Naked Video

The title had been taken but it had to be the title of my review because my siblings would quote Siadwel until bedtime after watching an episode of the Naked Video.

Was the vehicle that brought Gregor Fisher and 'Rab C. Nesbitt' to national consciousness and fame but a pre-runner to the Fast Show. It was a series of sketches and it was very original and funny. It was shown on BBC 2 and was probably made to be an competitor to Channel 4's alternative comedy schedule that was owning it at the time. Comedy changed in the eighties and the Naked Video was part of that.

Apart from Helen Lederer and John Sparkes who were both Welsh. It was a totally Scottish cast. Probably didn't get the acclaim it should have done and would have done better on Channel 4 but still - it was brilliant comedy and if you were watching it back in 1986 - you know it.

Naked Video in my mind followed in the tradition of Not the Nine O'Clock News and A Kick Up The Eighties. It was made up of mainly a Scots cast with the exception of Helen Lederer. Helen Lederer mainly did this piece where she would talk about her characters life and what had happened in it the previous week. There used to be a Welsh guy in this slot and I'm fairly sure the two of them were never in the same show.

Gregor Fisher and Andy Gray seemed to be the main comedians in this show, but all the other cast made it the great show it was. Gregor had some fantastic characters like the guy from Outer Hebridies Broadcasting Corp, the guy with the comb over hair and also I'm sure this was the birthplace of Rab C Nesbitt. Andy Grey will always be remembered mainly as Chancer from City Lights but he has a classic character in this show as a poser who seemed to be from Miami Vice.

The show was broadcast on BBC2 and lasted a couple of series. Naked Video is sometimes repeated on cable & satellite and you'll find that some of the modern sketch shows have borrowed a bit but have n't managed to convey the sheer funniness of the original.