Retro Brit Comedy Quickie Trivia Quiz

Answer: Richard

The correct answer is Richard.
The incorrect answer is Clive. However, Clive Swift is the name of the actor who played the character.
Swift had a successful career outside the show, including film roles (notably "Othello" with Ian McKellen) and he appeared in "Doctor Who" in two separate roles. Other comedic roles include "The Liver Birds", "Cuckoo" and he appeared in twelve episodes of "The Old Guys".

Answer: "Gourmet Night"

The answer is "Gourmet Night". Slapstick comedy mayhem from Cleese. With the stand-in chef drunk, Basil rushes to Andre's restaurant to fetch some food. The car breaks down and Basil takes out his frustration in the best way he knows how!

"The Hotel Inspector" is incorrect - the episode where Basil panders to the needs of a spoon businessman.

"Communication Problems" is incorrect - the episode with the rather difficult Mrs Richards, who refuses to use her hearing aid most of the time.

"Basil The Rat" is incorrect - Manuel's Siberian hamster goes missing.

Answer: Alexei Sayle

Alexei Sayle is the correct answer - He played multiple roles but was usually the gang's landlord. He also had stints performing musical numbers such as "Dr Martens Boots".

Ben Elton is incorrect - As well as co-writing the show with Rik Mayall and Lise Mayer, Elton did appear in one episode of "The Young Ones" presenting a tv show for young people called "Nozin' Around".

Lenny Henry is incorrect - However, he did appear in one episode of "The Young Ones" as a postman.

Keith Allen did not appear in "The Young Ones" but worked on Channel 4's "The Comic Strip Presents..." alongside Mayall, Edmondson and Lenny Henry in some episodes.

Answer: Harry Secombe

The answer is Harry Secombe. Harry worked on the show from 1951-1960 but also had a successful singing career alongside his comedy. This was the golden era of light entertainment. He regularly worked with Tony Hancock from 1955.

Answer: Chigwell

Chigwell is the correct answer - The sitcom centres on the lives of sisters Tracy and Sharon at their home in Essex. With unreliable partners and a sex-mad menopausal friend the 90s sitcom seemed ahead of its time, though the reboot from 2014-2020 was received a mixed reception.

Bognor is incorrect - but is where the Steptoe family used to go on their holidays.

Peckham is incorrect - this is the setting of "Only Fools and Horses", although many of the tower block scenes were shot in Bristol.

Northwood is also incorrect. This was the Greater London filming location for "The Good Life" [also known as "The Good Neighbours"] but the series itself was set in Surbiton.

Answer: Arkwright

The answer is Arkwright - this is also the name used by Ronnie Barker on more than one occasion during his time on "The Two Ronnies". David Jason reprieved the role as Granville in 2013 and the series was given a new lease of life as "Still Open All Hours". The BBC announced in 2023 that there would be no more new episodes, despite positive reviews and initial plans for a seventh series.

Answer: "The Dick Emery Show"

The answer is "The Dick Emery Show". The show spanned two decades and 166 episodes. His feisty female characters, including the ineffable Mandy, would strike back with attitude and became popular with audiences.

"The Russ Abbott Show" is an incorrect answer. Russ Abbott arrived on tv as Dick Emery was coming toward the end of his career in 1980. Though some of his comedy was irreverent and picked on topics of the day, many of the sketches and recurring characters echoed those of Emery.

Both "The Catherine Tate Show" and "Little Britain" are incorrect answers, although David Walliams & Matt Lucas, and Tate have acknowledged the work of their forerunners in paving the way for their catchphrase-based sketch show success.

Answer: "Ideal"

Ideal is the correct answer - starring Johnny Vegas as 'Moz' in his slummy flat and basically whoever decides to drop by.

"15 Storeys High" is incorrect. This is the series starring the sadly missed, but very funny Sean Lock. Well worth a look.

"Lead Balloon" is incorrect - it's an early 2000s series with Jack Dee as a fed-up comedian.

"My Family" is incorrect - this stars Robert Lindsay of "Citizen Smith" acclaim and Zoe Wannamaker who has since been in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". It is a feel-good family comedy with a great supporting cast, but no CartoonHead!

Answer: Steve Coogan

Coogan brilliantly played the roles of both Paul and Pauline Calf, a somewhat dysfunctional couple, but also very relatable. He became known through appearances on UK's Channel 4 in the early 1990s; the channel was gaining a reputation as the home of alternative comedy (it had seen the breakthrough of "The Comic Strip Presents..." team, and was now hosting live stand-up comedians). Coogan is now far better known for playing Alan Partridge, but he won a BAFTA for the "Pauline Calf's Wedding Video" back in 1995.

Answer: Hercules

The correct answer is Hercules. Though often referred to in the series, this is best illustrated in the film "Steptoe and Son Rides Again". Hercules goes lame, so Harold invests in a replacement. What could go wrong?

Herbert is incorrect - Harold's name was changed to Herbert when the series was remade in Norway and Sweden! "Steptoe and Son" was so popular it was also remade in other countries including Portugal, The Netherlands, and South Africa.

Cornelius is incorrect - Harry H. Corbett (who played Harold in "Steptoe & Son") played alongside Billy Cornelius in the film "Carry On Screaming!"

Galahad is incorrect - Galahad was one of King Arthur's men. Legend has it Arthur's men gathered at Tintagel, Cornwall. Wilfrid Brambell (who played Albert in "Steptoe & Son") appeared in a film called "Crooks in Cloisters" filmed just a short distance away at St Mawes, Cornwall, alongside Barbara Windsor and Bernard Cribbins.