The Dwarfers do ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for Comic Relief (1993)

[redhead85]

Do you guys remember this from back in 1993? I used to (and still do) love watching Comic Relief. I had vague memories as a kid of watching this (clearly done when they were filming series 6) of the Dwarfers joining in with a host of early 90s celebs, miming along to Bohemian Rhapsody. And now here it is on YouTube! Enjoy.

Topic

[ChrisM]

I remember that. 1993. 17 years ago. Dear me.

[p2p_productions]

Haven’t seen this in years…

Was on the Comic Relief VHS too. The one with the red furry slip case.

[clem]

Good old Rob McElwee really going for it with his air guitar at 3:45 there. And Trev and Simon as the Rogers brothers! Pop pop!

[Carlito]

Two immediate thoughts spring to mind:

1. Isn’t it strange that Brookside (R.I.P.) and Emmerdale Farm were represented, but EastEnders and Corrie weren’t?

2. Ooh that Anne Robinson is an obnoxious cunt, isn’t she? (03:58)

[Ben Paddon]

Kryten’s got no nose.

[hummingbird]

How does he smell?

[redhead85]

> Kryten?s got no nose.

Indeed – I think it mentions it in one of the guidebooks that they’d finished filming for the day and he’d started pulling off the mask when they told them they had to film this. They just dabbed it with a bit of red make up to look like a ‘red nose’ and probably hoped nobody would notice.

> How does he smell?

Oh, I’m sorry. Awful! Boom boom!

I was so excited to see Gordon the Gopher and Ed the Duck. Mind you, I was 8 years old when this came out….

[hummingbird]

Fry and Laurie totally win.

[clem]

> Isn?t it strange that Brookside (R.I.P.) and Emmerdale Farm were represented, but EastEnders and Corrie weren?t?

That does seem odd. ‘Emmerdale Farm’ had already been shortened to just ‘Emmerdale’ by then. 1989 apparently. Bloody hell I feel old now, because I can remember it still being ‘Emmerdale Farm’

[Alex]

hat does seem odd. ?Emmerdale Farm? had already been shortened to just ?Emmerdale? by then. 1989 apparently. Bloody hell I feel old now, because I can remember it still being ?Emmerdale Farm?

Doesn’t take so long to read. They’ve got a lot more time to do other things. Can pack a lot more story in.

[Carlito]

> ?Emmerdale Farm? had already been shortened to just ?Emmerdale? by then. 1989 apparently.

Oh right. I thought it was the mid 90s when they had that big plane crash. Shows how much I know! (I don’t watch it though, so that’s my excuse)

[Danny Stephenson]

Doesn?t take so long to read. They?ve got a lot more time to do other things. Can pack a lot more story in.

That’s got to be the first time i’ve seen a Bottom quote on G&T…

[p2p_productions]

PUT A BIT OF SELLOTAPE ON THE FRIDGE.

[Ben Paddon]

YES WE’VE GOT A VIoh sorry wrong show.

[Alex]

That?s got to be the first time i?ve seen a Bottom quote on G&T?

Well having been watching it genuinely for as long as I can remember, every line of those 3 series is now hardwired into my brain, so whenever anyone mentions Emmerdale Farm that?s always the first thing that comes to mind.

[redhead85]

> Well having been watching it genuinely for as long as I can remember, every line of those 3 series is now hardwired into my brain, so whenever anyone mentions Emmerdale Farm that?s always the first thing that comes to mind.

Ditto. I love that show

[p2p_productions]

…Could still happen.

[Alex]

I like the caption, very apt. I think the last stage show showed why it shouldn’t though. I liked the first 3, the 4th was on a downward slide and the second half of the 5th was a struggle. That said I did like the idea they put about a few years back that they’d like to do a one off with them further down the line in a care home. Might be awful of course but the idea appealed to me.

[p2p_productions]

Yeah, I absolutely loved the TV run. Bottom Live I, II, & Hooligan’s Island too.

I actually saw the fourth show live in 2001 – miles better than seeing it on DVD (even the ‘mistakes’ were identical…). Still, at least I managed to salvage several charred pieces of Dave the Parrot from near the front row. :)

If only Guest House Paradiso had fared better, Series IV might’ve naturally followed. I’m sure it’ll happen some day though. Maybe a channel like Dave could pick it up. If left to do what they do best, the ‘Rik & Ade in a care home’ idea could be great.

[Alex]

I?m sure it?ll happen some day though. Maybe a channel like Dave could pick it up. If left to do what they do best, the ?Rik & Ade in a care home? idea could be great.

Of course the mnajor problem there is Ade saying a while back that they would never do any more (on tv or stage) as they were getting too old and it was ‘slightly undignified talking about wanking and knobs constantly’.

[Carlito]

I think Ade also made a comment along the lines of it being very difficult and frustrating to work with Rik since his accident. Sad.

I saw the final Bottom Live show in Cardiff, and it was much better live than on DVD. Of course, my theory that laughter is truly infectious and that it is best enjoyed (and amplified) as a communal experience – therefore my argument in favour of studio audience sitcoms genuinely working even now – probably had a lot to do with that too.

Having said that [/Larry David], I did fall asleep halfway through. That was mainly due to pulling an all-nighter the previous night… probably.

[clem]

Apparently they did write a fourth series of Bottom but it was turned down by the BBC. It was “rejected by some lesbian bitch” according to Rik Mayall.

[Carlito]

Was it Janet Street Porter by any chance?

[Alex]

Apparently they did write a fourth series of Bottom but it was turned down by the BBC. It was ?rejected by some lesbian bitch? according to Rik Mayall.

Yes, that is indeed true. They even announced at the end of series 3 over the credits that Bottom would be back next year.

[p2p_productions]

I’ve always wondered if those Series IV scripts were recycled for the movie/live shows or are still sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting to be filmed…

[Seb Patrick]

It’s a shame that Rik Mayall has become such a massive twat. Or maybe he already was one. But it’s fair to say that Ade has aged with rather more dignity.

Guest House Paradiso was wank, though, wasn’t it?

[p2p_productions]

I bumped into Fenella Fielding once and asked if she’d sign a Guest House Paradiso VHS cover… She was all smiles until she saw the sleeve.

[clem]

I can’t hear or read Fenella Fielding’s name without imagining her as the voice of The Time Vagina in a fictional Carry On film from the TV Go Home book.

[p2p_productions]

I remember, after signing the VHS, she looked up at me and said (in full luvvie mode):

“Oh dear, I’ve gone over his face..!” (having accidentally written over Rik’s picture) “…Nevermind. There’s considerably more face in the movie!”

[clem]

That is brilliant.

[Author]

Replies