Dave Allen

Late dark Dave Allen: vis-a-vis his tv shows in '93-94 was just as perceptive and funny as his shows for the Beeb between '71 and 1986 covering topics from the absurd dead-weight and fatuities of technology e.g. Automated computerised car voiceovers: prefiguring the onset of the internet, mobile phones etc to the usual gags relating to sexual and religious peccadilloes. It isn't the case of the earlier the better and refreshingly acerbic Irish raconteur, Allen stood for intelligent tv comedy. The Dave Allen at Large series caught the zeitgeist - I fondly remember the series from the early-'70s when I was a nipper. His shows for the Beeb in 1990 showcased a maturer take on a fatuous world. You're jiving when you hear the jazz-funk score ''Blarney's Stoned.''

The final Dave Allen series, for my money was arguably his best. Thirty minute episodes, no sketches, just standup, Dave, the genius at his absolute best.

As he got older, I think he got funnier, and somewhat more disillusioned with modern life, one could only imagine what he'd make of the current state of things.

Nothing is off the cards for Dave, as always he goes for Politics and Religion, naturally targeting the Catholic faith, but he talks about mobile phones, modern cars and travel, plus so much more.

It features so many classic scenes, I could watch the telling the time sketch over and over, plus the old woman in the Post Office.

I had this on VHS, and as a thirteen year old I used to watch it over and over, I got to the point where I knew it word for word.

For the life of me I don't get why it's never had a commercial release, it surely deserved one.

Brilliant.

9/10.