A Bit of the Radio Times Listings for A Bit of Fry & Laurie

Amusing Radio Times listings from the 80s and 90s, as written by the show's production team, before the practice sadly stopped, are great. As taken from the BBC Programme Index, then, here are the ones that concern A Bit of Fry & Laurie.

Original pilot (TX 26/12/87, BBC One): Thirty minutes of exquisitely-tooled comedy, embossed with a personalised monogram of up to two of your favourite initials. Available in moroccan peach or executive silver. Packs neatly into suitcase or tote bag to provide instant relief in up to four fashionable languages. Ideal as a handy key-fob caddy or garden friend. [Note: Repeated on BBC Two on 01/04/88, with the same listing as here, which wasn't always the case for these.]

Series 1 (TX 13/01/89 to 17/02/89, BBC Two)

1) Three hours of interrupted viewing pleasure, handily divided into six stylish, convenient, bite-sized programmes, that say much more about you than the clothes you eat.

2-4) The same as the above, slightly disappointingly; between the fact that this series was still being recorded as it began broadcast, and the discussion of this series' promotion in Jem Roberts' superlative history of Fry & Laurie, Soupy Twists!, I lean towards the explanation that it just wasn't Fry & Laurie's priority, and a unique synopsis wasn't provided for the RT on these weeks.

5) A half hour of entertainment broadcast to machines called 'television sets'. By watching your 'television set' at the above time you may see and hear events which incline you to laugh. This is quite deliberate.

6) When Sergeants Rothka and McAllister are called out to investigate the sudden disappearance of the word 'shudder' from a copy of Jane Austen's Persuasion, it looks like a routine case. But events take on a sinister turn when Captain Fuseli is found with a photograph of Maureen Lipman in his tote bag.

Note that Deborah Norton is billed as "with Deborah Norton as everyone else" on shows 1-4, and just "with Deborah Norton" on episodes 5-6, i.e. the two with unique synopses provided.

Also note this: it's largely accurate to say Deborah Norton did indeed play everyone else, with a handful of exceptions: Mark Arnold, who plays Hugh's son in "Parent Power"; Hugh Laurie's son Charles, who is of course the baby in "Special Squad"; and, most prominently, Benjamin Whitrow, who accuses Fry & Laurie of stealing his material in the three "Copyright" sketches across episode 4.

With those peripheral actors not billed in the Radio Times, the twist in the "Copyright" sketches comes as a total surprise to the viewer. Is this deliberate, or just a fortunate coincidence? I lean towards the latter, because those sketches were recorded after the series had begun transmission, so they would've had to be very, very prepared in advance if it's deliberate. But it's an interesting thought, nonetheless.

Series 2 (TX 09/03/90 to 13/04/90, BBC Two)

1) The first of a new experimental series in which Stephen Fry will be played by Hugh Laurie and Hugh Laurie will be played by Stephen Fry. The part of A Bit will be played by And and the part of Of will be played by Paddy Ashdown. The BBC takes no responsibility for articles of clothing removed on the premises.

2) Faxed to you live from medieval Spain. Comedic scenes of a more or less amusing nature which see our two chums struggling to overthrow the Moors. Guest appearance by Nigel Pargeter as the Lawntidy.

3) Recorded studio discussion, shockingly explicit gardening tips and a recorded interview make up a lively half hour of gratuitous politeness. Some surprises though, when special guest Ian Rush fails to turn up naked.

4) Tom gets a surprise when Irene reveals her treachery, and the arrival of Duncan's new legs causes Bob's affair with Martin to reach flash point.

5) New horizons in home entertaining as Dwight Camply, the roving philosopher, arranges debates and symposiums for busy people.

6) An opportunity to win Bruno Brookes or the cash equivalent for the first 1,000 people to ring in and say what they think is wrong with their minds.

It's hard not to see that last one as a continuation of Fry & Laurie's thoughts on the sort of people who write into Points of View...

Series 3 (TX 09/01/92 to 13/02/92, BBC Two)

1) Another series of new sketches written by and starring the dynamic duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie who turn up tonight in a variety of guises - vicar, taxi driver, train spotter, policeman. There's also a cameo appearance from Nicholas Parsons, one-time host of ITV's Sale of the Century.

2) Surreal wit and comedy written by and starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. With Geoff McGivern, Rebecca Saire, Jo Unwin and Karen Gledhill.

3) More sketches written by and starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. All scenes will accord with the government's new Comedy Charter, they assure viewers. If the timing of any joke is late or a punchline is diverted to the wrong sketch, the public will have the absolute right to be slightly disappointed.

4) A further clutch of comedy sketches written by and starring the dynamic duo, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

5) More comedy sketches written by and starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. With Carol Macready,
Geoff McGivern, Rebecca Saire, Jana Shelden, Steve Steen, Jo Unwin and Richard Whitmore.

6) More comedy sketches written by and starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. With Gary Davies, Nimmy March, Jana Shelden and Colin Stinton.

If you're disappointed by only one of these seemingly having a specially written listing (or just baffled by the intermittent decision as to whether to list the guest players or not), here's a really funny listing for The Young Ones to make up for it. Also note, apart from the fact that the specially written one for episode 3 was used as the basis for an actual sketch in the first episode of series 4, that the 1993 repeat run inexplicably has a really detailed listing for episode 2, but just "another chance to see the third series..." for all the others.

Series 4 (TX 12/02/95 to 02/04/95, missing 12/03/95, BBC One)

1) This first part of the new comedy series includes an examination of the sense of smell and a re-make of the classic movie It's a Wonderful Life.

The Programme Index also records the 'Choice' blurb for this episode:

Three years on from their last series together, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are back with a new series of sketches and sophisticated lunacy. "We're slightly fatter and balder and I would hope a little wiser though I think we're a bit stupider if anything", says Laurie.
As befits the show's transition from BBC2 to BBC1, there's a more showbiz feel with a new set, two special guests each week (John Bird and Jane Booker tonight), and moody credits shot in the style of the Calvin Klein perfume ads.

[I guess you wouldn't expect the RT to note that this series was recorded a full year before broadcast, but that "three years" still annoys me a little...]

2) Topics on tonight's edition of the new comedy series include daytime quiz shows and organ transplants. With guests Anne Charleston, formerly of Neighbours, Kevin McNally who recently starred in Ghosts and Fiona Gillies from Joking Apart.

3) Actress Imelda Staunton and Clive Mantle of Casualty are this week's guests on the comedy show.

4) Comedian Caroline Quentin and actor Patrick Barlow are this week's guests on the comedy show. Fry and Laurie also rap, and wash their hair.

[I don't know who provided that second line, but intentionally or not, I find it quite funny.]

5) Actors Phyllida Law and Stephen Moore are this week's guests on the comedy sketch show.

6) The comedy sketch show features the finals of the Young Tory of the Year competition and a death threat for Hugh.

[Again, intentionally or otherwise, just casually stating "a death threat for Hugh" is quite funny.]

7) One Foot in the Grave's Janine Duvitski and Outside Edge's Robert Daws are tonight's guests on the last episode of the comedy sketch series.

It's hard not to wish that Fry & Laurie's obvious disdain for the BBC-mandated "special guest" format had found its way into these listings, but real-life circumstances are an understandable reason for why they didn't happen this series.