Monday 9th March 2020
UKTV today confirms it is bringing back the cast of the much-loved comedy classic for The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases, a brand-new retrospective with a twist (1x120'). Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Arabella Weir, John Thomson, Simon Day and Mark Williams will reunite to remember more than twenty-five years of a true icon of British comedy - and they're bringing the likes of Swiss Toni, Dave Angel, Jesse, No Offence, Professor Denzil Dexter and Rowley Birkin QC with them. Yes, it's not just the cast who will be interviewed, but many of the show's best-loved characters will make their long-awaited return to TV screens, interviewed in all-new scripted segments to discuss their experiences on set, reveal behind-the-scenes gossip, and even share what they're up to now. The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases is produced by Crook Productions.
Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson said:
It's 26 years since the first episode of The Fast Show went out. We didn't manage to celebrate our 25th anniversary but we are marking it now. All the (remaining) contributors will be reflecting on their favourite bits and some of the characters will also be looking back at their time on the show. Join us, them, and all of your favourite Fast Show characters, sketches and catchphrases as we celebrate 26, yes 26 glorious years!
The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases is commissioned for UKTV by Iain Coyle, head of comedy entertainment, and ordered by Gerald Casey, Gold channel director. Richard Watsham is director of commissioning, Steve North is genre general manager for comedy and entertainment. Executive producers for Crook Productions are Matt Crook and Adam McLean and it is produced by Victoria Thomas.
Iain Coyle said:
The Fast Show is one of those shows, it's a defining moment in comedy history. No sketch show has come close to having its impact, in my TV life, and no show has come anywhere near to creating as many unforgettable characters.
Gerald Casey said:
It's hugely exciting that Paul, Charlie and the rest of the fantastic cast of The Fast Show are reuniting especially for Gold. We know viewers will love hearing the behind-the-scenes stories from the show's history, and as a fan I can't wait to see all their classic characters again.
Matt Crook, head of Crook Productions, said:
It's an absolute privilege to be making this show. The Fast Show was THE comedy show of the 90s and the writing and the characters are still BRILLIANT!! (sorry)
The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases is the latest UKTV Original for Gold, following the smash hit success of Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes and Dial M For Middlesbrough, alongside other scripted series such as The Cockfields and the debut this month of Sandylands, starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, David Walliams and Natalie Dew.
The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases will air on Gold later this year.
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For more information and interview requests, please contact:
Ben Duncan, Publicist, UKTV
About Gold
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Dedicated to celebrating the best of British comedy, Gold is the nation's favourite comedy channel.
Much-loved comedy series such as Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family sit alongside an array of successful UKTV Originals including David Jason: My Life on Screen, The Rebel, The Story of Only Fools and Horses, and Murder on the Blackpool Express, which stars a stunning cast including Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson. The feature length UKTV Original attracted 1.72 million viewers in its first week in 2017, making it Gold's highest ever rating show.
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About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.