The Fast Show is returning to TV for one-off special
Brilliant!
One of the greatest TV programmes of the 1990s, The Fast Show, is returning to television for a one-off special later this year.
Set to be broadcast on UKTV’s Gold at an as-yet-unspecified date in 2020, The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases will feature original cast members Paul Whitehouse, Arabella Weir, John Thomson, Charlie Higson, Mark Williams and Simon Day.
They will all appear as themselves and also in character as they talk about The Fast Show’s fabled history and its enduring influence on comedy… Nice!
Characters confirmed to return include Swiss Toni, Dave Angel Eco Warrior, Bob Fleming, Jesse, No Offence, Professor Denzil Dexter and Rowley Birkin QC.
Creators Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson say: “It’s 26 years since the first episode of The Fast Show went out. We didn’t manage to celebrate our 25th anniversary but we are marking it now.
“All the (remaining) contributors will be reflecting on their favourite bits and some of the characters will also be looking back at their time on the show. Join us, them, and all of your favourite Fast Show characters, sketches and catchphrases as we celebrate 26, yes 26 glorious years!"
Charlie Higson took to Twitter last night to share photos of himself as two of his most enduring Fast Show characters, Swiss Tony and Bob Fleming:
Gerald Casey from Gold enthuses: "It's hugely exciting that Paul, Charlie and the rest of the fantastic cast of The Fast Show are reuniting especially for Gold. We know viewers will love hearing the behind-the-scenes stories from the show's history, and as a fan I can't wait to see all their classic characters again."
The Fast Show originally aired on BBC Two from 1994 to 2000 and the fourth series famously featured an appearance from Fast Show superfan Johnny Depp in the ‘Suit You, Sir' sketch.
Johnny Depp later remarked: “It was absolutely one of my proudest achievements (of my career). No question. It was one of my favourite things, to have been on the last Fast Show."
Since it ended in 2000, The Fast Show has returned to television twice before – for a 13-part online Fosters Funnies series from 2011 to 2012, and as a two-part special for BBC Two’s 50th Birthday in 2014.
The new special will be the first not to feature the late-great Caroline Aherne, who died in July 2016.