I think the best part was the title song about him being a fat bastard. Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, anyone?

>I think the best part was the title song about him being a fat bastard. Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, anyone?

That was 'Alexei Sayle's Stuff'. The 'All New...' show had a ridiculous theme tune which proclaimed that life was 'a big banana sandwich'.

I was disappointed by 'All New Alexei Sayle' at the time. A bit too much filler - eg the Aussie soap parody; the performance artists (with John Sparkes). I much prefered 'Stuff' - lots of nice tight Marshall & Renwick sketches all over the place.

but Bobby Chariot was ace in that series, the best thing about it if i remember correctly.

>>I think the best part was the title song about him being a fat bastard. Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, anyone?
>
>That was 'Alexei Sayle's Stuff'. The 'All New...' show had a ridiculous theme tune which proclaimed that life was 'a big banana sandwich'

Yeah, you're right (of course). I only really remember Bobby Whatsisname.

>but Bobby Chariot was ace in that series, the best thing about it if i remember correctly.

Definitely! I did enjoy the angst-ridden "pills for me nerves" delivery and desperation for a laugh he got out of that character.

>but Bobby Chariot was ace in that series, the best thing about it if i remember correctly.

Stuff was better, but then you could say he was better in the Young Ones. Bobby Chariot was indeed "ace".

Have you seen him now, he was on Open House with Gloria Hunniford, why is it all these comics write books when they stop being funny? (Tho' I've not read the book, it might be good you never know)

Bobby Chariot was indeed "ace".
>

he was "indeed" ace. ha ha ha.

Joe (not 4SOTCAA) and i were talking about this character the other week, The pills for me nerves and the fact it was a very accurate warm up man pastiche, from what i've seen of warm up men at least.

Bobby Chariot was comedy gold.

I was living in a student house, and one of the students was a Swiss man studying Maritime Law, or something like that. Anyway, since one of us Brits could do a great BC impression, we kidded the Swiss chap that he was a great British comedian.

And he loved him. He loved him when he saw the repeats of TANASS, which fortunately were shown by BBC2 shortly after this infatuation had been established.

Florian(that was his name)'s catchphrases quickly became "'Ow's you diddl-eeng?" and "Peels for me nerf". Hilarious stuff! Well, we were living in Hackney at the time.

I'll always remember me& Florian watching "An Audience With Freddie Starr", and Florian saying "He is not funny. He is not as good as Bobby Chariot".

But one day Florian went into a lift at, I think it was Russell Square tube station, and uttered "Ow's you deedlin?"... and caused Alexei Sayle himself to glare at him, annoyed.

I wasn't there, but I believe the story that it happened.

The previous posting is entirely true, though reading it now I can understand anyone who has doubts about that.

For some reason, on first viewing The League Of Hirsute Gentlemen had me falling about, though subsequent repeats have mediated that inital response. It was the way each character had their own little portentious vocal jingle more than anything else. I like to imagine this being the inspiration for Alan Moore to write The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, sometimes.

but it made me laugh.......

>>>I think the best part was the title song about him being a fat bastard. Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, anyone?
>>

I don't remember much about the programme, but I do remember him saying once that he'd never do an advert cos of his principles.

John Smith Man got cut from the repeats after the real John Smith died in May 94. Not one of Sayle's better characters, to be honest. Also thought that the serials held things up.

But Bobby Chariot's Runabout might be the funniest thing I saw on TV in the year 1995.

I remember a funny monologue about famous people who have two surnames (e.g. Harrison Ford) being made to share with those with two first names (e.g. Steve Martin). But maybe that was in one of the subsequent series.

"...and Meryl Streep doesn't have anything you'd call a name at all."

If I remember correctly, he ended creating an entirely new person from left over names. Great stuff.

>I don't remember much about the programme, but I do remember him saying once that he'd never do an advert cos of his principles.

Wasn't this at about the same time he was going round accusing Ben Elton of selling out, for no discernible reason? At least Elton never did an advert after saying he wouldn't.

The score is:

Elton did a very short TV ad for a brand of "Fair Trade" chocolate (nb. not exploiting the 3rd World), which I saw once in 1999. It's a safe bet he didn't get a fee for it.

Sayle does a fair amount of voiceover work though I don't think he's ever APPEARED in an ad. Paul Merton has though, but I don't think he ever said he wouldn't.Neither did Angus Deayton, which is just as well.

Rob Newman does corporate training videos for Nestle, Esso, and whoever it is who's building the Ilisu dam.

On the subject of Sayle; does anyone know if Alexei Sayle's Stuff was released on video?

cos' i seem to remember the 1st 2 series of it being bloody funny.

There's a single tape (presumably a compilation) at:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004CLCM/026-8882042-7218011

A compilation video of Stuff was released, featuring Stuff from the first two (or possibly three) series. If you're lucky, you might find it at your local WHSmiths for about a fiver.

Back to the All New Alexei Sayle Show, however (blimey, a thread that I started gathering more than two posts). I thought the opening sequence was lovely - Sayle arriving in London on the train from Liverpool, the face he makes when a hat lands on his head, And So On.

Also good: the links Alexei did on Paramount, 'Bobby Chariott's Chariott's Of Fun'.

"I saw a box of matches the other day. Keep away from children, it said. How did they know about that?" (I'm paraphrasing, here.)

Alexei Sayle's Merry-go-round, though: Oh dear.

>A compilation video of Stuff was released, featuring Stuff from the first two (or possibly three) series. If you're lucky, you might find it at your local WHSmiths for about a fiver.

Just first two - which is a shame, because I thought the third (never rptd) was stronger. The comp tape isn't very good - try and get the originals.

>I thought the opening sequence was lovely - Sayle arriving in London on the train from Liverpool, the face he makes when a hat lands on his head, And So On.

Doing it my way
Saying it my way
Gotta lotta love to share
Life's a big banana sandwich
I haven't got a care

To clarify, it had a small girl who swore in the opening credits?

>To clarify, it had a small girl who swore in the opening credits?

That was Series 2 'Stuff' - a parody of the 'Mickey Mouse Club' (the first show did a great send-up which claimed that Alexei Sayle was an animated character created by Disney - and included footage of his first ever 'short' 'Steamboat Fatty').

Everybody give three cheers
Except the BBC
A-L-E, X-E-I, S-A-Y-L-E

"Who is that fat bastard?"

>Just first two - which is a shame, because I thought the third (never rptd) was stronger. The comp tape isn't very good - try and get the originals.

The third series was slaughtered on UK Gold. Some shows were down by 10 mins.

No one is mentioning 'Alexei's Merry Go Round'...

Re Merry Go Round, that was in 1998 if I remember rightly. He averaged a series every two years for over a decade, so, er, has he given up entirely? Or is he sick of replacing the writers?

Series 2 was a vast mark up for 'All New Alexei Sayle Show'. The monolgues in the first or second show were delivered by foreigners who looked a bit like him.

One should also note his five-minute kitchen table monologue for the messy 'Fry & Laurie Host A Christmas Night With the Stars' in 1994.

>Re Merry Go Round, that was in 1998 if I remember rightly. He averaged a series every two years for over a decade, so, er, has he given up entirely?

He's just written a book of stories, make of that what you will. Oh yeah he did a programme about latin dancing or something.

Well, yeah, I was at the bloody reading in London. I'm certain it wasn't the seat that made me fidgety.

He's clearly enjoying writing, but I was pondering on whether he plans to return to the sketch show at any point. No one was naff enough to ask him at the Q&A.

>Well, yeah, I was at the bloody reading in London. I'm certain it wasn't the seat that made me fidgety.
>
>He's clearly enjoying writing, but I was pondering on whether he plans to return to the sketch show at any point. No one was naff enough to ask him at the Q&A.

The thing is, he's not angery anymore, I remember the last sketch show he did, didn't he have a beard and wear jumpers? Or was that one of his characters.

Also how many LPs did he do, I had a mate who had a few. One opened with a Detective parody.

>No one is mentioning 'Alexei's Merry Go Round'...

I did! I mentioned the title, and said 'oh dear'. There were a *few* good bits (the story of the whale he adopted finding out Alexei wasn't his real father, and, er, some other bits as well possibly), but in general I think Lex's heart just wasn't in it. I'd say that the series being written by a team of writers as opposed to a strong writing partnership led to a disjointed feel to the whole thing, culminating in the series getting bounced around the schedules for the last few episodes.

And on the subject of Xmas specials, what about the fake Xmas show of The All-New... with Alexei in a pullover and Billy Bragg?

"Thanks, Billy. Now, I'd like to sing one of my songs. (picks up acoustic guitar) 'ELLO JOHN, GOT A NEW MOTOR? 'ELLO JOHN, GOT A NEW MOTOR?"

I also seem to remember being surprised that a song about being dead at Christmas had managed to elude the BBC Thought Police, when just about every other programme was getting postponed post-Dunblane.

I was going to write 'ah, happy days' here, but it seems inappropriate now.

>Also how many LPs did he do, I had a mate who had a few. One opened with a Detective parody.

The whole LP was a detective parody. 'The Fish People Tapes'? I've only listened to it once.

There was also 'Cak' - the live LP. That was pretty good.

I have a nice scatalogical version of 'Ullo John' which is basically random shouts from his 'Stream Of Tastelessness' routine over the 'Got A New Motor' back-beat.

"Ullo - 'Wot's The Damage John' minicabs here. Now everybody's out at the moment, but if you'd like some hot money laundered, please fuck off after the tone..."

>>Also how many LPs did he do, I had a mate who had a few. One opened with a Detective parody.
>
>The whole LP was a detective parody. 'The Fish People Tapes'? I've only listened to it once.
>
>There was also 'Cak' - the live LP. That was pretty good.
>
>I have a nice scatalogical version of 'Ullo John' which is basically random shouts from his 'Stream Of Tastelessness' routine over the 'Got A New Motor' back-beat.
>
>"Ullo - 'Wot's The Damage John' minicabs here. Now everybody's out at the moment, but if you'd like some hot money laundered, please fuck off after the tone..."

I would just like to mention "Didn't you kill my brother" just for the bit where he fires of that shotgun to get the kids attention. Who was his mum in that? Irene Handle or the one who was in Entertaining Mr Sloane

>Irene Handle or the one who was in Entertaining Mr Sloane

Yeah - Beryl Reid.

>>Irene Handle or the one who was in Entertaining Mr Sloane
>
>Yeah - Beryl Reid.

Cheers! Another AS prog sprung to mind, anyone remember Jumble the Cat? It was a kids brit cartoon (nice colours etc), I remember it being not very good (no hidden grown up jokes).

>I have a nice scatalogical version of 'Ullo John' which is basically random shouts from his 'Stream Of Tastelessness' routine over the 'Got A New Motor' back-beat.

The Mister Sweary Mix (I seem to recall), it was on the B side of the 12" single. It was knocking around on Napster and probably still is on the alternatives. It went down well in this household when I was 11...

Merry Go Round was swamped in over-direction, as I remember. Oh, it was directed by Edgar "Spaced" Wright. Not really all that funny, and written by hundreds of people.

Whereas "Stuff"...

"Hello. I'm Dick Van Dyke. Hope you are too."

>I would just like to mention "Didn't you kill my brother" just for the bit where he fires of that shotgun to get the kids attention. Who was his mum in that? Irene Handle or the one who was in Entertaining Mr Sloane
>

BING-BONG-BING-BONG... what am I?

Your a silly bugger carling.



Ahem,

Anyway, I'd just like to mention 'Itch which is a very strange 1 off drama shown on Channel 4....

My three favourite Alexei Sayle moments:

3. U.S. detective show (parody of Homicide or NYPD Blue from All New...?) about two cops having to go and see 'The Inspector'. The latter turns out to be Inspector Blake from On The Buses who wants to know "Who put that khazie in there?"

2. A cut from a sketch back to an extended linking sequence with Alexei pretending to be a female host on a GMTV-style morning show. The whole show was cut as if channel-surfing, so sequences would often start mis-discussion, but there was narrative progression (it was as if you were dipping in and out of the show, missing sections on the way). This particular cut back was to a wide shot of all the guests on the sofa, all of whom were eating cake (no explanation was given), and one of whom was dressed in a big rabbit costume. I nearly wet myself.

1. The Juliet Bravo "sketch" mentioned on TV Cream. Can't remember which show it was from, mind. The whole first five minutes of the show was Juliet Bravo, then Alexei wanders in. Can anyone clear up my memory on this one?

>1. The Juliet Bravo "sketch" mentioned on TV Cream. Can't remember which show it was from, mind. The whole first five minutes of the show was Juliet Bravo, then Alexei wanders in. Can anyone clear up my memory on this one?

It opened with a trailer for "Stuff", suggesting it was on BBC2 at that moment (which of course it was, if you see what I mean). Then came the BBC1 ident, and the start of Juliet Bravo. Cue a lengthy and completely convincing facsimilie of an episode of said show, interrupted several minutes later by the arrival of Sayle. Sheer genius.

"Dickens' Little Dorrit... and here's the sequel - Big Dorrit".

Favourite Sayle moments:

His plan to never learn anything new, in case the mind has a finite capacity and the storage of a new fact causes him to forget something important. Later he accidentally discovers that Cardiff is the fourth largest port in Britain.

Roger Cook investigating 'God Plc'.

His plans to kill Thatcher by sending her a bottle of bleach with the 'do not drink' warning crossed off.

>His plan to never learn anything new, in case the mind has a finite capacity and the storage of a new fact causes him to forget something important.

... like walking, wasn't it?

>Later he accidentally discovers that Cardiff is the fourth largest port in Britain.

... and falls over.

Am I right in thinking that during Stuff, the opening credits turned up later and later in the show?

Cheerio

Steve