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The Russ Abbot Show

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The Russ Abbot Show
StarringRuss Abbot
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Production
Running time30mins
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release1986-1991 (BBC)[1]
1994-1995 (ITV)[2]

The Russ Abbot Show is a British television sketch comedy series which starred Russ Abbot and ran on the BBC from 1986 to 1991, and for 14 episodes on ITV, Granada Television from 1994 to 1995.[3]

History

The Russ Abbot Show featured comedy performers by Les Dennis, Bella Emberg, Tom Bright, Maggie Moone, Suzy Aitchison, Gordon Kennedy, Paul Shearer and Sherrie Hewson. The series originated as The Freddie Starr Variety Madhouse, after one series in 1979 everyone else went on to other projects,[4] so in 1980 it was revised to "Russ Abbot Madhouse" premiereing on 12 April 1980.[5] In 1986 series was transferred over to the BBC, where it was renamed The Russ Abbot Show. In 1991 allegedly the BBC was heard to announce at the Montreux Television Festival that Abbot no longer represented what the audience wanted to see on their screens[6] and the series transferred to ITV.

After the last television series in 1995, The series moved to BBC Radio 2 for 42 episodes from November 1997 to February 2002.[7]

Series

Seven series were made of the Russ Abbot show, between 1986-1995.

BBC Series

  • Spring special: 26 May 1986
  • Series 1: 13 September - 25 October 1986: 8 Episodes
  • Christmas special: 25 December 1986
  • Series 2: 12 September - 31 October 1987: 8 Episodes
  • Christmas special: 25 December 1987
  • Series 3: 3 September - 28 October 1988: 8 Episodes
  • Christmas special: 25 December 1988
  • Series 4: 2 September - 18 November 1989: 12 Episodes
  • Christmas special: 25 December 1989
  • Series 5: 1 September - 17 November 1990: 12 Episodes
  • Christmas special: 26 December 1990
  • Series 6: 6 September - 29 November 1991: 12 Episodes

ITV Series

  • Series 7: 5 September - 17 November 1994: 7 Episodes
  • Series 8: 10 July - 21 August 1995: 7 Episodes

Format

The series showcased Abbot's talents as an all round entertainer and included characters such as Basildon Bond, a James Bond parody, 'Cooperman', a cross between Tommy Cooper and Superman, and C.U. Jimmy, a virtually unintelligible, red-headed, kilt-wearing Scotsman. The programme attracted millions of viewers weekly. The show was popular amongst younger viewers, prompting two annuals to be published in 1982 and 1983. The annuals featured comic strips based on popular characters Abbot had created in the various series of the show. It was also notable for its "Tears of laughter" theme song, which played at the start and end of the show. The stop motion animation titles[8] were by 3 Peach Animation.

References

  1. ^ "Russ Abbot Show". BBC Comedy. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  2. ^ "BBC - Comedy Guide - The Russ Abbot Show". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  3. ^ "BBC - Comedy Guide - The Russ Abbot Show". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 16 November 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  4. ^ http://www.russabbot.co.uk/Biography.html
  5. ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2mus-XyGPC0C&dat=19800412&printsec=frontpage&hl=en Glasgow Evening times 12 April 1980 P8
  6. ^ http://www.russabbot.co.uk/Writing_On_Russ.html
  7. ^ Lavalie, John (2006). "The Russ Abbot Show: a Titles & Air Dates Guide". epguides.com. John Lavalie. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  8. ^ "3 Peach Animation - Russ Abbot titles". YouTube. 25 December 1989. Retrieved 10 August 2013.


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