Whilst on holiday I learnt of the sad death of Scottish acting legend Robbie Coltrane. Predictably, the media have made tribute to him with headlines such as 'Harry Potter Star Dies' or 'Hagrid Dies', as though it was the only thing he was famous for. I did not care for the movie adaptions of J. K. Rowling's books personally. I preferred his work on films such as 'Nuns On The Run' and 'The Pope Must Die' or in TV shows such as 'Cracker', 'Tutti Frutti', 'A Kick Up The Eighties' and this,
The first sketch has a group of friends in a tea room quarreling over a large cream cake, resulting in one of them attempting to greedily wolf it down, only to choke to death on it. When one of the friends asks worriedly what they are going to do about the situation, one of the others replies: ''Well, we could slice the cake three ways!''.
In a porn movie spoof entitled 'Sex Kitchen Starring Jayne Thompson', a sexy housewife is visited by a pair of randy plumbers who indulge in some mindless small talk. However just before they get down to business ( and I don't mean plumbing ), the sketch very deliberately ends abruptly.
A 'Twlight Zone' parody sees a novelist attempting to take down a satanic television viewing cult by attempting to hammer a foot ( as opposed to a stake ) through a television screen to kill the cult members.
A 'Playschool' spoof entitled 'Playalong' sees the two presenters play some very dubious looking games with an assortment of sexual objects.
In a Mason Boyne sketch, it is the ranting bigot's birthday but he sees it as no need to celebrate ( though that does not stop him accepting a present of a new sash and a box of orange creams from his wife ) and he is less than greatful for the birthday card from his daughter ( named Orangina! ) as it bears a picture of 'Snoopy' from 'Peanuts' carrying an umbrella like a bishop's crook, making him think Snoopy must be a Catholic. ''It's terrible how low they'll stoop to get their doctrines across. The Catholics are obsessed with religion!'', he says.
Louise Gold sings in a deliberately over-enhusiastic fashion an operatic style number entitled 'I Believe In Me' in the manner of Shirley Bassey's 'This Is My Life', though far from receiving the cheering and applause from the audience that she expected, she is greeted with booing and jeering.
In this week's 'The Master Of Dundriech', Tom has survived his ordeal with the help of an old crone he met in the woods, who gives him a pair of joke glasses to disguise himself. When Murdoch finds him, Tom poses as a deserter from the army. Murdoch is thrilled by his and takes him on as an assistant to help him with his illegal experiments. However his disguise is soon blown and he is on the run again.
A great episode boasting all round excellent performances yet again and some first rate sketches. Robbie's passing has sadly left a huge dent to the world of showbusiness but his legacy as a fantastic actor will live on strong forever. At present 'Laugh? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee' is not available on DVD, though given that the lesser known 'Alfresco' ( which featured Coltrane alongside the likes of Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson ) was released a few years back, it gives me hope that in view of his passing, this might just get released as well, along with 'A Kick Up The Eighties'.
Funniest sketch - it's a difficult one but I would probably have to say that it would be the sketch in the tea room, something that might not have looked out of place in 'Not The Nine O'Clock News'.
The first sketch has a group of friends in a tea room quarreling over a large cream cake, resulting in one of them attempting to greedily wolf it down, only to choke to death on it. When one of the friends asks worriedly what they are going to do about the situation, one of the others replies: ''Well, we could slice the cake three ways!''.
In a porn movie spoof entitled 'Sex Kitchen Starring Jayne Thompson', a sexy housewife is visited by a pair of randy plumbers who indulge in some mindless small talk. However just before they get down to business ( and I don't mean plumbing ), the sketch very deliberately ends abruptly.
A 'Twlight Zone' parody sees a novelist attempting to take down a satanic television viewing cult by attempting to hammer a foot ( as opposed to a stake ) through a television screen to kill the cult members.
A 'Playschool' spoof entitled 'Playalong' sees the two presenters play some very dubious looking games with an assortment of sexual objects.
In a Mason Boyne sketch, it is the ranting bigot's birthday but he sees it as no need to celebrate ( though that does not stop him accepting a present of a new sash and a box of orange creams from his wife ) and he is less than greatful for the birthday card from his daughter ( named Orangina! ) as it bears a picture of 'Snoopy' from 'Peanuts' carrying an umbrella like a bishop's crook, making him think Snoopy must be a Catholic. ''It's terrible how low they'll stoop to get their doctrines across. The Catholics are obsessed with religion!'', he says.
Louise Gold sings in a deliberately over-enhusiastic fashion an operatic style number entitled 'I Believe In Me' in the manner of Shirley Bassey's 'This Is My Life', though far from receiving the cheering and applause from the audience that she expected, she is greeted with booing and jeering.
In this week's 'The Master Of Dundriech', Tom has survived his ordeal with the help of an old crone he met in the woods, who gives him a pair of joke glasses to disguise himself. When Murdoch finds him, Tom poses as a deserter from the army. Murdoch is thrilled by his and takes him on as an assistant to help him with his illegal experiments. However his disguise is soon blown and he is on the run again.
A great episode boasting all round excellent performances yet again and some first rate sketches. Robbie's passing has sadly left a huge dent to the world of showbusiness but his legacy as a fantastic actor will live on strong forever. At present 'Laugh? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee' is not available on DVD, though given that the lesser known 'Alfresco' ( which featured Coltrane alongside the likes of Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson ) was released a few years back, it gives me hope that in view of his passing, this might just get released as well, along with 'A Kick Up The Eighties'.
Funniest sketch - it's a difficult one but I would probably have to say that it would be the sketch in the tea room, something that might not have looked out of place in 'Not The Nine O'Clock News'.