There was a comedy with Tim Brooke a Taylor on BBC One called You Must Be The Husband. I remember that two series were shown relatively close in time to each other, then it disappeared. According to Wiki 1987-88, two series. I was only thirteen at the time but remember it being quite a decent comedy.
David Mitchell's comedy news based programme where celebrities were locked away for a week and then had to answer topical questions or guess which stories were true. It may have been called something like The Pod ( BBC Two ). I seem to remember reading it didn't get a second series because DM couldn't commit due to joining Ten O' Clock Live on Channel 4 the next year.
Yes, as mentioned it was The Bubble, and as you say, it was supposed to come back for a second series but David Mitchell couldn't fit it into his schedule and they didn't want to do it without him. It was based on an Israeli format though I remember reading we were the only country who played it for laughs with comedy guests, other countries have members of the public winning actual prizes. I really enjoyed it. I can't remember where I read it, but in the pilot apparently they got sidetracked by a very long discussion about whether a Nick Robinson report apparently from the Six O'Clock News was true or not, based entirely on the fact Big Ben behind him said it was quarter to five. Quite often they would decide whether the stories were true not based on the actual stories at all, but on the reports themselves, which was quite interesting, it ended up being quite an interesting discussion about how the media works.
That Nick Robinson report in the pilot ended up being the only thing BBC News contributed to the show, they got cold feet shortly before the series began and management in the news department would not allow any involvement with the programme so only ITV and Sky News took part.
This was only two years after the Ofcom fines over fictitious competition winners (what Danny Baker still calls "that time we were caught with our fingers in the till" whenever bemoaning not being able to give away prizes and the reason Match of the Day's Goal of the Month is now "just for fun") and the royal "fakery" row where a misleading edit of footage of the Queen in a BBC One seasonal press launch snowballed into such a huge fuss that controller Peter Fincham ended up resigning. So, it's kind of understandable why didn't want to provide fake news reports, even if it seems like a bit of an overreaction.
This all made news at the time as "BBC boycotts its own show", and was even included in the first episode in one of the rounds - none of the guests thought it was the real story.
There was a comedy with Tim Brooke a Taylor on BBC One called You Must Be The Husband. I remember that two series were shown relatively close in time to each other, then it disappeared. According to Wiki 1987-88, two series. I was only thirteen at the time but remember it being quite a decent comedy.
One of those 'sits' about a family situation that would be unthinkable now as it's nothing particularly unusual or shocking - in this case a husband playing second fiddle to a successful woman. Joint Account and Executive stress too had similar premises. It's probably why the more progressive sitcoms often get forgotten - the 'sit' is is just normal life
The Two of Us is another good example - an unmarried couple living together was a very subversive concept back even as recently* as the 80's. Go back even further and there was a successful sitcom where the premise was a black couple moving in next to a white couple. That is well remembered, but not with fondness, it seems so odd now
*I say that as I cant accept that the 80's is 30 years ago
Talking of "unthinkable" sitcoms, Heil Honey I'm Home must top the list for most tasteless sitcom ever - probably more so than the infamous Hardwicke House. Both now only ever appear or are mentioned in those "Worst moments of the decade" type programmes. Whether Heil Honey still actually exists in an archive somewhere is up for debate.
A sitcom about a French teacher at a school. Bonjour la Classe. Only one series was ever made.
You can sometimes think about famous people, and often forget that they did "regional" shows as well. I'm thinking of one from TTTV, Tom o' Connor entertains. It made bus adverts for Go Ahead Northern, reading "Tom o Connor entertains us - Win through with Tyne Tees".
He also presented a snooker based game show made by Tyne Tees. Pickpockets. An edition exists on youtube.
Talking of "unthinkable" sitcoms, Heil Honey I'm Home must top the list for most tasteless sitcom ever - probably more so than the infamous Hardwicke House. Both now only ever appear or are mentioned in those "Worst moments of the decade" type programmes. Whether Heil Honey still actually exists in an archive somewhere is up for debate.
I don't think it was necessarily bad, more misguided and misunderstood. It was a spoof and I think the irony was missed by a lot of people who've heard about it since
Seems amazing now to think we had quite a lot of regional soaps in the nineties, with that, and Carlton doing London Bridge and Central doing Family Pride and Granada the demented Revelations (I think Granada started showing London Bridge seemingly to thank Carlton for showing Revelations). Nowadays there are weeks without any networked drama, let alone regional ones.
HTV Wales had Nuts & Bolts, which was also screened on ITV2 at one point.
It was initially shown at 7pm, meaning Emmerdale was time shifted believe it or not. The final series was shown at 5:30 though. I'm guessing it came to an end around the time Crossroads launched.
The problem being that as it was regional, it aired in a regional slot, which meant it was up against EastEnders.
It of course aired on Yorkshire as well (as shown in the clip)
The launch trailers for the show actually had the characters saying "and I don't watch Eastenders" to make light of it. Of course the show flourished in that time slot and was gone by the spring.
and the royal "fakery" row where a misleading edit of footage of the Queen in a BBC One seasonal press launch snowballed into such a huge fuss that controller Peter Fincham ended up resigning.
"Less dressy? What do you think this is" *storms out*
(even though she didn't storm out).
Edit: Wow, looked it up and that back back in 2007, I didn't realise it was that long ago!