I'd always thought the whole premise behind Smashie and Nicey (Nicey in particular, played by Enfield) was slimy old men with a highly questionable penchant for teenage company. There were many references in their original sketches to doing "things" with a "young friend".
Obviously they were composite characters based on a particular genre of former DJs, and neither based directly on Savile, but he was clearly in the mix with all the talk of charity work, royal honours, friends in high places, pioneering the broadcasting of pop music, etc.
I do wonder if Enfield and Whitehouse wanted to push the envelope a bit further but were constrained by the powers that be.
I'd always thought the whole premise behind Smashie and Nicey (Nicey in particular, played by Enfield) was slimy old men with a highly questionable penchant for teenage company. There were many references in their original sketches to doing "things" with a "young friend".
Remember that the concept of a 'groupie' has been around since the 60s. It's not exactly a revelation, even when Smash and Nicey were on TV, that DJs and musicians would have liaisons with young girls.
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Obviously they were composite characters based on a particular genre of former DJs, and neither based directly on Savile, but he was clearly in the mix with all the talk of charity work, royal honours, friends in high places, pioneering the broadcasting of pop music, etc.
Yes, everyone from that era is in the mix of the character, although I'd say Savile was one of the lesser influences. When you think of Smash & Nicey, he's not one of the DJs who immediately springs to mind. The examples you mention could be applied to several DJs of the time... Alan Freeman, Simon Bates and DLT for example
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I do wonder if Enfield and Whitehouse wanted to push the envelope a bit further but were constrained by the powers that be.
Only as much as any comedian would be. I wouldn't have thought they would have wanted to touch the subject of what Savile got up to even of it was known back then. Also there is one (lesser known) 70s Radio 1 DJ who was a convicted paedophile at the time.
Yes, that is quite uncomfortable viewing when you know what actually happened.
Tony Blackburn has come out of Smashy & Nicy the best out of any of the people parodied despite him going out of fashion a long time before his peers. He's made the Smashy and Nicey persona work for him
Yes, that is quite uncomfortable viewing when you know what actually happened.
Tony Blackburn has come out of Smashy & Nicy the best out of any of the people parodied despite him going out of fashion a long time before his peers. He's made the Smashy and Nicey persona work for him
Indeed he has, and totally to his credit, pretty good 50 years on to be working on a major national radio station, and also a handful of others every week
Agreed. I think if it wasn't for Donald and Jacqueline, the last series would have been a flop. They have been the highlight of the whole show run. Minus them and the Garveys next series and the series is sadly lacking it's most popular characters.
Agreed. I think if it wasn't for Donald and Jacqueline, the last series would have been a flop. They have been the highlight of the whole show run. Minus them and the Garveys next series and the series is sadly lacking it's most popular characters.
RIP Kenny.
The last series was s**t to be honest. The Garvey's aren't funny anymore IMO. The next series will have both the The Garvey's and Jacqueline and Donald, though The Garvey's depart mid series. Obviously Donald will depart offscreen.