Peter Richardson’s most famous work, that defined a whole genre of comedy. Not available on video at the moment, but you can see where it would have been here.

Before Stella Street, Peter Richardson, Phil Cornwell and a host of others teamed up to produce one series of this TV Comic. Many of the devices of juxtaposition, parody, improbable plots and impressions that blossomed in Stella Street are emergent here, making it fascinating and very entertaining viewing. Unfortunately, the series failed to spawn a cult following as it coincided with the start of the Fast Show, which had more catchphrases and was cheaper. However, the series remains very funny (and underappreciated), and a few episodes made it onto video. You can still order the video for £16.99 from Blackstar, and it’s well worth it. Click the cover below to take a look.

And some more information has just come in from Joe Grounds:

… I was intrigued by your mention of the Glam Metal Detectives, because I really enjoyed that programme when it was on telly (didn't know Richardson produced it, though). Unfortunately, since I was a lot younger then, all I could remember of it was the fact that Doon MacKichan was in it, and [here I get to my point] the comic book of it that I bought whilst on a seaside holiday in Devon. I'm really sorry, but I have since lost it, but I thought you'd like to know that it DID actually exist, contrary to what it says on your site. I even spent a lot of time looking for the second issue, but, presumably, it was cancelled before that was released. The comic itself was fairly good, I think (bear in mind I was probably prepubescent at the time), and structured in a conventional (think Judge Dredd etc) way: multipart stories spread over multiple issues (if you see what I mean). Hence I was annoyed by my inability to find the next issue. I wish I still had it to send to you…Joe.

Further, the producer of GMD was none other than Nira Park, who went on to produce the definitive SPACED and the mediocre Black Books. Nira Park also was the production assistant on the BBC Comic Strip shows.

Take a look round another of my web sites to find everything you could ever want to know about another great Phil Cornwell show. Visit the web of pub.

Phil Cornwell is also in this excellent comedy programme, albeit only briefly.

Set in the fictional northern town of Royston Vassey, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith fill the streets with a number of eccentric characters. While nowhere near as subtle or, indeed, as funny as Stella Street, the production is magnificent and there are many hilarious scenes, far too revolting to mention. Series 2 was weak when compared to series 1, but series 1 is now coming out on video. Take a look here. NB: Do not confuse with the 1960 film of the same name.

AKA Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. These foul-mouthed 1970s dialogues are extremely funny, really shockingly offensive (however ironic), and appeal to the Joe Pesci fan in all of us. There are three albums (Live, Come Again and Ad Nauseum) and one video/DVD available (Get the Horn). Come Again has recently been remastered, in fact!

Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe (and in the beginning, Michael Bentine) together wrote the rule book for surreal British comedy in the 1950s. No radio programme has ever come close to scaling the heights of lunacy that the Goons reached. Sellers and Milligan each play several characters, so there is a connection to Stella Street. There is a multitude of CDs available of their shows, which may be inspected here (they’re listed under books, because they’re VAT free!).

Seminal 1970s comedy that managed to involve all the BBC’s resources in every episode. One of the greatest TV comedies of all time, with a density and quality of characterisations and gags approaching Stella Street. Many celebrity references too (e.g. Tony Blackburn, Rolf Harris, Des O’Connor etc). Check out the of Kitten Kong and The Goodies and the Beanstalk, both ridiculously cheap.

Midway between The Young Ones and Bottom (both recommended), the first sitcom Ben Elton was to write on his own stars Rik Mayall, Ade Edmonson and Nigel Planer as talentless star, drunken minder and corrupt agent respectively. Overflowing with double-entendres and references to “show-biz”, this is an underrated classic that has never been fully appreciated (probably because of references to Benny Hill). Despite never having been repeated, it is available on video. A real treat. Catch it while you can.

The comedy of Chris Morris is completely different to Stella Street’s style. It is conceptual, not character-led, is backed by ambient music and slowly wends its way from start to finish, unlike Stella’s quick-fire one-liners. This also belongs in Phil Cornwell’s info page, so for more information, see there, or just see the record of the best of the Radio 1 shows here: That's the best price, anyways.

An exceptional, landmark society-changing film, that happens to feature Michael Caine exactly as he appears in Stella Street (“Hello, like the motor?”). See the video here.

No particular reason for recommending them, only that they are the greatest double act the cinema has ever seen. The films are now starting to come to DVD. There is a pre-order discount available for new releases. The Music Box, one of the all time great short subjects, is released in April. Click here to check the DVDs out. There's loads of stuff out there, though, so if you’d like guidance, feel free to email me or ask the appreciation society, Sons of the Desert, here.

This is probably the most accomplished, and most black, of the Ealing Comedies. Alec Guinness shines as about 10 different characters, the members of the D'Ascoigne family, who must be assassinated so that Dennis Price can inherit his rightful title. Click here for details. Also available on VHS. But wait: I write:

I received my copy of Kind Hearts and Coronets DVD today, and am not a little pissed off at the state of it! The film is owned by our French friends Canal+ (they of [Will Hay’s] Goose Steps Out incompetence), but this time—you will not believe this—they have used a French print of the film! There is the original English soundtrack (in addition to French and Spanish), which synchs pretty well, but all the titles and cutaways are in French! There are no alternate angles for video—I checked. Also, there is no English subtitle track.

It’s not a sitcom, it’s a flat. Simon Pegg (King Stupid, 99p Challenge, Big Train, We Know Where You Live (yawn)) and Jessica Stevenson (The Royle Family and the excellent Bob and Rose) star in (and write) this innovative, polished and hilarious postmodern sitcom about two twenty-somethings pretending to be a “professional couple” to rent a flat. It’s both tight and anarchic, with many jokes aimed at the media in general and sci-fi in particular. There are hundreds of stylistic references and backwards nods to many entertaining sci-fi and horror films (this alone should tempt Stella Street fans). Further, this programme almost defines a generation. All of the rocking series one is now available on video and DVD, the soundtrack is on CD, and series two is coming to DVD soon! There is a brilliant website (whose contributors have had cameos, sound familiar?) here. There is also a terrific online community in the Spaced Out forum. You are very welcome to peruse and then join it here. The web site for information is here.