Talking Bottom – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Talking Bottom is BACK and LIVE - and what better place to do our FIRST EVER live show than at the innagural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival in Rik's old home town of Droitwich? We were joined by legendary Bottom director and Producer Ed Bye at the Norbury Theatre on the very stage upon which Rik first ever performed and where he used to operate the lights. 

To a sold-out crowd, Ed shared memories of directing Bottom, working with Rik and Ade and his very favourite Bottom moments - watching them along with the audience and chatting about why they are so special. 

Ed also joined in with a reading from an exclusive never-before seen or heard scene cut from an early draft of Bottom: Smells. AND of course the Talking Bottom quiz had to return for it's first ever live version, complete with audience participation!

Talking Bottom's next live show with special guest, Bottom's "Dick Head" Lee Cornes (also in Red Dwarf, The Young Ones and Blackadder) is at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sunday 24th August at 3.10pm at Underbelly Bristo Square. Tickets are available here: https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/talking-bottom-live 

The book Talking Bottom: A guide to The Cult Sitcom can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

This ep sees an update on our book, Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom, snatched (ooh errr) from the jaws of defeat to be published on July 3rd. We wang on about why it took f*cking aaaages and how book backers can get their grubby hands on the book on July 3rd while others wait for their postman to unload his sack.

We also chat about our upcoming live podcast on May 31st, on stage in Rik's home town of Droitwich as part of the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, where we will be joined by a VERY special guest; Bottom director and producer Ed Bye!

We also chat about our upcoming series based around Rik Mayall's most iconic and best-loved characters.

The book Talking Bottom: A guide to The Cult Sitcom can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

We've inputted the data for this weeks guest and while her character in Bottom is a bit raggy round the edges, in real life she's an absolute cracker. She's a stage, screen and comedy veteren who's appeared in The Dark Crystal, In Deep, The Bill, The Russ Abbot and Les Dennis shows and at 27 landed her own prime time BBC1 sketch show. It's our favourite love bureau matchmaker Lily Lineker herself; it's Lisa Maxwell!

Lisa discusses her training at Italia Conte and entry into entertainment, alternative comedy, auditioning for and losing out on the role of Daphne in Frasier, sketches vs sitcoms, working with Rik and Ade, Lily Linekar's life outside of the Bureau, studio recordings, helpful repeat fees, having "A wazzo pair of jugs" quoted at her, Bottom's enduring popularity and starring in The Bill (and hearing the "vomiting blood" line!).

The conversation took place over Zoom so please forgive the occasional connection drop out.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

To round off this special 30th anniversary series, we take a look at the moments that make the show special to you. Using the 100% scientific method of asking people on social media, we delve into the fans favourite series, episodes, lines, moments and characters. Oh god, there's so much to choose from!

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

To accompany our episode on Waiting for Godot, we chat with Mark Young, a photographer who, in 1991 photographed Rik Mayall, Ade Edmonsdon and Christopher Ryan during their run of the show at the Queen's theatre, London.

The conversation took place over Zoom so please forgive the occasional connection drop out.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

"Ello Boys!" Talking Bottom's guest this week is a veteran of stage and screen, recognisable from The Young Ones, Kevin Turvey, Blackadder, Cracker, Nuts in May, Eastenders and Inside Number 9. To us he will always be Hammermith's own Rachman, fuming at spending money on his mother's cremation, Richie and Eddie's landlord Mr Harrison. It's Roger Sloman!

Roger discusses how he got into acting, his work on Kevin Turvey and The Young Ones, how his role in Bottom came about, working with Rik and Ade, Nuts in May, acting styles, comb overs, dodgy landlords, fainting on stage, working as a character actor and modern comedy.

The conversation took place over Zoom so please forgive the occasional connection drop out.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

Wanky analysis alert! Ok, actually Bottom has had numerous comparisons to Waiting for Godot over the years. Rik and Ade performed the play at uni and then more famously starred in a 1991 run in the West End at the same time Bottom debuted on TV. So, like A' Level students, here's our ill-informed attempt to "compare and contrast".

Angela, Paul and Mat discuss the history of Waiting for Godot, its different interpretations, the Emperor's new clothes, bewildered actors and how even the writer didn't know what it meant, profound University experiences, Rik and Ade's run of the show in the West End, comparisons to Bottom, dramatic dialogue, other comedies that reference Godot and the torture and boredom of just... waiting.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

"Very droll sir, I've never heard that one before." One of the UK's busiest and best character actors sits down with Talking Bottom. This gent has not only embodied Tony Hancock and Captain Mainwaring but also starred in all of the Pirates of the Carribbean films. Bottom fans of course know him best as the man who supplies men of science with pheremone sex spray... It's Kevin McNally!

Kevin tells us about his early career, getting into alternative comedy, working on The New Statesman, having very particular lines involving pineapples quoted to him, watching Rik and Ade record the closing credits dance, enjoying Bottom as a fan, venturing into real sex shops, physical comedy, working with Galton and Simpson, playing Tony Hancock, Captain Mainwaring and Tory politicians, working as a character actor AND he reacts to hearing the original ending to Smells that featured Mr Sex!

The conversation took place over Zoom so please forgive the occasional connection drop out.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

Richie and Eddie's end goal in life is the gratification of their base needs and carnal desires. What they want more than anything is a slap up grill, a lock in at the Lamb and Flag and shaggy shaggy shag with acres and acres of ladies...

Paul, Mat and Angela discuss Maslow's Hierachy of Needs (yes, really), Richie and Eddie's perversions, virgins, incels, sophomoric humour, the female comedy fan perspective, a breakdown of what drives each Bottom episode and a diversion into Red Dwarf.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw

"I took Harrison's Point single handed." Talking Bottom chats with The Falkland's most famous veteran. He's a comedian, actor, writer, presenter, champion of green energy, Red Dwarf's series 4000 mechanoid Kryten and most importantly; Mr N. Stiles, the man who smashed Richie's face in while legless on a bar stool. It's Robert Llewellyn!

Robert talks about his early career in alternative comedy with theatre group The Joeys, living in squats, the rise of alternative comedy, getting headhunted for Red Dwarf, shooting one of Bottom's best episodes, what became of his Bottom character, physical comedy, bumping into other sitcom stars at BBC Acton rehearsal studios, renewable energy and his web series Carpool.

The conversation took place over Zoom so please forgive the occasional connection drop out.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw