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Vic and Bob

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Vic Reeves (born 24 January 1959, real name Jim Moir) and Bob Mortimer (born 23 May 1959), more commonly known simply as Vic and Bob or Reeves & Mortimer, are a British comedy double act. They have written and starred in several comedy programmes on British television from 1990.

Reeves & Mortimer's unique comedy combines surreal, often inexplicable, visually and verbally inventive material which often verges on the downright bizarre with traditional comedy double act staples such as violent, cartoonish slapstick (a frequent occurrence is the duo engaging in escalating fights with large frying pans, baseball bats, hammers etc...), witty, often very silly banter (usually at their trademark, prop-strewn desk) and purposefully corny, rapid-fire jokes.

It is all infused with an anarchic energy and a deliberate, knowingly exaggerated "edge" to the performance. Their act is more versatile than many double acts who rely on the straight man/funny man dynamic. Often Mortimer will be the exasperated foil to Reeves' eccentric buffoon, or Reeves will play blankly bemused or annoyed to a manic or hyperactive Mortimer.

They forged a status for themselves as "the alternatives to alternative comedy" in the late 80s and early 90s, and to this day inhabit a comedic universe all of their own, while still managing to exert a massive influence on British comedy.

In a 2005 poll The Comedian's Comedian, the duo were voted the 9th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

Career as a double-act

Vic and Bob have performed on a number of television programmes as a double act, though they have also worked alone or in collaboration with other people. For Reeves' work outside of the Reeves & Mortimer double act, see Vic Reeves. For Mortimer's work, see Bob Mortimer.

The early years

Jim Moir's comedy career began in New Cross, London, in the mid-1980s. Having tried out various stage names, he settled on Vic Reeves and began a show called Vic Reeves' Big Night Out at The Goldsmiths Tavern. It was here that he met and began working with Bob Mortimer, and the show then moved to a bigger venue, the Albany Theatre in Deptford, in 1989. The show began to attract various well-known audience members, such as Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse, Jonathan Ross and Alan Yentob.

Television

Jonathan Ross played a large part in Reeves' first TV appearances, which included Reeves hanging suspended from the ceiling during an episode of The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross (1988). His company, Channel X, brought Vic Reeves Big Night Out to Channel 4 as a six-part series in 1990 (in doing so, the original apostrophe after 'Reeves' was dropped). The show quickly attained a cult following. A New Year's Eve special bridging 1990/1991 followed (in which Kim Wilde made an appearance). This was followed by a second eight-part series in 1991.

Few recordings of early Big Night Out live shows exist, although a video was made available to members of the original Fan Club in the mid-90s, which show material and characters very similar to those that made it to the TV show. In addition to Reeves and Mortimer, the other mainstay of the programme was Les (played by Fred Aylward), Vic's bald, lab coat-clad assistant who never spoke, loved spirit levels and had a fear of chives. Other established characters in the TV series included The Man With The Stick, who wore a paper helmet daubed with drawings of what he had witnessed during the last week, and carried a stick with a mystery item attached to the end; Graham Lister, Reeves' nemesis who regularly entered the talent show, "Novelty Island", with a series of dreadful acts; Donald and Davey Stott, two brothers from the North East with impossibly high-pitched voices, who would recreate popular television game shows; Tinker's Rucksack, a pair of ramblers, one of whom was conducting an affair with the other's wife; and 'Judge Lionel Nutmeg', a judge who presided over the "That's Justice" segment of the show.

Sketch shows

In 1993 Reeves and Mortimer transferred from Channel 4 to BBC2, writing and appearing in The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, indicating the rise in Mortimer's standing from sidekick to Reeves' equal.

The programmes were more slick and scripted than their Channel 4 predecessors. Two series of six episodes each were made, and most of the original Big Night Out format was abandoned, although various actors returned in new roles, including Caroline Aherne and Charlie Higson (The Fast Show) and Matt Lucas (Little Britain).).[1] The live stage show that followed the TV series hosted a welcome return for Novelty Island (a sketch from the original Big Night Out). In 1993, the pair also recorded Reeves and Mortimer's Driving School, a one-off comedy show featuring, amongst others, Pat Wright and Dave Arrowsmith, the Bra Men characters from The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

In 1997, they co-wrote a one-off special, It's Ulrika! for Shooting Stars panellist, Ulrika Jonsson. The show aired on BBC1, and featured appearances from Vic and Bob, as well as Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Charlie Higson.

A new sketch show followed in 1999, Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer. Most notably, characters Donald and Davey Stott (who had appeared throughout the Big Night Out era) returned to the screen. The series also featured various celebrity cameos, including Caprice, Michael Winner, Sinéad O'Connor and Damon Hill, and appearances from comedy actors Charlie Higson and Morwenna Banks.

Higson and Banks also appeared, together with Matt Lucas, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Benton and others, in the surreal 6-part BBC Three comedy series Catterick (2004), sometimes listed as Vic and Bob in Catterick.

In 2004, in collaboration with Steve Coogan, Reeves and Mortimer produced a two-part special for ITV, entitled The All Star Comedy Show. The programme featured Banks, Lucas, Shearsmith and Benton from 'Catterick, Reeves, Mortimer and Coogan, plus a wide array of further guests including Fiona Allen, Ronni Ancona, Leslie Ash, Lynda Bellingham, Ronnie Corbett, Tim Healy, Jane Horrocks, Neil Morrissey, Griff Rhys Jones, John Simm, Meera Syal, Ricky Tomlinson and Richard Wilson.

In 2005, a full series was commissioned and was given the new name Monkey Trousers. The series retained most of the same characters, and featured several guests in common with The All Star Comedy Show, plus some new faces including Mackenzie Crook, Ralf Little, John Thomson and Alistair McGowan.

A one-off Big Night Out, primarily to promote the DVD release of Vic Reeves Big Night Out was held in September 2005.

The pair also recorded a pilot program for BBC2, entitled Star Chamber. The program was a debate show chaired by Mortimer, and featured Reeves, Charlie Higson, Johnny Vegas, Liz Smith and Rhys Thomas. However, the program has yet to be commissioned for a full series.

In a magazine interview with Reeves in 2007, Reeves said that he hoped to do a new sketch show with Mortimer, for Christmas 2007 or early 2008.[2]

Quiz shows

In 1993 a pilot episode of Shooting Stars was screened on BBC2 as part of the At Home with Vic and Bob evening of programming. It began running as a regular series in 1995. Maintaining their bizarre and irreverent style, the pair played host to two teams of celebrity guests (captained each week by Mark Lamarr and Ulrika Jonsson, and later Will Self) answering what can be loosely described as general knowledge questions. They were also accompanied by regular appearances from Lucas as drumming baby George Dawes (Lucas is now better known for his work on Little Britain with occasional Reeves and Mortimer collaborator, David Walliams). The quiz element of the show always played second fiddle to the comedic aspects.

Two series of Reeves and Mortimer's second quiz followed in 1999. Entitled Families at War, it featured two families competing in bizarre tasks on a loose Shooting Stars theme. The show was far more mainstream, less comedy-based, and obviously designed for comfortable Saturday evening BBC1 viewing.

Sitcom and drama

In 1992, Reeves and Mortimer made their first brief detour into sitcoms by writing and recording a pilot episode of The Weekenders, a one-off pilot for Channel 4's Bunch Of Five season. The Human League vocalist Phil Oakey, and the future Fast Show trio of Paul Whitehouse, John Thomson and Simon Day, all co-starred.[3] The Weekenders is also notable as the one programme where Vic is intentionally referred to throughout by his real name, Jim. Intended to be a series, the programme was never commissioned, but now seems to be a vague sign of things to come.

Their 2004 comedy drama Catterick, screened on BBC Three, evoked the same woozy, unreal atmosphere with a far higher budget. The series was based around the lives of Carl and Chris Palmer, with appearances from D.I. 'Kinky' John Fowler - updated versions of characters from The Club sketches from Bang Bang It's Reeves and Mortimer. Vic and Bob played the main roles, with Charlie Higson, Morwenna Banks, Tim Healy, Mark Benton, Matt Lucas and The League of Gentlemen's Reece Shearsmith.[4]

In early 2000, Vic and Bob headed the cast in revival of sixties private detective drama, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). The new version, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) ran for two series and constituted their first real (though still quite light-hearted) acting roles. The scripts for the series were written by Charlie Higson and Vic was briefly romantically linked to co-star Emilia Fox. The pair also presented a one-off behind the scenes show called On Set with Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), which was broadcast on BBC Choice in 2000.

Other television appearances

Feb

  • The pair also capitalized on their fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s by appearing in television adverts for products as diverse as Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Boost, First Direct bank, Churchill car insurance and an advert for the BBC license fee.

Radio

In 1994, between series of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, the pair hosted a one-off hour long show on BBC Radio 1 entitled Radio Reeves & Mortimer. The show was partially presented in character as 'co-hosts' Councillors Cox and Evans.

In November 2007, Reeves and Mortimer began a new weekly radio-based sketch show / sitcom on BBC Radio 2, entitled Vic Reeves' House Arrest. The first episode was broadcast on 17 November, 2007 and the series will run for 6 episodes. The show centres on Reeves being put under house arrest for a crime he didn't commit. Mortimer plays Vic's hairdresser, Carl. Other performers include The Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding as a local vagrant and Reeves' wife, Nancy Sorrell in multiple roles.

In an interview on British TV show Something for the Weekend,[5], Reeves stated there were benefits to doing a radio show, as even more bizarre and outlandish images could be conjured, which could not be replicated using props on a television programme - such as balancing the whole of Ireland on a record stylus to stop it from skipping. However he also said that he would be interested in making the radio show into a television series. Asked about bringing back former shows, Reeves said he would be very happy to bring back Shooting Stars for a sixth series. To date, neither show has been commissioned by the BBC. Reeves also expressed his opinion that a second series of Catterick was highly unlikely.

Film

Music

  • Reeves and Mortimer first appeared on Jools Holland's single "Holy Cow" in 1990, singing backing vocals.
  • The following year, Reeves collaborated with The Wonder Stuff to cover "Dizzy", originally released in 1969 by Tommy Roe. The song reached number one and spawned a spin-off full-length album on Island Records, I Will Cure You, which featured re-recorded songs from Big Night Out, cover versions and new material.
  • A companion video titled Four Golden Memories was released, which featured videos for "Dizzy" and Vic's other singles "Born Free" and "Abide With Me", plus live versions of "Dizzy" (filmed on tour the previous year) and "Meals On Wheels".

Books

DVD and VHS

Live Shows

  • We Know Where You Live Live! - Reeves performed at the benefit gig for Amnesty International, Wembley Arena, 3rd June, 2001
  • Shooting Stars / Fast Show Live - Labatt's Apollo, Hammersmith, Jan - February 1998
  • Smell Of Reeves & Mortimer "Weathercock Tour" - National tour, October 1995
  • R&M "Puce Tour" - National tour, Feb - March 1994
  • Vic Reeves Big Night Out "Brown Tour" - National tour, 10 Dates at the Hammersmith Odeon and a recorded performance in Newcastle, 1991
  • Vic Reeves Big Night Out Tour - National Universities tour, October, 1990
  • Vic Reeves Big Night Out - The Goldsmiths Tavern and Albany Empire, pre-1990

References

  1. ^ "BBC Guide to Comedy". The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Daily Express "Saturday" magazine, 2007 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "BBC Guide to Comedy". The Weekenders. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "BBC Guide to Comedy". Catterick. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Interview with Vic Reeves". Something for the Weekend. 2005-11-18. BBC Two.
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