Talking Bottom

Roger Sloman interview

"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://unbound.com/books/bottom/

S4E6 - Waiting for Godot & The Human Condition

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://unbound.com/books/bottom/

Kevin McNally interview (it‘s Mr Sex!)

"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://unbound.com/books/bottom/

S4E5 - Base Needs

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://unbound.com/books/bottom/

Robert Llewellyn interview

"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://unbound.com/books/bottom/

S4E4 - A Dark and Gross Universe

Richie and Eddie's Hammersmith is a unique world not only in comedy, but all of fiction. Where else are dogs served up in kebabs, amputees prosthetic legs stolen and the annual riot sees both the police and the local schoolkids participate?

Mat, Paul and Angela discuss fictional universes, the uniquely named characters of Bottom, comparisons to Dickensian London, other sitcoms, a reading from a mystery book, the League of Gentlemen and encountering a fresh turd in ON a toilet seat in a Wetherspoons.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://unbound.com/books/bottom/

Lee Cornes interview (it‘s Dick Head!)

What - and I'll repeat that - what a guest we have this week!  "No, don't laugh." Well, actually do, because this gent was a lynchpin in the alternative comedy and scene and has appeared in more of our favourite comedies than he's served Pernods in The Lamb and Flag. He's been in (amongst LOADS of other stuff) Filthy, Rich and Catflap, Toast of London, The Comic Strip Presents (as Arch Crippledick), French and Saunders, three series of Blackadder, two episodes of The Young Ones and was Paranoia in Red Dwarf. It's Lee Cornes!

Lee tells us about how he got into comedy and his days at the very beginning of the Comedy Store, being described as "the Comedian's Comedian" by Sean Lock, getting stark bollock naked on stage, seeing Rik and Ade for the first time, being the warm act at the recordings of The Young Ones, studio stunts, teaching (for real and in Grange Hill), Blackadder and of course playing Hammersmith's best pub landlord, the legendary Dick Head.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://unbound.com/books/bottom/

S4E3 - The Costumes

The costumes of Bottom are such an important part of the show's identity. All fans recognise Eddie's hat and glasses and Richie's voluminous pants and belt pulled up too high. Plus of course... Halloween.

Angela, Paul and Mat talk about costume making character, specially making clothes, how costume shows social status (class again? We did that last week!), going to fancy dress parties as a talking Halloween banana and a devil (in either pre-shitted or post-shitted tights), what the supporting characters wear and how costume can make sitcoms feel timeless.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://unbound.com/books/bottom/

Paul Jackson interview part 2

Talking Bottom's interview with TV titan Paul Jackson continues as he discusses making Filthy, Rich and Catflap, seeing Rik and Ade in Waiting for Godot, slapstick, working with writers, special effects in sitcoms, producing TV in the US and Australia, working with Ant and Dec, chairing Comic Relief, the American remake of The Young Ones, Heil Honey I'm Home!, pathos in comedy, the current lack of political satire and being thanked by Rik on stage at Exeter Uni,

Plus of course lots about Bottom including its genesis, Alan Yentob wanting the title changed, how the Bottom pilot episode came about, seeing it recorded, the live shows and Guest House Paradiso.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://unbound.com/books/bottom/

Paul Jackson interview part 1

Talking Bottom is thrilled to be joined by legend of British comedy, Paul Jackson. He brought alternative comedy to the masses and was the man who got The Young Ones on TV (which he also directed), changing the face of sitcoms forever. Amongst working on a plethora of great shows he also gave us Filthy, Rich and Catflap, Red Dwarf and the pilot episode of Bottom.

In part 1, Paul chats about his entry into TV and his early years rising to become a producer, his comedy influences, working with the Two Ronnies and on Steptoe and Son, meeting Rik and Ade, Boom Boom Out Go The Lights, writing, comic duos, throwing himself into puddles, bringing The Young Ones to TV and a treasure trove of stories about it.

The inteview continues in part 2.

The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://unbound.com/books/bottom/