Fist of Fun

6.8

1995

2 Seasons

Ended

Comedy

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Overview

Fist of Fun was a British comedy television and radio programme, written by and starring Lee and Herring. A lot of the show's comic material was adapted from Lee and Herring's radio programme Lionel Nimrod's Inexplicable World. Each episode of Fist of Fun featured several disparate sketches and situations. Fist of Fun began as a BBC Radio 1 series in 1993, before becoming commissioned as a television series on BBC Two in early 1995. It was broadcast at 9pm on Tuesday nights, and was successful, but not a major ratings-winner. The second series was aired on Friday nights, and although its ratings were relatively good, the show suffered from a lack of preparation and poor promotion. The show was not given a third series, and Lee and Herring went on to write This Morning with Richard Not Judy, for BBC Two. Many other comedians who appeared in the series went on to fame themselves, including Kevin Eldon, Peter Baynham, Ronni Ancona, Alistair McGowan, Al Murray, John Thomson, Rebecca Front, Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Ben Moor and Sally Phillips.

Creator

Stewart Lee

Network

BBC Two

Episodes

Episode Runtime

30 min

Seasons & Episodes

E10.030m

Episode 1

The first episode introduces us to some of the features which will run throughout both series, such as Simon Quinlank's hobbies, Peter's poverty stricken life and the general disaparaging of Somerset people. Lee and Herring leap from crates at the beginning of the show, and Richard is excited about meeting Jeremy Paxman 'off the telly'. The Gall-Ery makes its television debut. Rich asks viewers to send in their contributions in the hope of getting an 'I Love Fist Of Fun' badge and having their work ridiculed and thrown into a burning bin. Also introduced is the running joke of Rich not knowing what a simile is.

Apr 11, 1995

E20.030m

Episode 2

As the funsters jump out of their crates there is something wrong. In Richard's place is a crate full of crockery, and he eventually walks on stage. Rich and Stu discuss the clipping from the Radio Times that Rich's mum showed to the children in her class. Stu comments that they would obviously be impressed with anything, being from Somerset. Peter announces that he has found a new stain, which is his new hobby. The first sketch concerns 'Urban Men' which we discover are men who run around the streets freely, dressed only in their underpants. A flash frame states that viewers can write in and request the pants used in the sketch, and people did. Back in the studio, Stu begins another rant about Patrick Marber, the so-called culture thief. They recreate the time that Rich was arrested for driving around shouting, "Curse you, Patrick Marber." Patrick Marber is a comedian, writer and producer who has appeared with both Lee and Herring and Alan Partridge.

Apr 18, 1995