Talking Bottom

You asked and we delivered! Talking Bottom: A Guide to the Cult Sitcom is now available as an audiobook, read by none other than Bottom's friendly pub landlord Dick Head himself - actor Lee Cornes! You can literally have Dick coming in your ears! It's out NOW via your usual audiobook platforms. You can listen while driving, on the commute, doing heavy housework or simply having a wangle. Get your copy now or Dick will set the dawgs on ya! Check out our socials and our linktree for the audiobook, previous episodes, the book "Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom," our fantastic Bottom themed tea towels and now Talking Bottom t-shirts! https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

Once in every lifetime comes a guest like this - someone who created and wrote one of the most influential, revolutionary and most-loved sitcoms ever, alongside her co-creators and co-writers Rik Mayall and Ben Elton. It's Lise Mayer! Lise chats with Paul, Ange and Mat about the genesis of The Young Ones and the challenges faced to get a show full of unlikeable characters, a grotesque student setting and exaggerated situations to air. She shares her thoughts her own comedy influences, writing with Rik on Carrot’s Lib and for his beloved character Kevin Turvey, the unintended hurt caused by The Young Ones’ bold decision to satire racism in the police, her friendship with Rik Mayall and how she learned of his untimely passing. In a Talking Bottom exclusive, Lise reacts to and reads aloud sections of the famous but largely unseen essay (which Paul Jackson previously alerted Talking Bottom to being the BBC Archive) that Lise was required to write alongside Rik and Ben back in 1982 in ‘defence of The Young Ones’ on the grounds of Language, Violence and Grossness. The BBC had requested the writers’ defence of the sitcom in writing as they needed a robust argument as to why the show was funny before it aired. Check out our socials and our linktree for previous episodes, the book "Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom," our fantastic Bottom themed tea towels and now Talking Bottom t-shirts! https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

The boys are surrounded by soggy tissues, and for once it's not for the reason you'd think - they've got the dreaded lurgy. Their efforts at recuperation escalate to violence in the streets while Neil's parents visit the fetid house. If only they were in a nice sitcom like The Good Life! Mat, Paul and Ange splutter over competitive illness, breaking the 180 rule, Hyacinth Bucket, being polite to your friends' parents, speech impediments, sentient toilets, escalating violence, Richard "Sugar-Flavoured Snot" Briars and Felicity "Treacle" Kendall. Plus, a fiendish quiz! Check out our socials and our linktree for previous episodes, the book "Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom," our fantastic tea towels and now t-shirts! https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

Filmed in Horror-vision! It's a terrifying tale this week as the boys have a body to bury, with a flashback to bath night revealing Rick's penchant for Cosmopolitan magazine, Neil's fetid bath, the arrival of a South African Vampire and the fact they've got a video. YES, WE'VE GOT A VIDEO. Ange, Mat and Paul discuss video nasties, Hammer Horror, future Bottom references, celebs laughing at themselves, Jeremy Beadle's fake and real beards, putting the boiler on for a bath, vampires, edible pot noodles and pervy Wrick. Plus, a ruddy marvellous quiz! We're back at this year's Rik Mayall Comedy Festival this month doing THREE events - two of which are with Young Ones director/producer Paul Jackson! Check out our socials and our linktree for details and tickets. https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

The boys are back and they smell - it's so long since they did any laundry that one of Vyvyan's socks has come to life. But a fruitless trip to the laundrette is soon overshadowed by their starter for ten; can they get to Manchester by tonight to represent scumbag College on University Challenge? Paul, Ange and Mat return and discuss how The Young Ones found its confidence, quality guest stars, sticky bogies, train safety, bacon sandwiches and laundrette etiquette. Plus, a quiz worthy of Bambi himself! We're back at this year's Rik Mayall Comedy Festival this month doing THREE events - two of which are with Young Ones director/producer Paul Jackson! Check out our socials and our linktree for details and tickets. https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

Talking Bottom chats with Colin Gilbert, the director and co-writer with Rik Mayall of The Man Behind the Green Door and Kevin Turvey Investigates. Colin also directed Rab C Nesbitt and worked on Not the Nine O'Clock News, A Kick up the Eighties, I Lovett and Naked Video. He is the co-founder of prolific independent production company The Comedy Unit. Colin shares memories of his career, the genesis of Kevin Turvey, working with Rik and much more in this fascinating interview. To buy the book, our Lamb and Flag tea towels or listen to more episodes, click here: https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

"Phew, that was close!" Following a catastrophic near-end more fraught than Richie and Eddie getting gunned down by the SAS, with the book Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom SELLING OUT on its week of release and then the publisher liquidising its assets (literally), we're excited to announce that the book is back! We discuss the seat-of-the-skidded-pants journey we've been on that's finally brought us to a brand-spanking new 2nd edition being published and out NOW via the very best bookshops and all your online book marketplaces. We also chat about our upcoming podcast interview with comedy legend and "Dick Head" himself, Lee Cornes, that we recorded live on stage at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! To buy the book, our Lamb and Flag tea towels or listen to more episodes, click here: https://linktr.ee/talkingbottom

Described by Man Down creator and star Greg Davies as "a force of nature" and "dream casting," Rik Mayall blessed us all with a final return to the world of sitcom, dropping in each week to steal the episode - and the show - every time. Richard Davies is the sadistic, prank-loving father of "Dan" (Greg) who loves nothing more than tormenting and publicly humiliating his adult son for his own amusement, yet with a hint of deep fatherly love behind that glint in his eye. This week is all about this role that sadly came to be known as Rik's TV swansong - and what a great one!