Britcom Goes To The Movies

Film Stories
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  • FILM REVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Guy Walker and Rob Heath are on a quest to find out if successful British TV comedies should make the jump to the big screen. A proud part of the Film Stories Podcast Network: www.filmstories.co.uk

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    S06 E05 - The Harry Hill Movie (w/ Ruth Husko)

    Now that’s enough of the 1970s, let’s move this series into the 20th century. Well, actually, our story for this icon of BritCom begins at the end of the 20th. Harry Hill won the Perrier award in 1992 and was quickly on TV and radio soon after. Rob and Guy take a particular look at The Harry Hill Show…or rather just Harry Hill as it was known on Channel 4 in the late 90s. To join the chaps is Harry Hill superfan, internet sensation, and comedy writer Ruth Husko. As it turns out, both Ruth and Rob saw an early Harry Hill tour as their first forays into live comedy. Guy, however, still needed some convincing of the wonder of Hill’s own brand of surreal silliness. Could he be won over? Well, the chances are that would not be done by watching the universally panned Harry Hill Movie from 2013. Held up as one of the cases that most proves the rule that big-screen adaptations of small-screen comedy don’t work, but is it really that bad? There’s only one way to find out…FIIIIFGHTT! Or just have a listen to the latest episode of BritCom Goes to the Movies. Harry Hill - Fruit Fancies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlIGkKUxWak Harry Hill - Fruit Corner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOkh8ffqko Harry Hill - Channel 4 - SE1 Ep1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUS_EPSNNtY&list=PLVEP6KjsyeTd9sScdD-KH4ZTvvWuW17V5 Harry Hill and Stoofer - 7 seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeW61GTxe-Q TV Burp - Ear Cataracts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NswiFD8qSgI Harry Hill Movie - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywarD9fcZGQ Harry Hill Movie - Blackpool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg1AxAHJBJg Shooting Stars - Billy Elliott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-ASY9X1dU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 24min

  2. 28 APR

    S06 E04 - Please Sir! (w/ Jason Hazeley)

    We’re on a roll with the 70s sitcom spin-offs. Hot on the heels of George and Mildred and Mutiny On The Buses comes 1971’s Please Sir! This is, in no small part, down to our guest this week, Jason Hazeley, being the world’s loudest cheerleader for this film and its preceding sitcom. We didn’t even need to show him the list; he was straight in there for a personal favourite since his youth. But never two to hold back, would Rob and Guy’s thoughts on Please Sir! align with Jason’s? Certainly, the ingredients were there for that not to be the case. Some dated attitudes, men and women in their 20s playing teenagers, a rushed release capitalising on the success of its TV predecessor, and our old favourite, a flimsy pretext to get the cast to a holiday camp. Having said that, both Rob and Guy come to this fresh. Neither had ever seen as much as an episode of this once-beloved sitcom, but both were aware of the all-round entertainment chops of the cast. Not least Deryck Guyler, in whose washboarding hands anyone could feel at ease. Join us as we delve into one of the last ITV sitcom spin-offs left to cover, which could well prove the best of the lot. Please Sir! SE1 Ep1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8PVA-TDeYwDeryck Guyler on the Washboardhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWKHTcC-I8k&list=RDGWKHTcC-I8k&start_radio=1Derrick Geyler Scotch Tape Adshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL3mpzAvHFAMichael Winner Esure Adhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efl5pFTFnBUVictor Lewis Smith pranks Michael Winnerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTGc1PKVrH0Please Sir! (1971) Trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhhiqg0aKOMPlease Sir! Full Filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa0CL4bhlH8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 39min

  3. 21 APR

    S06 E03 - Mutiny On The Buses (w/ John Rain)

    After some time away, we’re ready to dip back into the On The Busesverse. Our resident expert in all things Butler and Blakey, John Rain, returns to discuss the Empire Strikes Back of the trilogy. It’s time for Mutiny on the Buses. A mere year after the first film and backed by a (slightly) bigger budget, none of which the actors saw, the Ronalds, Chesney, and Wolf had forged a screenplay with much more of a semblance of a plot and some new characters to boot. There’s all the usual fun (at Blakey’s expense mainly) as well as naked protest, Arthur joining the depot, a huge fire extinguisher leak, and fun and frolics in Windsor Safari Park in which Reg Varney s***s himself with a chimp on his lap. Great to welcome back John Rain and his unique brand of analysis and even tee up the promise of Holiday on the Buses to come…but one instalment at a time, eh? Morris Bright’s Elstree On The Buses Documentary https://youtu.be/luKxuhVxNGQ?si=pZduxvq7pY1CLk5c Mutiny on the Buses Filming Locations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9dv6flrmW4 Mutiny on the Buses Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LQbflW--q4 Mutiny on the Buses - Radio Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECzCL97E28w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 14min

  4. 14 APR

    S06 E02 - George & Mildred (w/ Alison Dennison)

    Time to get our teeth into another straight spin-off. It’s a significant one at that. The final of the ITC/EMI/Hammer spin-offs of ITV sitcoms, which many credit as the death of the genre altogether. That’s right, it is the 1980 big-screen adaptation of the long-running sitcom that in itself was a spin-off. George and Mildred. Long-time listeners will know that in the first series, Rob and Guy were pleasantly surprised by Man About the House...if not the movie, the sitcom itself. So there’s every chance that George and Mildred could follow suit. As we always end up repeating, this show is all about expectations, which would obviously be on the floor with the reputation this film has preceding it. So things could only look up, right?….RIGHT?! Joining us to find out is comedian Alison Dennison, so committed to the G&M cause she’d already watched every episode ever made in preparation. With attention to detail like this, episode two of series six would prove to be one of the best we’d ever made. A tale of comedy and tragedy, life and death, both metaphorical and literal. Join us for George and Mildred! George and Mildred Opening theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ygWHpvoFE Best of George Roper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQtqXTktY George and Mildred Last Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-3utPaAdU George and Mildred Movie in Full https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAaNz1DW1DY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 34min

  5. 7 APR

    S06 E01 - The Ladykillers (w/ Tom Salinsky)

    No sooner are we gone than we’re back with a brand-new series. In series six, we’ll pass 60 films viewed and reviewed for a project that still has plenty of legs in it yet! But we begin this brand new series by embracing the familiar. Tom Salinsky returns to BritCom Goes to the Movies for the first time since episode six, and not only does he join for a film all three of us have seen before, all three of us love it! The film in question is the 1955 classic Ealing comedy, The Ladykillers, a real contender for the top ten of our table and beyond. But how will we link this to the small screen, I hear you ask? The answer is…we won’t. We’re going down the Sellers route. As this was one of Peter Sellers’ earliest big-screen appearances, we’ve decided to match it with one of his earliest radio appearances and the rather forgotten, if not prolific, Ray’s A Laugh from the 1950s BBC radio. Ray’s A Laugh was exactly the kind of broadcast variety/comedy that Sellers and co would go on to blow out of the water with the pioneering Goon Show. While a fair few episodes still exist on BBC Sounds and YouTube, you can hear the star quality of Sellers rising above what was already a pretty tired format in the early 1950s. Then, of course, the film itself. Widely considered not just the best Ealing Comedy (and the three of us will offer some of our other favourites) but also one of the greatest British comedy films of all time. A heist/farce with some career-best performances, not least from Alec Guinness, Katie Johnson, and many of the supporting cast. But how will it hold up against the top echelons of the BritCom Goes to the Movies league? Tom has already had one table-topper with The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, but could he have another? Tune in and find out. Ray’s a Laugh - 1954 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBQ7YrPNx9A Ray’s a Laugh - 1949 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s77ZhWxf9JU The Ladykillers - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDVMD8dktKI The Ladykillers - Such Pretty Windows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuIvga5t_Hc Alec Guinness as George Smiley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCm3IrscqH8 Tom Salinsky - All British Comedy Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kFktzEvNuI&list=PLmJSdGQRAwRyQjtWhrtFtDpOLo6iaRmpX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 19min
  6. Cruise of the Gods (w/Steve Dunne & Stuart Laws)

    1 MAR

    Cruise of the Gods (w/Steve Dunne & Stuart Laws)

    Happy St David’s Day! To mark the occasion here at Britcom Goes to the Movies, we are celebrating one of Wales’ most beloved comedy sons, Rob Brydon, and…actually, it is just a ham-fisted way of doing a round table episode on Cruise of the Gods! This TV film was written by Tim Firth (remember him from our Blackball episode?) and contained not only some Britcom heavyweights of the time, but also ground zero for the careers of some of the most controversial Britcommers of the 21st century, including Russell Brand, David Walliams, and James Corden. Despite all that, its stars Brydon and Steve Coogan, along with its premise of forgotten 80s kids sci-fi being celebrated by nerds on a cruise, made it a firm favourite for Rob and Guy, and they welcomed back returning guests Steve Dunne and Stuart Laws, neither of whom had seen the film before. So how would this have aged, and would our guests immediately be regretting their decision? Only one way to find out. Join us in Leicester, 1982… Cruise of the Gods - Full Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uPsHGPKnWk Children of Castor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPOMIHJHPks Sherlock Holmes in Miami https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj8A3OEicBg Human Remains - Swingers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVAqWMGyqH0 Marion and Geoff - Student House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5V60QG0mJ0 You’re a Star - New Faces theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMfzr2Bufkk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 23min

  7. 14 FEB

    Special: Our Top Ten Favourite Sketches

    Here at BritCom Goes to the Movies, we love each and every one of our listeners. That is why we’re giving you this Valentine’s present. Rob & Guy discuss their favourite British sketches of all time. To make sure there were no clashes, notes were compared before, duplicates removed, and of course, the arbitrary rule of no more than one sketch from one show per host.  These two top-ten lists have a little something for everyone. A good mixture of styles, eras, tones, and formats. So settle in for nearly two hours of discussion of some of the greatest sketches in the history of British comedy! Of course, there are some obvious omissions, and some of you may want to take to the socials to share your favourites or give us grief for ours. Both are encouraged! You can find links to every sketch discussed below, but of course, these are in no particular order to avoid spoilers. Bit of a Chat - Peter Cook & Dudley Moore  https://videopress.com/v/IBVjIA8I ⁠ Dirty Fork - Monty Python  https://youtu.be/Z9VLwV48OHs?si=rYfeDwrAXXrrzwkc Jackson Jeffrey Jackson - The Fast Show  https://youtu.be/LwbJ-N8rrek?si=U0qdYsRvlkKwOF4r Tory Conference - Not The Nine O’clock News  https://youtu.be/qB0ZOu_EZ2M?si=lpBupRZ8w36a7Gsb Billie Piper - Big Train  https://youtu.be/4_3oU-Z4Vxo?si=Hva6PalUR40g82-h Yoker - Limmy  https://youtu.be/0YfRbNipdOg?si=ON_QecbOTrcnKXgs Wedding Registry - Smack The Pony  https://www.facebook.com/Channel4Homes/videos/1101703119964373/?vh=e&fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr Credit Card Application - Armstrong & Miller  https://youtu.be/loaP46f8Lhw?si=7YILcGPHTANVCHxu Vape Doms - Ellie & Natasia https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0c9983q/ellie-natasia-series-1-episode-4 Balham Gateway to the South - Peter Sellers https://youtu.be/8RTWk9QIKS0?si=ABCE1fZbTsR3QgxG French and Saunders - Silence of the Lambs.  https://share.google/xvd7XeKyrdR2O0d2R The Two Ninnies - not the 9 o clock news https://youtu.be/IbC3Fdv5wKU?si=MPY4UulwEDyfBvZs Adam and Joe - People Place  https://youtu.be/s1myCos0xXI?si=Ge42ZkfXXHrTY-Xb Goodness Gracious Me - Going for an English  https://youtu.be/H-uEx_hEXAM?si=wG8IWxZzjWSL0KhG Brass Eye - Oh Me Oh Myra  https://youtu.be/wVibsNPXBx0?si=ySFCFVmy2LiMBtf_ Alistair Green - Punk Squirrel IPA  https://youtu.be/-wP3BjTdogY?si=G_jh4OGM7Up8OMDe The Peter serafinowicz show - Brian Butterfield diet plan https://youtu.be/1NjTWvl8x-U?si=TSC31Jkk3JLvyFyK Vic and Bob - BBC licence advert https://youtu.be/xhPVP8cghN4?si=hasgqfSIRU8Gzy8V Two Ronnies - Mastermind  https://youtu.be/y0C59pI_ypQ?si=7krxJroa1tFKxi4X Fast Show - Monkfish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_ohQ7yP0-I&list=PLu_1AWOleoaWWstu62EEnWzDGhOwo1GtD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 53min

  8. 24/12/2025

    S05 E11 - Nativity! *Christmas Special* (w/ Kat Hughes)

    Merry Christmas to our beloved BritCom Goes to the Movies listeners! Thanks for seeing in the festive period with us. This is our third Christmas episode, and while our previous two were a bit of a mixed bag, we’ve finally found a film we can all agree on: the 2009 classic, Nativity! Writer and director Debbie Isitt was already the pride of the West Midlands theatre scene before turning to film. Her previous feature, Confetti, boasted the cream of British comic talent, even if some of the cast later tried to disavow the experience! For her first festive foray, Isitt enlisted everyone’s favourite wise-cracking sitcom star, Martin Freeman, at a point in his career where he was firmly transitioning into a leading man. He’s joined by oddball comedian Marc Wootton as Mr. Poppy, Extras star Ashley Jensen and a whole host of familiar British faces, as well as an ocean of charming, non-theatre-school kids. Joining Guy and Rob to discuss Nativity! (and Martin Freeman’s forgotten early-2000s sitcom Hardware) is writer and film critic Kat Hughes. Kat is the co-host of Movies with Mummy—the podcast where she and her daughter watch films together. But does Nativity! have what it takes to meet their high standards? We also have the thrilling climax to our Quiz Season. With the scores currently deadlocked at 24-24, it’s all to play for! So, join us for some "Ho-Ho-Hos" and a whole lot of sparkle and shine. Merry Christmas! Bruiser - A Level Geography  https://youtu.be/pHmcBFxgov4?si=pNC_rUWx7atIUPrU Bruiser - Martin Freeman  https://youtu.be/8w55vM3jwuA?si=Z3rgT1xTas8zMsxM Robert Webb on Confetti https://youtu.be/16xLrzEuLoM?si=uwIRD78sQFGSZ7YI Hardware - Student  https://youtu.be/EMDwINZmwp4?si=g68dvIPmkfsnx348 Hardware - S1e1 Dailymotion https://share.google/BACweRPsFHozyTy7o Martin Freeman argues with Tim Lovejoy  https://youtu.be/cqK-i6KSY88?si=Mmi2JUZ-5usxeNNW Nativity! - Trailer  https://youtu.be/6DaaTsSQktk?si=-tOiWjTSdavTjoaP Nativity! - Sparkle and Shine  https://youtu.be/dO6qmNNiAts?si=NUKNVKIv49MFZZir Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 24min
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4.7
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Guy Walker and Rob Heath are on a quest to find out if successful British TV comedies should make the jump to the big screen. A proud part of the Film Stories Podcast Network: www.filmstories.co.uk

Information

  • Creator
    Film Stories
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.

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