TV SHOWS - Full List
Chewin' The Fat
Chewin’ the Fat is one of the best loved Scottish comedy programmes of recent years and has run to four series and six Hogmanay specials to date.
The show started out on BBC Radio Scotland in 1997 with Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill at the helm. Karen Dunbar joined for the second series and in 1998 it hit television screens across Scotland.
Catchphrases like ‘Gonna no dae that’ and ‘I love boaby’ spread through pubs and playgrounds, as well as turning up in the Scottish Parliament. These memorable catchphrases coupled with strong characters like hapless actor Ronald Villiers and frustrated school teacher Miss Gourlay, made Chewin’ the Fat one of the most popular shows ever in Scotland.
Read more about Chewin' The Fat here
The Karen Dunbar Show
The Karen Dunbar Show has been one of the Comedy Unit’s most popular shows of recent years.
There are sketches aplenty from grotesque grannies to depressed, drunken dames as Karen Dunbar morphs through a multitude of hilarious characters in her wickedly funny sketch show.
The show has been nominated twice for the prestigious Golden Rose award, with Karen herself nominated a further two times for Best Comedy Performance.
Characters include Angela and Ricky Silveri and their (somewhat unique) take on the latest chart hits with their band ‘Almost Angelic’ and the chip shop worker who gives her customers more to look at than a jar of pickled eggs…
Read more about The Karen Dunbar Show here.
Offside
Award-winning presenter Tam Cowan gives his unique take on the headlines, Jonathan Watson assumes the guise of the headlinemakers and top-name guests from the worlds of soccer and showbiz pop in to join the banter with Tam.
Recorded in front of a live studio audience featuring jokes about footballers from Alan Archibald to Zinedine Zidane, Offside is a raucous 30 minutes of comedy, controversy and mayhem.
Read more about Offside here
Rab C Nesbitt
"Let me tell you this…"
One of the best loved characters in Scottish comedy, Rab C Nesbitt was brought to life by actor Gregor Fisher. His performance made the drunken, foul-mouthed and sexist Nesbitt a likeable character and in doing so created a comedy icon.
Created by Ian Pattison, Rab C first appeared on sketch show Naked Video, was given a seasonal special in 1988 which appeared on network in 1989, and was granted a series in 1990. Rab C Nesbitt eventually bowed out in 1999 after eight series. Initially produced by the BBC, Comedy Unit founder (and the producer of the programme) Colin Gilbert took Rab C Nesbitt with him in 1996 when he left BBC Scotland and the independent production company he jointly set up was responsible for series six to eight.
Read more about Rab C Nesbitt here.
Atletico Partick
(6 X 30 for BBC1)
The adventures of an amateur Sunday league, with more focus on pre-match preliminaries and after-match post-mortems than the actual games themselves.
Written by Ian Pattison. Produced and Directed by Colin Gilbert.
The Baldy Man
(co-production with Working Title Television 13 x 30 for ITV)
A series of dialogue-free, visual narratives with two distinct stories per half-hour - that was strongly reminiscent of Mr Bean.
Writers include Niall Clark, Laurie Rowley, Jack Docherty, Moray Hunter, Donald McLeary, Tex Winchester.
Produced and Directed by Colin Gilbert.
Caledonia MacBrains
Comedy panel show hosted by Rob Mclean (series 1) and Dominik Diamond (series 2) with team captains Karen Dunbar and Fred McAulay which took the rise out of all aspects of Scottish popular culture.
Writers include Iain Davidson, Rikki Brown. Directed by John Frame. Produced by Caroline Roberts
Comadaidh Óir (Comedy Gold)
Heard the one about Gaelic comedy writers?
Award-winning Glasgow based indies The Comedy Unit and MnE Television joined forces on Comadaidh Óir (Comedy Gold), which followed six aspiring Gaelic writers as they vied to be crowned Comedy King or Queen. The contenders were – Duncan MacDonald, Artair Donald, Iain MacDonald, Mairi MacLeod, Gilleasbuig Ferguson and Scott MacDonald.
Part talent contest, part reality TV, the troop toured six key Gaelic speaking destinations (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Skye, Berneray, Benbecula and Barra) in the ‘Comadaidh Óir’ bus, putting on shows performed by four actors – Alec MacDonald, Carina MacLeod, Kenny MacRae and Ruairidh MacIver.
Writers had just three days to prepare their comedy sketches, drawing on inspiration from the location. Entertainment expert Cathy MacDonald was there to offer advice, and as The Boss, she made the brutal decision each week as to which one writer failed to make the grade. The chosen writer then had to sit out the show in the seat of shame – a golden toilet seat! Ultimately, it was the audience who had the power, as they voted on the winning sketch each week.
Gilleasbuig Ferguson came out on top and was duly crowned Comedy King!
Comadaidh Oir was produced by Ron Bain and Alasdair MacKinnon and directed by Martin Burt. A production by The Comedy Unit and MnE Television for BBC Scotland.
The new series of Comadaidh Óir hits screens on 16th November but you can get a preview with the great new podcasts of the show. Go to: www.comadaidhoir.com to download the extras from Wednesday 8th November!
Dr. Finlay’s Quizbook
Special quiz for the 75th anniversary of BBC Scotland hosted by Dougie Donnelly. Contestants from the world of Scottish showbiz such as Gerard Kelly and Moira Anderson were tested on their knowledge of BBC Scotland programmes.
Directed by Ron Bain. Produced by Philip Differ
Freshly Squeezed
1 x 27 mins Channel 4
A quick fire sketch show focussing on the extremes of teen life, featuring hysterical characters, set-ups and scenarios. A hot young cast investigate burning issues such as when are you ready to fall in love? What’s the best way to get into a nightclub? How much fake tan is too much fake tan?
The Goalden Years
Nostalgia series presented by actor and comedian Jonathan Watson which looked at major football news during the year and juxtaposed it with fashion and popular news of the same time.
Writers include Niall Clark, Philip Differ. Produced and directed by Philip Differ
Head to Head with Britney Spears
Co-production with Digital Animation featuring a disembodied CGI ‘head’, in this one off Channel 4 ‘documentary’. The head investigated all things related to babes.
Written by Rab Christie and Iain Davidson. Produced by Caroline Roberts
I, Macca
A week in the life of football legend Frank McAvennie as seen through the eyes of Jonathon Watson. The question is ‘Where’s the burds?’
Writers include Philip Differ, Rikki Brown, Rab Christie. Produced and directed by Philip Differ
I M Jolly’s Last Call
Farewell performance of Rikki Fulton’s legendary character, the permanently depressed clergyman ‘the reverend IM Jolly’. Featured his final Hogmanay sermon to the Scottish people on the verge of the millennium.
Writers include Rikki Fulton, Philip Differ. Directed by Ron Bain. Produced by Philip Differ
The Naughty Naughty Hypno Show
Hypnotised mayhem featuring the public.
Rikki Fulton – The Time of His Life
Biographical documentary of veteran comedian to celebrate his 75th birthday.
Writers include Rikki Fulton, Philip Differ. Directed by Ron Bain. Produced by Philip Differ
Scrap It!
Childrens Discovery Kids 13 x 15 min
Join Will Andrews and his Nan as they use everyday junk to create silly toys and games that will create mess, mayhem and destruction in viewers’ homes across the country. The Comedy Unit first Kids Factual series. The workshop where Will works acts as a junkyard where scrap tubes, boxes, plastic containers and all manner of bits and bobs are transformed into the weirdest concoctions. It’s silly games and hilarious fun as Will and Nan drop cows from spaceships, demolish cereal box walls with motorised tanks and show viewers how to recreate the fun at home from scrap found around the house.
Snoddy
(6X30min for BBC1 Scotland)
Gregor Fisher played the work shy unconventional detective who was more likely to be found pounding the beat on a golf course in Spain rather than maintaining law and order in Glasgow.
Written by Johnny Crawford. Directed by Ron Bain. Produced by Colin Gilbert
Soundproof
Channel 4
The Audio Musical Institute investigate various musical genres in an attempt to prove who makes the best music. They came to six irrefutable conclusions - Sulks Make the Best Singers, Geeks Make the Best Riffs, Bad Boys Make the Best Boy Bands, Girls Make the Best Bass Players, Rebels Make the Best Rappers and Hotties Make the Best RNB.
Street Hypnosis
BRAVO
Wicked mindbender Peter Powers has taken his unique brand of mesmerising mayhem to the streets in his hilarious new 15 part comedy series.
All over the UK, willing volunteers have fallen under Peter’s spell to star in their very own outrageous stunts. One lucky bloke becomes the world’s most famous stand-up comedian. Another two guys believe they are pregnant. There’s a poor chap who sits his driving test under hypnosis. And let’s not forget the checkout girl who hates her customers.
Peter was only 12 when he discovered his Powers by successfully hypnotising his older brother. 'I didn’t even realise I'd done it until I clapped my hands and he leapt out of his skin'. Fascinated by the art, he went on to make his name with his sell out stage show, which he’s currently touring in Australia.
Street Hypnosis aired on cable channel Bravo in July 2004
Sweet Charity
1X30 for ITV
Former Coronation Street players Thelma Barlow and Ann Reid run a high street charity shop called Sweet Charity.
Written by Donald McLeary. Directed by Michael Hines. Produced by Colin Gilbert
Taxi for Cowan
BBC Scotland
Tam Cowan travelled to various towns in Scotland where he was shown around by a local taxi driver. Armed with inside information, Tam gave his unique take on each location visited.
Produced and Directed by Stuart Greig
Taxi for Cowan – Spain
BBC Scotland
Special edition of Taxi for Cowan where he met Scottish ex-pats on the Costa Blanca.
Yes? Yes?
Channel 4
Jonathan Watson and Alistair McGowan used their talent for mimicry in this Channel 4 ‘slot’ during the week of the Scottish devolution referendum.
Written by Philip Differ. Produced and Directed by Colin Gilbert
Yo! Diary
CBBC
Yo! Diary is a successful series of books for teenagers, written by Jonathan Meres and published in half a dozen different countries. In 2002 it made the leap onto the small screen when The Comedy Unit made a series of the same name, first broadcast on CBBC and later on BBC 1 and BBC 2. There has since been a second series and a total of 26 x 25 minute episodes in all. Yo! Diary - The Series (also written by Perrier-nominated ex-stand up Johnny Meres), takes a wildly comic and offbeat look at the lives of 6 very different teenagers. Using a mixture of video diaries, music and drama to stunning effect, Yo! Diary has been one of the most original and innovative comedy-dramas for children in recent years.
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