Vids

In the late 90s and early 00s, Channel 4 used to have some late night programmes for stoners and drunkards such as Exploitica, The Trip, BIts and of course Vids.

Vids was a video review series, with some anarchic comedy and a loose plot slotted in-between reviews.

Vids ran from 1998 to 2001 for 6 series. Over time, the main location changed from a shop in a residential street in Hamilton, to a block of flats at the bottom of a hill in Glasgow, and another shop in a residential area in Mosspark. There was also a forth location which was more of a lock-up.

There were some spin-offs from the series such as 'Vidzilla' which was recorded to introduce showings of Godzilla films on Channel 4, and an episode between series 4 and 5 which fills in the loose plot of Nige and Steff dieing at the end of series 4 and coming back to life at the start of series 5.

There is, at the time of writing, a YouTube channel called SpamJavelin which archives all 6 series and some of the extras. Vidzilla can be found on another channel.

when i was in the uk the best part of my week was 'vids' i'm temped to say stef and nigel are the best double act ever. Stef was pretty straight and how anyone would be on the show yet could come out with some of the best gags and nigel was so insane you couldnt help but laugh even when you thought how dumb it was. I mentioned the show to my dad on the off chance he'd even heard of it and he said "oh yeah it's so funny" shame it was on so late at night. Staggering home from the pub to watch 'vids' are times i'll never forget. 9/10

Without doubt the best program on British TV today. Opening 4later in 1998, Vids is now in its 6th series and is maintaining the same style and razor sharp wit it possessed when it first began. Fronted by Nigel Buckland (angry and Welsh) and Stef Gardiner (calm and Scottish) the series has expanded from a micro budgeted video store in Glasgow to... a micro budgeted warehouse in Glasgow, but they have two sets now. Interspersing vitriolic reviews with a story (ranging from Nige learning to drive, to killing his half brother Lingus) each week provides a brilliant slice of cult entertainment, and its late night time slot only adds to the feeling that you have found an overlooked gem. Which, if you watch it, you have.

I miss the late night selection of programs that 4 later served us in the late 90's. A selection of Vids, Bits and HBO's Oz always made my late night complete 😎

The selection of Films/Video that was reviewed each episode was a great collection and even looking back now turns out some real cult classics

This is without a doubt my favourite TV show ever!

Despite it's humble premise, it is a weekly show reviewing the latest UK film video and rental releases, the combination of Nige and Stef, the fantastically funny, often dirty as feck humour, honest yet insightful (and frequently elegantly wordy) reviews, the locations (my home town!!!) and generally the evident friendship between Nige and Stef and as the beating heart of the show, the absolute GENIUS of Nige.

I have many of these 25 minutes slices of pure bonobo biscuits taped and even though they are now years old I still watch them every now and then, sure, the releases are no longer current but the laughs remain and still frankly outranks anything made since labelled 'comedy'.

I don't know why this giant of late night TV was cancelled or ended but I genuinely still miss it, for every stinker like 'Pearl Harbour' or 'A.I' or 'true to life' Brit-trash like 'Notting Hill' or 'Love, Actually' I can imagine Nige and Stef tearing them apart critically whilst fitting in any number of masturbatory, middle class corn-fed sand eating silky boy jokes and comments and improvising new and hilarious SHOUTY NOISES. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHH.

I have seen Nige on ScottishTV occasionally doing reports on the Edinburgh Festival and at New Year celebratory shows and he was a reporter at T in the Park 2003 but these slots are mere snippets of what he can do with his genius overshadowed by the likes of him-from-shetland-whose-brother-won-big-brother. Criminal eh? Bring back Vids Nige!

Basically, it's brilliant. If you ever seen it, like me, reading this will bring a tiny tear to the Japanese eye, if you never saw it, weep for the experiences lost to the ether and curse yourself for not staying up to watch it.

This programme had it all, I miss it constantly (yes, I am very sad). However, only a low-centre of gravity gruffle grabber would disagree!