As every comedy schoolboy should know by now, the Not The Nine O'Clock News "pilot" is something of a misnomer. It was in fact originally intended as the first show of what would have been their first series, recorded on the 31st of March 1979 and scheduled for broadcast on BBC2 on the 2nd of April 1979, but pulled at the eleventh hour. Starring ROWAN ATKINSON CHRIS EMMET WILLOUGHBY GODDARD CHRISTOPHER GODWIN JOHN GORMAN JONATHAN HYDE CHRIS LANGHAM Written by PETER SPENCE CHRIS MILLER ANDY HAMILTON BARRY PILTON CHRIS ALLEN LAURIE ROWLEY ROWAN ATKINSON RICHARD CURTIS MIKE BURGESS ANDY STEVENSON Producers JOHN LLOYD SEAN HARDIE
Sketches: Clapperboard / Tinker, Tailor / Kenny Everett Sketch / Britt Ekland's car / National Wealth Beds / Wilson's Memoirs / Inflatables / Aliens / Vivisection Sketch / On The Moov / Spinning Head / Man With Ten Legs / Tory Conference / Maori Sketch
Sketches: Apology to Princess Margaret / News Headlines / Nicest flag in the EEC / Inflation / Kennedy / Gravity / Equal Opportunities / Blind beggar / Phone Bill Sketch / Forgetful Priests / St Vincent / Rowan's Rant 1 / Suburbs at War / Gay Christian / Keep Fit / Milk Tray
Sketches: John Cleese / Suicide / Stringmakers' strike / National Laundromat Week / Murder Scene Sketch / Vote For Jimmy Carter / Hospital Stores / Ayatollah Sketch / Blue Peter / Preacher / The Dead Crocodile / Hole Sculptor / Restaurant / Restrictive Practices Suite / Irish Football
Sketches: Plane Crash / Mission Ineffable / Scunthorpe strangler / Football Replay / Final Demands / Lifeboatmen / Craftsman's Kitchen / I can't feel my legs / Neurotica / Song: Gob On You
Sketches: Baby on the bus / Nativity Sketch / New Jeans / Religious fanatic / Nativity II / Hot Gossip / Church Advertising / Medieval Christmas / Ranting Frenchman / Miss World / Amputation / Trial By Egg / ""Probe"" / Bingo / Rowan Rants Again / Nanny Service / Christmas Carol
Sketches: Royal car visor / Whale delivery / Aliens / John Cleese / General Synod's Life Of Python / Disco For Dentists / Licence fee / Milk float visors / Simultaneous Translation / Donald Sinden / Self-defence / Spies / Sex Shop / Poped / Careers Teacher / Oh! Bosanquet
Compilation of material from Series 1.
Sketches: Grand National Skit / Pinball / Helicopter / Alidair Milne / Wimpy Burgers / Non-Diet Pepsi / Car Vandals / The Cost Of A sketch / Dolphin for President / The lesson I learned from Chappaquiddick / Parkinson Meets Parkinson / Maternity Ward / Perfect evening / Lifeboats / The Nancy Boys / Cottage In Wales
Sketches: Airline Terrorists / Film Certification / Space Invaders / Dinner Party / Awards Ceremony (Sofas) / Alabammy Bound / Prestel / Kleptomania / Vegtarian Hunting Season / Stereoids / Rowan Rants On / Milkman / Ford Cortina / Lead Poisoning / Kiss of life / Government Training Film / Hairdressers / School of archaeology / Aeroplane toilet / Arianna Advert / Boxing in Johannesburg / Rowan Apologises / Clint Eastwood / Debating Point
Sketches: Russian Army / FIAT Advert / Postman / Railway Announcement / Stout Life / Talking to daffodils / Crime Figures / Out-of-touch Judge / Train cancellation/Announcer breaks down / Glue Sniffing / Suicide / Loud Reporter / James Burke / American Express / President Tito / I Like Bouncing / Abu Ben Adhem
Sketches: International Darts / Milkman's Note / Beat The Cliché / One-man bus / Gone With The Wind / Superman / Cinema Age Restrictions / Tramp / Time Out Lonely Hearts / Late Abortion / Jean Paul Satre / Shop Assistants / Euthanasia / Thoucht For The Day / Confessional / Gob Of The Month / And all because the lady loves...
Sketches: MGM Skit / Death Of A Princess (Apology To The Saudis) / Prostitute / Thatcher actor / Kosher Chewing Gum / Stamp auction / Train carriage cleaners / Multi-ligual Hotel Sign / News vendors / Remote Control / Gerald The Gorilla / Man In Post Office / Kidnapping / Tarts / Princess Anne And Mark Philips / Domino Theory / Neanderthal man / Instant Pot Meals / Bob Wellings / King Of Rock n Roll / Banging On The Ceiling / Train Drums
Sketches: Guardsmen / Blood bank sign / Morgue / Parkinson with Billy Connolly / Pottery presenter / Hi-Fi Shop / Campari and Soda / Passport Photos / News For The Deaf / Mugging / The Devil: Is He All Bad? / Contagious spots / Origami / Hitchcock Directs The News / Hidden Switch / Janet Street Porter interviews Billy Connolly
Sketches: Confrontation Song / Points Of View / Cannabis / Guinness / Defence Minister / Police station phone call / Metal detector / Restaurant revolutions / Transplant Olympics / Freddie Cosgray / Is smoking safer than crossing the road? / Ayatollah Song / Exam Guide / Police Yob
Material from Series 2 only, shown as publicity for imminent third series. Compilation 1/3.
Material from Series 2 only, shown as publicity for imminent third series. Compilation 2/3.
Material from Series 2 only, shown as publicity for imminent third series. Compilation 3/3.
Sketches: The Shining 2 / Cockerel / Punk at a urinal / That's Lies / Made In Britain / Bank pens / Sir Robert Mark / Dick Head / TV Licence Advert / Bank signs / Unemployment / Bhuddist Driving School / Loud man in sex shop / Ansaphone confessional / Vandalised Phone Kiosks / UFO Story / Workaholics / I Like Trucking / National Theatre
Sketches: Hedgehog apology / Athletics from Birmingham / Bad Language / Buffet car / Cinema Usher / Shoe Shop Theft / Constable Savage / Fly The Flag / Bath Salts / Laxatives Tested / Burns Unit / Granny's Mini Metro / Explicit Bag / Quick Service Queue / Barbarian Lager / Welsh Choir / England My Leotard / Ice cream van
Sketches: Thatcher out/Thatcher in / Pyjama case / Presidential Aide / Baboons / Walking Into A Tree / TUC Tea Break / Pop Group / Reg Varney / Sooty Surgeon / Soccer Violence / Join The Royal Family / Gay Flasher / Kendal Mint Cake / I Believe / BBC2 Closedown
Sketches: I'm on fire / Nationwide twins / Swedish film centre / ouglas Adams / London tourist board / Sleepy Firemen / Space Salvationists / Girls' Football / Roger Cook / Sir Keith Joseph / Counting Sheep / One Man And His Lion / Return Of Rowan's Rant / Soup and Cocoa / Auld Lang Syne / Controlling TV shows / Big Jobs / Last Of The Mohicans
Sketches: Ready Brek / Daily Star / Elephant Man / Thieves without stockings to put on their heads but with a pair of tights / Battered Baby / Harty Skit / Sunbed / The Obit / This Is Your Life / Tax Evaders / American Express (Masons) / Open Marriage / Schmidt Old Slag / Cocktail party / Burglar / Cold students / The New Creed / Vicar Breakdown / Lager / All-purpose Advert / Henry Cooper / Chess / Man Alive Skit / Disco which isn't really / Aural sex
Sketches: Apology to the Feemasons / Panda Crossing / Brewed By Robots / Pope's Hat / Ticket Collector / Piano / Chilean Milk Marketing Board / Gang Of Three / Windsors Greatest Hits / Crowd control / Gift Shop / Giscard / Michelangelo's David / Photo Booth / Thatcher Leaving / Headmaster and pupil / Silent Movie / Weather Forecast / Euthanasia Society
Sketches: Baronet Oswold Ernold Mosley / Punk aerosol / Queen's Visit / Loyal Apology / Iran & Iraq / Barry Manilow / Cargo Cult / Pneumatic Drills / Kidney Donor / Wimpy worker / Party Political Broadcast / Sperm Donor / Acupuncture / Not The Parrot Sketch / Karate For The Deaf / Divorce Ceremony / Nine To Five / Rolf Harris
Sketches: Announcer / Musical aeroplane / Polish cartoon / Radio controlled ospreys / University Challenge / C'est la Vie (Abba skit) / Age Of Consent / Carol Singers / Christmas Blackmail / Multiplex / Thatchula / Shirley Williams / Coffee Commerical / Sexist Cameraman / Sexism Discussion / Door sketch / SPG Man / Swag Card / Now Dry Your Hands / Ayatollah auction
Highlights from Series 3.
Material from Series 1, 2 and 3; shown as publicity for imminent fourth series. Compilation 1/3
Material from Series 1, 2 and 3; shown as publicity for imminent fourth series. Compilation 2/3
Material from Series 1, 2 and 3; shown as publicity for imminent fourth series. Compilation 3/3
Sketches: Taxi in restaurant / Breathalyser / Train Driver / Job Creation Scheme / Punk badge / Air dryers / Hospital signs / Mr Bazouki / Aleebee / Cappuccino / National Bank Of Poland / Criminal driver / Nun stunt display / Polish Show / Nice Video Shame About The Song / Caber tosser
Sketches: Ivan The Awful / Game For A Laugh / Public Toilet / Wine Tasting / Home Wine Kit / Aussie Pilot / Does God Exist? / Re-Altered Images / Cricket Commetary / Snooker commentary / Home Organ / Man outside phone box / Tomorrow's World / New Glee / Holiday Habits / Commission for Racial Equality / The Not Team At Home With Their Son / Grow Up You Bastards / Hamlet Advert Skit / Ploughman's Lunch / Mannequins / Pushing a car / Suicide
Sketches: Bankrupt / Ask The Family / What's The Time Mr Wolf? / Rubik Cube / Valentine / Advert for the SDP / No dogs, smoking, bikes / Stunt cops and robbers / Bank / The Price Of Petrol / Kangaroo Meat Advert / Wildebeest / Mad Colonel / Umbrellas / Financial Times / Post Office / Roland Davies / Contac 2000
Sketches: Embarrassed woman / Question Time / Headbangers / Peep-hole / Hey Bob! / Shoplifters / Restaurant / Porn Photographer / Sommelier / One For The Birds / Roughage K / Snooker / Tomorrow's World - Microchip / Hit and run incident / Strange ID parade / Comedy Chestnuts / Shop Stewards / Jackanory
Sketches: Lawyers / Thugs on bus / Riot Police / Songs Of Praise / Failed In Wales / Choking on pills / Green man / Car crusher / Brain Death / Nurse trapped inside a patient / Riots / Rumbley's Pies / Made From Whales / What A Lot Of Willies! / Blind man crossing the road / Medical students who aren't / Ah, Come In Rawlinson! / Laid In Wales / Typical Bloody Typical
Sketches: Punk road painter / Two Ninnies/Two Ninnies Song / Marc Almond / Jogger trying to cross the road / Pub Grub / Arab identifying his wife's body / Parkinson meets Ian Botham / Zak the Alien / Pork Scratchings / Budget / Barefoot thug / Time, Gentlemen, Please / Hey Wow / Pizza Moment / The Memory Kinda Lingers
Compilation from Series 4.
Part 1 of 3 compilations, taken from Series 4 only.
Part 2 of 3 compilations, taken from Series 4 only.
Part 3 of 3 compilations, taken from Series 4 only.
Episode 1 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include the Darts Players, Question Time and the Gorilla Interview; and the cast sing Bouncing.
Episode 2 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include Game For a Laugh, Because I'm Wet And Lonely, Ah Come In Rawlinson and Hand Built By Roberts. This week's song is Baronet Oswald Ernold Moseley.
Episode 3 of the first best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include Constable Savage and I Believe; and the cast sing Kinda Lingers.
Episode 4 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include The Two Ninnies, Soccer Violence, and General Synod's "Life of Python". This week's song is Supa Dupa.
Episode 5 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Classic sketches include Holiday Habits, Final Demands, and McEnroe's Breakfast.
Episode 6 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include University Challenge, Ask The Family, and What A Load Of Willies. This week's song is (I Like) Trucking.
Episode 7 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include Points of View, Does God Exist, Hey Wow, and National Wealth Beds.
Episode 8 of the best-of collection of Not the 9 O'Clock News. Sketches include Made From Whales, Marc Almond, Stout Life, and That's Lies.
The inside story of the anarchic comedy sketch show, which ran on BBC Two from 1979 to 1982, and launched the careers of Rowan Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones, Mel Smith and Pamela Stephenson, as well as writers including Richard Curtis, Andy Hamilton and Clive Anderson. This documentary reveals how the series first came about, looks at the casting of the four main players and the dynamic of the team, as well as recalling the show's key moments, its impact at the time and its legacy. Featuring interviews with Smith, Jones, Stephenson and Curtis, as well as celebrity fans including Billy Connolly and Dara O Briain
A landmark programme in contemporary comedy, Not the Nine O'Clock News was first unleashed on an unsuspecting public 20 years ago. An anarchic mix of satirical and surreal sketches, it launched the careers of Mel Smith , Griff Rhys Jones, Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson, while its writing and production team included Clive Anderson, Ruby Wax and Richard Curtis. Protagonists and fans recall the making of the show and explain its success.
Between 1979 and 1982, the Not the Nine O'Clock News team produced the sharpest comedy to be found on British television and launched the careers of the stars, production team and writers. This selection of their quick-fire blend of satire, pastiche pop and witty sketches includes such memorable TV moments as: Gerald the Gorilla, One-Legged Raid, Cut Off Their Goolies, Punk Zips, Supa Dupa (Abba tribute), Constable Savage, The Devil - Is He All Bad? and Kinda Lingers
With Rowan Atkinson's hysterically funny visual comedy and verbal gymnastics, Pamela Stephenson's razor-sharp impressions and Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones' naturalistic humour, the Not The 9 O'Clock News team became the most talked-about comedy quartet in Britain in the late 1980s. This selection of zany gags, spoof pop songs and red-hot topical satire includes such classic sketches as McEnroe's Breakfast, Rowan Walks into a Lamppost, Not the Parrot Sketch, Hollywood Salutes Solidarity, I Like Trucking, Aleebee, Deaf Telephone and Nice Vide Shame About The Song.
