Filthy Rich & Catflap

This is one of the premier comedy shows of the 80s, and certainly one of Elton's best. He uses every comedy technique in his repertoire for this series and it's clear his writing had matured considerably at this point in his career.

When I first got to university in 1989, a friend there was a staunch Filthy fan. He and I would argue the toss over whether Filthy or the Young Ones was the "best" comedy series (bloody students, nothing better to do). It took a few years but I'm now convinced - Filthy is "grown up" Young Ones. The writing is better, the characters are stronger, the jokes are funnier, and there are still surreal moments. There are even real plots for goodness' sake!

I honestly can't recommend watching this series highly enough. Even if you just do it once and decide you hate it, you will have seen some of Ben Elton's "Rik and Ade" masterwork.

Although probably overshadowed by Blackadder, Filthy, Rich & Catflap acquired a highly quoteable cult status when I was at school coming as it did straight after The Young Ones and forerunning Bottom (also alongside the also long forgotten Happy Families, created by the same team).

It's easy to see what this show influenced- and what influences it left. For me, looking at it now, the surreal antics of Filthy, Ritchie & Eddie are still hilarious as ever (although you now have to have a serious knowledge of 1980s pop culture) but the satire of broken down, Z List celebrity culture - minus the phones, social media, chat rags and reality TV - is right on the money.

I doubt no show before or since could pull a stunt like the boys preparing to drunkly drop their trousers in front of Anne Diamond live on TV AM....Come On! Let's Show The World!!

The fact that this brilliant show was so quickly forgotten, and so underestimated, is a dirty rotten shame!

Just like Bottom and The Young Ones this show is brilliant and offers you laugh after laugh. It's quite hard to say what went wrong, but only six episodes were produced and as far as I know only shown once on BBC and a few other channels. Just like Bottom and Young Ones can be purchased on DVD/VHS in stores worldwide, this show is only available on amazon.co.uk via 2nd hand.....it could look like someone's simply trying to wipe the show's existance off the face of the earth, which, to my hand, should be a punishable crime.

Watch this show if you can find it, it's brilliant!!!!

After reading a LOT of really negative comments about this series, I admit I was fully prepared to hate it. Nevertheless, I trawled thru my local DVD shop, found a copy, brought it home and settled down to watch the first ep. Three hours later, still giggling like a loon, I went around telling everyone they HAVE to watch this. I agree it's kinda like "The Young Ones" grown up, and could be Richard Richard and Eddie Hitler before they were quite such sad losers, but it's so much more. Okay, the satire isn't exactly biting but it's nibbling at least. If you're a fan of Rik and Ade, give this a try. It's a very underrated comedy that you have to make your own mind up about, but I don't think you'll be disappointed. I leave you with one of my fave quotes...

Richie: So you don't like the police, eh? Next time you've been beaten up, try calling an alternative comedian!

In the winter of 87' I first got acquainted with this wonderful group of comedians. I later watched the Young Ones and Bottom, but Filthy, Rich and Catflap remains my favorite by far.It is much more clever and funny, better written. This is my favorite comedy of all time. Difficult to believe it is so underestimated.The reason may be the harsh criticism on various BBC and show business stars. Moreover, they also criticized the BBC establishment. That was too much for some of those dinosaurs during that Thatcher era. I don't know if more episodes were necessary, since the six produced are masterpieces. I also understand that Rick Mayall was not pleased with the final result, and wanted more say in the show; to that I can only say- Rick you were marvelous, but the show was great too.