811:
32:
644:, it remains a gem, boasting some of the finest performances Pegg, Davis and the rest have ever delivered", whilst another author of the same publication called it "one of the most original and most consistently funny sketch shows in years".
519:
An office manager who repeatedly distracts his employees—when they demand their promised overtime payment—with magic tricks, juggling and cute animals before running from the office, hailing a taxicab and flying away aboard an
510:-style galactic despot that struggles to subjugate planets and imprison princes while doing the housework, checking his answerphone and being hospitalised after "slipping on the little mat that goes around the toilet"
422:
but was never broadcast in full. Some sketches from the pilot are scattered through the series. Apart from Pegg, all of the first-series regular cast members subsequently starred in Morris's sketch comedy
475:
features a bad-mannered man casually stabbed to death by his embarrassed wife at a dinner party. In a recurring sketch from the first series, an animated staring contest is accompanied by commentary from
523:
An
English tourist asking two Frenchmen for directions, only to have them nonchalantly respond, in perfect English, that they cannot understand her as they do not speak English
1161:
499:
and the anecdotes told by the commentators often echoed those from real sporting events, such as performance enhancing drugs, streakers and the theft of the trophy.
513:
A romantic drama conducted entirely in French in which a woman has a relationship with a set of temporary traffic lights, much to the anguish of her human admirer
609:
attracted only a limited audience. Even so, the series was well received by critics, with the first series voted "Best 'Broken Comedy' Show" at the prestigious
516:"Fat handed twat" – A man with unfeasibly large hands who is ridiculed by members of the public when engaging in any kind of detailed work, such as embroidery
1156:
1146:
1151:
1126:
1136:
1131:
1121:
436:
and his
Orchestra. The writers were fond enough of the song to name the show after it. The song has since been adopted for a commercial for
1023:
867:
832:
755:
691:
1141:
96:
676:
68:
115:
632:
is not without its misses, but as a breeding ground for comedy talent and a forefather to such modern-day hits as
940:
75:
723:
526:
A series of sketches in which 1970s and 1980s pop musicians were placed in unusual or surreal contexts (such as
53:
251:
1016:
860:
634:
82:
491:. The Stare-out Championship was based on a self-published comic book by Paul Hatcher and was animated by
432:
The title of the show is derived from the song run during the credits, "Big Train", which was recorded by
640:
613:
49:
20:
64:
760:: A Cult Comedy That Proved an Early Platform for Top Talent | Television & Radio | The Guardian"
535:
408:
1032:
1009:
853:
472:
419:
403:
309:
147:
42:
1047:
988:
947:
891:
531:
471:
is based on the subversion of ordinary situations by the surreal or macabre. For example, one
610:
366:
480:
8:
1068:
912:
407:. The first series was directed by Graham Linehan and other series contributors included
810:
507:
89:
827:
822:
357:
184:
1075:
836:
700:
618:
425:
372:
345:
169:
876:
492:
384:
364:
in the second series. All starred in a variety of other comedy shows including
361:
313:
189:
143:
569:, much to the annoyance of his staff. A parody of the response by many to the
1115:
1092:
982:
551:
527:
488:
437:
353:
320:
in 1998, while the second, in which
Linehan was not involved, aired in 2002.
179:
800:
965:
926:
764:
732:
624:
484:
464:
652:'The Complete Series 1 and 2' DVD has been released in the US and the UK.
933:
919:
789:
570:
547:
452:
412:
341:
329:
305:
174:
165:
816:
1054:
898:
806:
795:
555:
543:
539:
444:
433:
396:
349:
337:
157:
496:
390:
333:
161:
31:
1098:
559:
448:
1001:
845:
656:
586:
566:
317:
266:
840:
378:
495:. The championship is portrayed as a huge event akin to the
443:
Both series were shot entirely on location (series one on
728:– Box Set Review | Television & Radio | The Guardian"
573:
put in place by many companies in the UK around the time.
477:
593:
Series one (6 episodes): 9 November – 14 December 1998
596:
Series two (6 episodes): 7 January – 11 February 2002
565:
An office where the manager decides to put a stop to
1162:
Television series created by Arthur
Mathews (writer)
458:
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
655:From March 2021, both series became available on
1113:
589:on Monday nights during the following periods:
451:) and later shown to a live audience so that a
1017:
861:
622:called the show "divine". Reviewing the DVD,
401:Tate went on to get her own show on the BBC,
1157:Television series created by Graham Linehan
1024:
1010:
868:
854:
809:
558:as a Wild West bounty hunter pursuing the
1147:British English-language television shows
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
1152:Television series by Fremantle (company)
721:
689:
577:
1127:2002 British television series endings
1114:
502:Some other notable sketches included:
1137:2000s British television sketch shows
1132:1990s British television sketch shows
1122:1998 British television series debuts
1005:
849:
753:
690:Mackesy, Serena (10 November 1998).
352:also appeared in two episodes), and
316:. The first series was broadcast on
54:adding citations to reliable sources
25:
677:"1966: Football's World Cup stolen"
487:and comedy actor and impressionist
13:
1031:
875:
418:The pilot episode was directed by
14:
1173:
783:
754:Gooch, Victoria (26 April 2012).
459:Comedy style and notable sketches
340:in both series one and two, with
722:Renshaw, David (25 April 2013).
628:wrote: "Like most sketch shows,
605:Despite running for two series,
30:
41:needs additional citations for
747:
715:
683:
669:
463:Following in the tradition of
328:The series starred the actors
224:
213:
1:
662:
647:
696:| Culture | The Independent"
600:
7:
1142:BBC television sketch shows
641:That Mitchell and Webb Look
323:
10:
1178:
554:as a medieval knight, and
21:Big Train (disambiguation)
18:
1085:
1039:
975:
957:
883:
272:
262:
257:
247:
239:
234:
223:
212:
204:
196:
153:
139:
132:
304:is a British television
404:The Catherine Tate Show
536:Frankenstein's Monster
532:Dexys Midnight Runners
611:British Comedy Awards
348:in the first series (
835:10 July 2009 at the
692:"Television Review:
585:originally aired on
578:Transmission details
534:being reanimated as
50:improve this article
19:For other uses, see
941:Count Arthur Strong
455:could be recorded.
16:British sketch show
508:Ming the Merciless
447:and series two on
367:I'm Alan Partridge
248:Production company
1109:
1108:
1040:TV series created
999:
998:
884:TV series created
358:Tracy-Ann Oberman
297:
296:
205:Original language
197:Country of origin
185:Tracy-Ann Oberman
126:
125:
118:
100:
1169:
1026:
1019:
1012:
1003:
1002:
870:
863:
856:
847:
846:
813:
777:
776:
774:
772:
751:
745:
744:
742:
740:
719:
713:
712:
710:
708:
687:
681:
680:
679:. 20 March 1966.
673:
467:, the comedy of
293:
291:
286:11 February 2002
283:
281:
258:Original release
226:
215:
130:
129:
121:
114:
110:
107:
101:
99:
58:
34:
26:
1177:
1176:
1172:
1171:
1170:
1168:
1167:
1166:
1112:
1111:
1110:
1105:
1081:
1076:Toast of London
1035:
1030:
1000:
995:
989:The Ladykillers
971:
953:
879:
874:
837:Wayback Machine
786:
781:
780:
770:
768:
752:
748:
738:
736:
720:
716:
706:
704:
701:The Independent
688:
684:
675:
674:
670:
665:
650:
619:The Independent
603:
580:
461:
373:Look Around You
346:Amelia Bullmore
326:
289:
287:
285:
279:
277:
276:9 November 1998
188:
183:
178:
173:
170:Amelia Bullmore
168:
164:
160:
146:
122:
111:
105:
102:
59:
57:
47:
35:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1175:
1165:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1103:
1095:
1089:
1087:
1083:
1082:
1080:
1079:
1072:
1065:
1058:
1051:
1043:
1041:
1037:
1036:
1033:Arthur Mathews
1029:
1028:
1021:
1014:
1006:
997:
996:
994:
993:
985:
979:
977:
973:
972:
970:
969:
961:
959:
958:Films directed
955:
954:
952:
951:
944:
937:
930:
923:
916:
909:
902:
895:
887:
885:
881:
880:
877:Graham Linehan
873:
872:
865:
858:
850:
844:
843:
825:
814:
798:
785:
784:External links
782:
779:
778:
746:
714:
682:
667:
666:
664:
661:
649:
646:
635:Little Britain
602:
599:
598:
597:
594:
579:
576:
575:
574:
563:
548:social workers
524:
521:
517:
514:
511:
493:Chris Shepherd
460:
457:
409:David Mitchell
385:Smack the Pony
362:Catherine Tate
325:
322:
314:Graham Linehan
310:Arthur Mathews
295:
294:
274:
270:
269:
264:
260:
259:
255:
254:
249:
245:
244:
241:
237:
236:
232:
231:
228:
221:
220:
217:
210:
209:
206:
202:
201:
200:United Kingdom
198:
194:
193:
190:Catherine Tate
155:
151:
150:
148:Arthur Mathews
144:Graham Linehan
141:
137:
136:
124:
123:
38:
36:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1174:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1101:
1100:
1096:
1094:
1093:Ted and Ralph
1091:
1090:
1088:
1084:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1071:
1070:
1066:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1057:
1056:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1044:
1042:
1038:
1034:
1027:
1022:
1020:
1015:
1013:
1008:
1007:
1004:
991:
990:
986:
984:
983:Ted and Ralph
981:
980:
978:
974:
968:
967:
963:
962:
960:
956:
950:
949:
945:
943:
942:
938:
936:
935:
931:
929:
928:
924:
922:
921:
917:
915:
914:
910:
908:
907:
903:
901:
900:
896:
894:
893:
889:
888:
886:
882:
878:
871:
866:
864:
859:
857:
852:
851:
848:
842:
838:
834:
831:
830:
826:
824:
820:
819:
815:
812:
808:
804:
803:
799:
797:
793:
792:
788:
787:
767:
766:
761:
759:
750:
735:
734:
729:
727:
718:
703:
702:
697:
695:
686:
678:
672:
668:
660:
658:
653:
645:
643:
642:
637:
636:
631:
627:
626:
621:
620:
615:
612:
608:
595:
592:
591:
590:
588:
584:
572:
568:
564:
561:
557:
553:
552:Keith Emerson
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
528:Kevin Rowland
525:
522:
518:
515:
512:
509:
505:
504:
503:
500:
498:
494:
490:
489:Phil Cornwell
486:
482:
479:
474:
470:
466:
456:
454:
450:
446:
441:
439:
438:Virgin Trains
435:
430:
428:
427:
421:
416:
414:
410:
406:
405:
400:
398:
393:
392:
387:
386:
381:
380:
375:
374:
369:
368:
363:
359:
355:
354:Rebecca Front
351:
347:
343:
339:
335:
331:
321:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
302:
275:
271:
268:
265:
261:
256:
253:
250:
246:
242:
238:
233:
229:
222:
218:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
186:
181:
180:Rebecca Front
176:
171:
167:
163:
159:
156:
152:
149:
145:
142:
138:
135:
131:
128:
120:
117:
109:
98:
95:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67: –
66:
62:
61:Find sources:
55:
51:
45:
44:
39:This article
37:
33:
28:
27:
22:
1097:
1074:
1067:
1061:
1060:
1053:
1046:
987:
966:Hello Friend
964:
946:
939:
932:
927:The IT Crowd
925:
918:
911:
905:
904:
897:
890:
828:
817:
801:
790:
769:. Retrieved
765:The Guardian
763:
757:
749:
737:. Retrieved
733:The Guardian
731:
725:
717:
705:. Retrieved
699:
693:
685:
671:
654:
651:
639:
633:
629:
625:The Guardian
623:
617:
606:
604:
582:
581:
571:smoking bans
501:
485:Barry Davies
483:commentator
468:
465:Monty Python
462:
442:
431:
424:
420:Chris Morris
417:
402:
395:
389:
383:
377:
371:
365:
327:
300:
299:
298:
240:Running time
133:
127:
112:
103:
93:
86:
79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
934:The Walshes
920:Black Books
453:laugh track
413:Robert Webb
342:Julia Davis
330:Kevin Eldon
308:created by
306:sketch show
227:of episodes
175:Julia Davis
166:Kevin Eldon
106:August 2016
65:"Big Train"
1116:Categories
1055:Father Ted
948:Motherland
899:Father Ted
807:BBC Online
796:BBC Online
663:References
648:Home media
556:Chaka Khan
546:acting as
544:John Oates
540:Daryl Hall
445:35 mm film
434:Max Greger
397:Green Wing
350:Nick Frost
338:Simon Pegg
290:2002-02-11
280:1998-11-09
243:30 minutes
235:Production
192:(series 2)
187:(series 2)
182:(series 2)
177:(series 1)
172:(series 1)
158:Simon Pegg
140:Created by
76:newspapers
1062:Big Train
906:Big Train
829:Big Train
818:Big Train
802:Big Train
791:Big Train
758:Big Train
726:Big Train
694:Big Train
630:Big Train
607:Big Train
601:Reception
583:Big Train
497:World Cup
469:Big Train
391:Brass Eye
334:Mark Heap
301:Big Train
216:of series
162:Mark Heap
134:Big Train
1099:I, Keano
1086:See also
976:See also
833:Archived
560:Bee Gees
520:airliner
481:football
449:DigiBeta
429:(2000).
324:Overview
252:Talkback
154:Starring
1069:Hippies
913:Hippies
657:BritBox
614:in 1999
587:BBC Two
567:wanking
318:BBC Two
288: (
284: –
278: (
273:Release
267:BBC Two
263:Network
208:English
90:scholar
1102:(play)
992:(play)
841:TV.com
379:Spaced
92:
85:
78:
71:
63:
1048:Paris
892:Paris
771:4 May
739:4 May
707:4 May
530:from
473:scene
97:JSTOR
83:books
823:IMDb
773:2016
741:2016
709:2016
638:and
542:and
411:and
394:and
360:and
344:and
336:and
312:and
69:news
839:on
821:at
805:at
794:at
478:BBC
426:Jam
225:No.
214:No.
52:by
1118::
762:.
730:.
698:.
659:.
616:.
550:,
538:,
506:A
440:.
415:.
388:,
382:,
376:,
370:,
356:,
332:,
230:12
1025:e
1018:t
1011:v
869:e
862:t
855:v
775:.
756:"
743:.
724:"
711:.
562:)
399:.
292:)
282:)
219:2
119:)
113:(
108:)
104:(
94:·
87:·
80:·
73:·
46:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.