The maestro of the sketch show, Paul Whitehouse, known for his work on “The Fast Show,” has curated and narrated this UKTV Original series, guiding audiences through his favourite British sketch shows from the past six decades. Each episode broadly covers a decade, and in this final instalment, we explore the sketch shows of the 2000s.
The new millennium brought about significant changes with the advent of the internet and smartphones, but TV comedy remained unwavering in its quest to push boundaries and explore new horizons. This episode highlights the transformative impact of sketch shows during this period, featuring iconic characters like Catherine Tate’s foul-mouthed Nan and ‘Am I bovvered’ Lauren, as well as the cast of grotesques from “Little Britain.”
The League of Gentlemen also makes an appearance, with their often-disturbing gallery of parochial freaks from Royston Vasey, leaving an indelible mark on TV comedy. The episode also shines a light on underrated talents who broke through during this time, such as “Little Miss Jocelyn” and “Tittybangbang,” while acknowledging the continued dominance of Oxbridge-educated duos like Mitchell & Webb and Armstrong & Miller.
Additionally, we see some of the old guard, including Paul Whitehouse and his long-time comedy partner, Harry Enfield, forging new paths in the new century with a cast of older yet still delightfully clueless comedy caricatures.
Paul Whitehouse’s Sketch Show Years: Gold – Last in Series airs on Thursday, 18 July 2024, at 10 p.m. on Gold, with all episodes available on demand.
