Whatever Happened to Harry Hill - TV review

Indeed, the antics of Harry Hill have proven so successful for ITV1, programming chiefs were dismayed when the comedian with humongous shirt collars announced his intention to quit last year.

A long time ago, way before many viewers had got wind of Harry Hill's TV Burp, the bespectacled prankster had a great show over on Channel 4.

Simply entitled The Harry Hill Show, from 1997-1999 the series languished in the graveyard slot on midweek TV.

It showcased the talents of the former doctor and a then little-known Al Murray.

Murray, who went on to find fame as The Pub Landlord, was referred to as Harry's big brother, Alan.

Along with regular contributions from legendary Tenko actor Burt Kwouk – who was also known for playing Kato alongside Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movies – each show would end with the badger parade, often to the latest pop music hit of the day.

For those who latched onto Harry's humour back in the late 1990s, last night's spoof documentary was a superb trip down memory lane, having plenty of archive footage married with clips of the three stalwarts lamenting on the show's passing.

As a documentary it was all very tongue-in-cheek.

"I don't care what Harry says," ranted Burt.

"It was the same show every week."

Of course, the Tenko star was right. There were 26 episodes of the show and each was pretty much, wonderfully so, the same.

Kwouk would sing 'hey little hen'; Al Murray would stroll onto the stage and say 'if it's too hard, I can't understand it; a silent Little Alan would communicate through stamping; Harry's nana would throw him around a bit and Stoofer the cat would share his wisdom. Ah yes, Stoofer.

Harry's blue, rubber puppet, cat Stoofer would often sing a duet with the main man, and was something of a cult hero to students at the time.

With a gigantic nudge and a wink, according to the 'documentary', shown as part of Channel 4's Funny Fortnight, it was a combination of Harry's Welsh soap 'Landfill a Gogogoch' and his declaration of war on the nation that began a slippery slope to oblivion, culminating in the star's addiction to canned fish. What? Yes, he's always been the same. Fabulous.

So, back in the present day, Harry organises a reunion of sorts at a secret location.

Chauffeur driven in a pale blue Rolls Royce, cheekily displaying an ITV1 number plate, Harry made his way to Weatherfield, and the cobbled streets of Coronation Street.

Big brother Alan turned up, so did the badgers, but what of Burt and mute sidekick Little Alan? Cue Harry as Jessie J, Al Murray as a convincing Tom Jones, Kwouk as Will.I.Am and Stoofer as the other bloke, as the one-off show came to a suitably mad ending, parodying BBC1's The Voice. All very silly and all greatly missed.

Next up on Channel 4, Lucky Sexy Winners reunited two more comedians who owe their early careers to the station.

In a new comedy quiz, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer returned to Channel 4 for what was essentially a reworking of BBC show Shooting Stars.

Joined by Dan Skinner – creator of Angelos Epithemiou – as John Meringue, the middle class Viking, the hosts encouraged star guests to compete for the title of Lucky Sexy Winner.

In the end Eddie Izzard won the big prize – a pair of trousers.

Paul Naylor