a couple of other noticeable failures, surely it wouldn’t claim the good name of Rising Damp?! Joining our regular team to discuss this comedy institution is Jake Yapp. The writer, producer, performer, and broadcaster has a huge fondness for all things Rigsby and Miss Jones, so was an eager participant in our first adventure of a new series. Jake also acted as quizmaster for the newly reset competition and was keen to put in an early plug for his son’s new line of 1970s light entertainment Top Trumps, which will no doubt be in the shops for Christmas. Get comfy for a new series and some Rising Damp.Rising Damp - Funniest momentshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96VpnQq197U&list=PLT2hAuUDOLMAgPlQjv0EO0YQAPuo7jgwdRising Damp - Pink Carnationshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4honiX0_vkRising Damp - Disco opening sequencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhCI0JceBicRising Damp Movie - Rigsby’s Dream Sequencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBGvGuGKWcwJake Yapp - This Morning in 97 Secondshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DLx8FPtA8kTin Sandwich Anyone?: The History of the Harmonica - Produced by Jake Yapp, Assistant Produced by Rob Heathhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clsGakOc8AE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here we are at the end of our St Trinian's bank holiday treat. The final episode sees Rob and Guy tackle the reboot(s) of the mid-00s. A kind of back to basics, borrowing heavily from Belles but with an updated 00s sensibility, which depressingly probably means more sexism if anything. An embarrassment of riches of a cast. Early roles for the likes of Gemma Arterton and Juno Temple, plus old hands like Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. All tied together with the rather large elephant in the room of Russell Brand as Flash Harry, set to a malaise of Girls Allowed and Landfill Indie. Along with 2007's St Trinian's, we also briefly discuss the 2009 sequel: Legend of Fritton's Gold and any possible legacy and future for the IP. Guy had been waiting for the films to be more about the students, and on the face of it this reboot would deliver. Tune in to find out if it did. St Trinian's - Trailer https://youtu.be/JJQ1pAW4uU8?si=5Vw-kwNNwVNWCBBD St Trinian's - Premiere https://youtu.be/Rtx43qThERk?si=rtDofxBgOnJd3tDr St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold - Trailer https://youtu.be/9chVAXvsOcQ?si=qJCieDgWkLB1s7Td Pistol - Trailer https://youtu.be/-QtyfPxkBqs?si=G75tBV7RnbNuIkPz 4 3 2 1 - Trailer https://youtu.be/VL27h8b-K38?si=kB1NfMh3ZHmLZWfV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The St Trinian's films were one of the first names on the long list when we first came up with the concept of this podcast, but even with the most tenuous and creative of thinking, we weren't able to link them to the small screen. So much like Carry On last summer, we decided a three-episode mini-series would be the best way to tackle the issue. We start at the very beginning with the first St Trinian's films, The Belle's of St Trinian's from 1954 with Alastair Sim popularising what could now be known as The Tyler Perry, playing both Headmistress Millicent Fritton and her no-good brother. This being the first time Ronald Searle's schoolgirl characters were brought to life, it was perhaps a surprise to see the grown-ups take centre stage, but not without plenty of chaotic school set pieces with the students and a surprisingly complicated plot for a family film! Join Rob and Guy as both of them start their St Trinian's journey with the O.G. of the franchise. Will this movie have aged like a fine wine, or a bottle of Flash Harry's gin? Tune in to find out. The Belles of St Trinians - Trailer https://youtu.be/VKzCKoO-K9I?si=HE3LCv-2ekTLEAaz The Belles of St Trinians - Best scenes https://youtu.be/0O__WLDjMNo?si=KB77PUBB_rnI6znk Hockey match at St Trinians https://youtu.be/uS4LLAKPwyk?si=fy3hkWtuOT2_e1sv Dad - Series 1, Episode 1 https://youtu.be/b0S1q1zyMn8?si=IH6RJGnfea1wGBXy Minder - Grass growing on the car https://youtu.be/01dXHywMMyE?si=hs-uQIBkHUFnuQUv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's only from 12 years ago, yet Powder Room is not a British indie that sticks in the memory. Indeed, it didn't exactly perform at the box office. Only 2,100 people went to see it in British cinemas, making it the least successful film we've profiled so far. A micro-budget adaptation of a hit Edinburgh play, starring some big and up-and-coming names from British TV, as well as a pop star! But chief amongst Powder Room's cast was Sheridan Smith. Now a huge West End and television star, but at the time, she was known primarily for Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. The early 21st-century three-camera studio sitcom has been the butt of many a sneering industry joke, but was incredibly popular and ran for over a decade. Its creator, Susan Nickson, was something of a prodigy. She started writing Two Pints at the age of 18, having already seen success in short film competitions. An unsung heroine of British comedy, episode nine will do its best to honour an undeniable and prolific talent. Susan Nickson on Channel 4's Lloyds Bank Film Challenge https://youtu.be/iQ6qz4nyX0M?si=U7iSIUXz3_nOsTQi Two Pints of Lager - Biscuit Rap https://youtu.be/anRKT3hYz60?si=d5m5JoDntsBAN_5j Two Pints of Lager - Phone Messages https://youtu.be/m8IM-MFeKvk?si=gaxjVJOHeLsI-JfA Newport State of Mind - Directed by MJ Delaney https://youtu.be/Eijc2tGe-zM?si=MMhLXUeRLsqEPyhz That One Guy Who's Always Preaching - Key and Peele https://youtu.be/GrYbMbudILQ Powder Room Trailer https://youtu.be/77Eb6NsLFqE?si=kY3j-hhxs3KYutwN Powder Room - Bad Night https://youtu.be/KlUG46H4W8o?si=iTee2ZuyYNIIIyfu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For episode seven, we have another movie from 2024. Wicked Little Letters is Jonny Sweet's retelling of the curious case of the Littlehampton Letters. A falling out involving some incredibly creative, foul-mouthed penwomanship. As the film is written by Jonny Sweet, it made sense to also talk about his similar time-period sitcom Chickens, which he co-wrote with Simon Bird and Joe Thomas. Joining Guy and Rob to discuss both these works was Tracy Milnes. Herself already a big fan of the film, could she convert Rob and Guy to the Church of Wicked Little Letters? There'll be plenty of Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley and Timothy Spall chat and some suspicious quiz scoring. Check out episode seven! Johnny Sweet in When Boris met Dave https://youtu.be/KiM3uUqsO7E?si=VzIXB-87kVDhMITv Olivia Colman in bruiser https://youtu.be/MA6ksn6oNYk?si=daNVOzPUw6tc5r1z Olivia Colman in Peep Show https://youtu.be/3l1mbCSUw-0?si=mq5-7M5mtj-nJqTc Olivia Colman in Look Around You https://youtu.be/g7JrUGhfcTI?si=K8N0npre5iAlnunS Jessie Buckley in I'd Do Anything https://youtu.be/yKiCTEf6Xn0?si=hhUGfPlA-onr26Dv Jessie Buckley in Beast https://youtu.be/cdzfnve-10A?si=L4cV6If2bc5RW2Ik Jessie Buckley in Chernobyl https://youtu.be/xqbUJYgd8_E?si=p_aNMcjvdsCuPo23 Chickens Episode 1 https://youtu.be/B6ydb5Nb__Y?si=WrN5PyhYhADTmWlJ Wicked Little Letters Trailer https://youtu.be/SeTeCWbF8KY?si=9FF89S2vkxsxFJkb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices