"The Young Ones" - clockwise Vyvyan (Ade Edmonson), Neil (Nigel Planer), Rick (Rik Mayall), Mike (Christopher Ryan)

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The Young Ones

The Young Ones crystallized the explosion in Alternative Comedy that had been brewing in clubs and on radio and the fringes of television. Set in a studenty flat and starring Rik Mayall as Rick, Adrian Edmondson as Vyvyan, Nigel Planer as Neil, Christopher Ryan as Mike, the show appeared to disregard structural conventions and its energy - and the fact that it was profoundly funny - breathed life into the sitcom format. It also played with the fourth wall concept by having a band play in the house each week, notable visitors including Madness and Dexy's Midnight Runners.

It was produced by Paul Jackson and directed (apart from two episodes) by Geoff Posner.

The Young Ones

Series 1

Show 1

"Demolition"

First Tx. 09/11/1982, BBC2 21.00-21.30

Fascist oiks at the Town Hall want to demolish the house. Why bother with Vyv around to do the business for them 

Starring
RickRik Mayall
Vyvyan BasterdAdrian Edmondson
Neil PyeNigel Planer
Mike The Cool PersonChristopher Ryan
 
and
Jerzy Balowski / Balowski FamilyAlexei Sayle
 
Additional cast
PilotPaul Bradley
Co-pilotAndy De La Tour
TV PresenterBen Elton
Bus PassengerPauline Melville
and featuringNine Below Zero

Show 2

"Oil"

First Tx. 16/11/1982, BBC2 21.00-21.30

As Rik, Vyv, Neil and Mike move into their new house, the talking statue at the front door begins an odyssey of zaniness that is to culminate in a worker's revolution and a fully-fledged benefit concert in the front room.

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
DoormanRobbie Coltrane
and featuringRadical Posture
(including)Alexei Sayle

Show 3

"Boring"

First Tx. 23/11/1982, BBC2 21.00-21.30

A terrorist siege in their own house; a visitation from hell; a fairytale world that flourishes while they are asleep - what more entertainment could four students possibly want? Yet they are so B-O-R-E-D that Neil is driven to dig himself a grave and Vyv chops his finger off

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
1st PolicemanMark Arden
2nd PolicemanSteve Frost
OrgoRoger Ashton-Griffiths
FtumchDavid Rappaport
Vyvyan’s MotherPauline Melville
and featuringMadness

Show 4

"Bomb"

First Tx. 30/11/1982, BBC2 21.00-21.30

A potentially explosive situation erupts when a bomb falls on the house. But worse! The TV licence man calls... 

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
Cornflakes Box dadMark Arden
and featuringDexy’s Midnight Runners

Show 5

"Interesting"

First Tx. 7/12/1982, BBC2 21.00-21.30

It's party time! Where else could you mingle with the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, a giant sandwich and a singing tomato? Pretty amazing stuff, eh? Just ignore Neil's boring hippy friend chilling out in the fridge...

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
PestilenceKeith Allen
LecturerNicholas Ball
WarlockPaul Bradley
Religious VisitorDawn French
Sue the Party GuestJennifer Saunders
2nd GatecrasherSteve Frost
and featuringRip, Rig and Panic
withNeneh Cherry

Show 6

"Flood"

First Tx. 14/12/1982, BBC2 21.00-21.30

While London floods Rik tries to elevate proceedings with a game of hide-and-seek. Meanwhile his sociology file is set on fire by Vyv, Mike's room is occupied by a pride of lions, and landlord Alexei Sayle turns into an axe-wielding homicidal maniac.

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
1st Police VictimMark Arden
2nd Police VictimSteve Frost
CriminalArnold Brown
Blind DJBen Elton
1st Medieval GuardGareth Hale
2nd Medieval GuardNorman Pace
ShirleyDavid Rappaport
LandlordAlexei Sayle
 
Written byRik Mayall
Ben Elton
Lise Mayer
 
Directed byGeoff Posner
 
produced byPaul Jackson

Series 2

Show 1

"Bambi"

First Tx. 08/05/1984, BBC2 21.00-21.30

Who produced the world's stickiest bogey and the world's stupidest bottom-burp? Who's smashing the oiks on University Challenge and who's swotting away for teacher like a total spasmo?

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
Dr. CarlisleRobbie Coltrane
Mr. Kendall MintcakeBen Elton
Lord SnotStephen Fry
Lord MontyHugh Laurie
Miss Money-SterlingEmma Thompson
Dr Not The Nine O’Clock NewsTony Robinson
CommissionaireMel Smith
BambiGriff Rhys Jones
and featuringMotörhead

Show 2

"Cash"

First Tx. 15/05/1984, BBC2 21.00-21.30

Hey man! It's really weird! Strange things keep happening. Like plates disappearing and the tables keep, well, shrinking. Looks like there's a poltergeist in the house... 

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
1st Headless GhostMark Arden
2nd Headless GhostSteve Frost
WarlockPaul Bradley
Road Safety AnnouncerAndy De La Tour
GodAlan Freeman
 
and featuring
Ken Bishop’s Nice Twelve Jools Holland
Stewart Copeland
Derek Griffiths
Chris Difford
Simon Brint
Roland Rivron

Show 3

"Nasty"

First Tx. 29/05/1984, BBC2 21.00-21.30

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, Vyv is now a video head and Neil's wearing a dress because some really selfish negative vibe merchant boarded up his bedroom. Only pop music can save them now.

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
1st SpyMark Arden
2nd SpySteve Frost
Painkiller Advert WomanHelen Atkinson-Wood
Painkiller Advert DevilDawn French
Ship’s CaptainChris Barrie
Chess PlayerArnold Brown
Wall-Poster ConvictRon Cook
Wall-Poster ConvictAndy De La Tour
1st GravediggerGareth Hale
2nd GravediggerNorman Pace
Stabbed ManDaniel Peacock
VicarTerry Jones
and featuringThe Damned

Show 4

"Sick"

First Tx. 05/05/1984, BBC2 21.00-21.30

There's bogeys on the blankets and snot on the sheets when Neil and the others come down with the worst colds in the history of civilisation!

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
1st Manure DelivererMark Arden
2nd Manure DelivererSteve Frost
Campaigning SchoolboyBen Elton
Vyvyan’s MotherPauline Melville
and featuringMadness

Show 5

"Time"

First Tx. 12/06/1984, BBC2 21.00-21.30

Vyv's being violently and copiously sick because Rick's like scored with a chick and the whole house has like gone through some kind of time warp

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
DJs ServantGary Beadle
Pirate DJRobbie Coltrane
Easter BunnyDawn French
Helen MucusJennifer Saunders
1st YokelGareth Hale
2nd YokelNorman Pace
3rd YokelPaul Merton
GwendolynHelen Lederer
and featuringAmazulu

Show 6

"Summer Holiday"

First Tx. 19/06/1984, BBC2 21.00-21.30

Hey, everybody! School's out! Hurray! Hurray! Except, like there's nothing to do, man, apart from getting on a big red bus and having a really explosive trip. It should be pretty good fun, actually. 

Starring
RickRik Mayall
VyvyanAdrian Edmondson
NeilNigel Planer
MikeChristopher Ryan
 
Additional cast
Lager Advert drinkerBen Elton
Bank ManagerSteve Frost
GodAlan Freeman
PostmanLenny Henry
Punk in BankJools Holland
Bank TellerHelen Lederer
Penny Arcade OwnerNorman Lovett
and featuringJohn Otway
 
Also appearing in series
Jim Barclay
Peter Laxton
Michael Redfern
Peter Greene
Lise Mayer
Kilian McKenna
Roger Sloman
Maggie Steed
Peter Wear
Patrick Newell
Cindy Shelley
Lee Cornes
Brian Croucher
 
Written byBen Elton
Rik Mayall
Lise Mayer
 
with additional material byAlexei Sayle
 

Original Music
Peter Brewis
 
Stunt Arranger
Gareth Milne

Film Editing
Colin Jones

VT Editor
Graham Hutchings
Ed Wooden 

Costume Design
Andrew Rose
Phoebe De Gaye
Barbara Kidd
Robin Stubbs
Anna Stubley
 
Makeup
Vivien Riley
Christine Walmesley-Cotham
 
Graphic Designer
Peter Clayton
Steve Connelly

Props Buyer
Maura Laverty
Bob Warans
 
Location Sound
Paul Cunliffe
Brian Robinson

Sound
Laurie Taylor
Michael McCarthy

Special Effects

John Humphreys
 
Series Visual Effects
John Brace
Mickey Edwards
David P. Barton
Jim Francis
 
Senior  Camera Operator
Roger Fenner
Ron Peverall

Animation
David Claridge
Graeme Galvin
 
Vision Mixer
Heather Gilder
Hilary West
 
Production Manager
Ed Bye
Marcus Mortimer

Designer
Graeme Story

 
Directed byGeoff Posner
 
Produced byPaul Jackson

The Young Ones

The Young Ones has a massive internet footprint. You can read more about The Young Ones on the BBC website here

You can buy the DVD of series 1 here and indeed, you can find series 2 here

Both have just been released in a new DVD which you can find by clicking here

And, yep, there's even the book, "Bachelor Boys". Which is extremely funny... you could buy it here


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