Watch Harry Enfield's Television Programme
- 1990
- 2 Seasons
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7.3 (2,000)
Harry Enfield's Television Programme was a British sketch comedy show that aired on BBC Two from 1990 to 1992. The show starred Harry Enfield, a notable comedian and actor who was popular at the time for his character work on the show, "Saturday Live". The show was co-written by Enfield and his collaborator, Paul Whitehouse.
The tone of the show was satirical and irreverent, which meant that no target was off limits. The show's main focus was on satirising and parodying British culture, society and politics. The show's sketches featured some hilarious parodies of famous British characters, from Margaret Thatcher to Dirty Den from EastEnders.
One of the show's most memorable characters was Kevin the Teenager, a petulant, smug and self-involved caricature of a British teenager. This character became one of Enfield's most popular, partly due to the fact that it was introduced when Enfield himself was in his early 30s, which added a meta layer of humour to the already hilarious character.
Another popular character was Loadsamoney, a loud and self-important cockney who was obsessed with money and success. The character's catchphrase, "loadsamoney!", became popular in the UK and was even used by the Conservative government of the time to promote their economic policies.
The show also featured parodies of popular British TV shows, like "The Bill", "Blackadder" and "One Foot in the Grave", which amused viewers who were familiar with the original programmes. The show's parodies were clever and well-observed, often poking fun at the tropes and characteristics of the original shows.
The show wasn't just made up of sketches, it also had musical performances by bands from the time. These included Madness, The Housemartins, and Jesus Jones among others. The musical performances were a nice touch, and added another layer of variety to the show.
The show was a major success in the UK, and its popularity led to a spin-off show called "Harry Enfield and Chums". This show featured many of the same characters from the original programme, as well as new ones. The show also featured Enfield and his collaborator Whitehouse in various roles, both in front of and behind the camera.
The success of "Harry Enfield's Television Programme" can be attributed to its mix of topical satire, inventive sketches, and larger-than-life characterisations. The show was refreshing in its irreverence and willingness to mock even the most powerful and revered members of British society. It was also a showcase for the considerable talents of Enfield and his team of writers and performers.
In conclusion, "Harry Enfield's Television Programme" was a hilarious sketch comedy show that was a hit in the UK in the early 1990s. The show's parodies of British culture and society were clever and well-observed, while the performances and writing were top-notch. The show has rightly earned its place as a classic of British comedy, and it continues to be fondly remembered by viewers who enjoyed its unique blend of humour and satire.
Harry Enfield's Television Programme is a series that ran for 2 seasons (13 episodes) between November 8, 1990 and on BBC TWO