Off The Telly - What Shall We Watch? Favourite Comedies

Episode Date: March 14, 2025

For this bonus episode, Nat and Jo are chatting about Nat's favourite telly genre - Comedy. They hear from listeners about their favourite comedies of all time, including Ghosts, On The Up and The Catherine Tate Show. Plus Nat reveals what her dream comedy roles would be.Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly. What they can’t stop watching, what they definitely aren’t going to bother with, new releases and comforting classics – TV is timeless and no telly is out of bounds. As well as having a natter about what’s on TV, they share backstage goss from the world of telly, whilst also cracking up about the more humbling moments in their lives. Self-confessed TV addicts and stars of two of the biggest shows on our screens, EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, Natalie and Joanna are the perfect companions to see what’s occurring on and off the telly.Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Hello, I'm Robin Ince. And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off. Jupiter versus Saturn. It's very well done that because in the script it does say wrestling voice. After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

And also in this series, we're discussing history of music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes. So listen wherever you get your podcasts. BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. So don't forget to subscribe to the pod on BBC Sounds and make sure push notifications are turned on in your phone settings so you can always listen to our pod duet. Hello and welcome to Off the Telly, what shall we watch? Right, this is favourite comedies, we love these don't we? Oh we do, it's your favourite genre isn't it?

And I've also seen a lot of people out and about and on my Instagram that say they love these Epps because they love listening to other people, their stories as well as ours and it's just really lovely that we're building this community of people over here on Offatele, it's really really good. Comedy Joe, I don't know what's, you know me. I know you love comedy, I mean but it's good because I mean we've watched so much stuff but it is great to hear everybody's voice notes because it just like lets us know other things which we haven't even seen. And also it makes us have a think about those things and it takes us off on a different conversation sometimes, which is why I love them.

Why do you think that you love comedy so much? I think because I find it a relief from everything you have to do in life and I think it's a great escapism. And also I love to laugh. And I think from a very young age, I've always liked making people laugh. And I'm fascinated with comedians. I'm just fascinated with writers of comedy, directors, how the shots are funny,

looks between people. I just find making people laugh the best thing you can do. Mm-hmm. In any situation. If you could choose any comedy to be in, what would you want to be in? Well, that's the silly thing. I don't know. Why? Because there's so many good ones.

Well, I'm going to put you on the spot and you have to choose one. If you can choose to be in any comedy, and I will hold you to this for the rest of your life. Old or new? Anything. If you could play any part in any comedy or just be in any comedy, what would you want to be in? I think I would have played Alice. I'd be Dawn Frenchie's best friend. Oh, that's nice. I'd be Geraldine's best friend in the Vicara Dibley.

Oh, oh gosh, that would be lovely. Because I can imagine it being so fun. Yes. And it's just, you know, very nostalgic. I've spoken about it before. But then I'd really like to be King Gary's wife. Yes. I'd also like to play Raquel in Only Fools and Horses.

Oh my gosh, it'd be so good, wouldn't you? I'd also like to play Eddie in ABFAB. Yes! So I can keep going with this, so I'm sorry I haven't got one. I started watching the Inbetweeners. What would you do? I love that question. I don't know.

Would you play Stacey? Go for the Stacey. Oh no, you've done that. Yeah, I've done that. You've done that? I started watching the Inbetweeners again the other day. Never seen it, have I? You've got like, you'd absolutely love it.

I know you keep saying. It's just, Honest to God is just classic. I just started, I watched it religiously when it was first on and then I started watching some bits the other day and it was still making me laugh out loud. I don't know where I was at that time. I think there's a period of time, was that kind of 2010? It must have been I think. It must have been, yeah I think it was.

Around that sort of time? Yeah. Because that's when I had Eliza. Oh It must have been I think. It must have been, yeah I think it was. Around that sort of time? Yeah. Because that's when I had Eliza. Oh it must have been then then. So I'm thinking, I missed a lot of telly around sort of 2008, 2017. I feel like I missed a lot. I still haven't delved into Schitt's Creek. Oh I wonder what you were going to say then.

Take off that. I keep trying to get into it and I end up watching the first few episodes and then I stop again. Have you seen any of W1A yet? Oh my god no and I really want to watch that because I saw a clip of that the other day and I can't believe I have missed the whole thing of that. I just feel that you do need to watch a couple of those. Right that is going to be the next thing I watch. Because of our job. Yeah.

Just please have a look at it because of our job. I will, W1A. Yeah, I've got to, I've got to. But yeah, we could go on and on and on and I think we should start with some voice notes to see what other people are enjoying. We want to know what you guys like. Right. Hi Jo, hi Nat. I'm just on my dog walk and enjoying your podcast. I really am grateful for your recommendations.

Amanda Land, love it. Just started watching it today. Had to stop it because I needed to get out with the dogs. But I'm looking forward to carrying on with that. But so far, I really enjoy it. I'm looking for things like that, a bit of comedy and a bit of something to just easy, an easy watch. I've been binge watching Friends because I never did see it from start to finish and that's shortly coming to an end for me. So I'm looking for my next

binge watch. So if you've got anything like funny, you know, like an ongoing comedy, because obviously Amanda Land will come to an end at some point, then I'd really appreciate it. I'd go for King Gary. So I don't think I've ever seen King Gary. Who's in King Gary? I feel just because I feel like you're quite current, you want stuff now so don't go really really back. I know you're watching Friends. I mean you could always go down the curb your enthusiasm route if you like American comedy. Have you watched all the Cheers? Have you watched all the Seinfeld? I mean that...

Yeah. comedy. Have you watched all the Cheers? Have you watched all the Seinfeld? I mean, go on and on. But everybody loves Raymond. It's a really old, brilliant American comedy if you want that. But I would recommend King Gary and I wonder if you've heard of it or seen it because loads of people have. It's brilliant. It's Tom Davis. It's Ramesh Ranganathan. It's got the lady who we, when we did our Wednesday ep, big boys, the mum in that is the mum in that as well, but she's brilliant. It's really funny and really, really good. Just about a family. He's a builder. His dad's a builder. There's the boys, the building. She wants to do stuff. The mum at home, go, go, go.

Set in Essex. It's a private drive and he's like, we can't have the bins on the private. It's just a situation comedy. Really, really good. Ramesh is a neighbour, hates Gary, they become friends. They've also got a son who's about nine, 10. They go on trips and the dad gets involved. It's just a very well-rounded funny thing.

Tom Davis is outstanding in it. Amazing. It's really good fun. Oh, I think I'll watch that. But yeah, that's what I would recommend to our listener and everybody else. Should we have another one? Yeah.

Hi, Joannette. This is Fee from Devon. I wanted to come on and recommend Ghosts. Now, I don't think you've mentioned this before, and it is our family favourite. It is great. It is just amazing. It's the cast of horrible histories, I think. We started watching it in lockdown,

and I think there's been four or five series, and we often just re-watch, binge re-watch it, just the four of us. I've got their young teenagers now so we watched it when they were, started watching when they were like eight and nine. Just brilliant telly, so funny. So yeah, really recommend that. Oh yeah, absolutely. I've never seen ghosts. Never seen ghosts? No, I've seen just like clips of it. The kids would love ghosts. Do you think they were, so they're not too young for it today? No, because there's nothing, there are, there are subjects which you'll get. Yeah. They won't be too young for it,

honestly some of the stuff that we've watched. I might try that with them then. It is fun, it's really clever because you have all the different ghosts in the house, right? So you've got the couple that move into this big old restately home and she, the person who's bought the house, she can see and talk to all the ghosts. So at first it's like really freaks her out, but then they're all her mates and they're all living in the house from all different decades. Pirate, one's a soldier, one's a politician, and they've all been, they are how they've been, how they are now is how they were found dead. Right. Or how they died.

So that's quite funny in itself. Yeah. Politician's got his trousers off, but you, the kids wouldn't get those bits, you know. Yeah. But there's a lot from, so you've got a little bit of the history in there, the horrible history stuff. Yeah. And then also, you know, the couple, what goes on with them.

So does he see them? No. So it's very clever because he's chatting away to her and they'll all be, I don't think I agree with that then, do you? And she can hear them, but he doesn't know. Right, I'm going to watch that one with the kids. It's really clever and very, very funny and very, very easy. Oh, good. I'm going to try that one with the kids then.

Great one that we haven't mentioned before. Hello, I'm Robin Ince. And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off. Jupiter versus Saturn. Well, it's very well done that because in the script,

it does say wrestling voice. After all of that, it's very well done that because in the script it does say wrestling voice. After all of that, it's gonna kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice. And also in this series we're discussing history of music, recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes. So, listen wherever you get your podcasts. Let's have another one. I don't think you've ever mentioned the Catherine Tate show. I could be wrong, but I have listened to every single episode. But maybe you did mention it a while back. But yeah, I love the Catherine Tate show. I've watched it since being little with the whole family. It was

always something that would put on if there was nothing else to watch or while dinner was Being eaten we would always watch the Catherine Tate show and be in absolute hysterics especially at the skit where Catherine Tate plays and then and Who's always quite upset by everything? But yeah, it's so funny. So if you haven't watched it, I would highly recommend But yeah, it's so funny. So if you haven't watched it, I would highly recommend. Were you in the Catherine Tate show? Yes, I played a cheerleader. Did you?

And I snogged Matt Horne. What else did you have to do in the skit thing that made you a cheerleader? Because I was her, the rival, Catherine's rival, what's her name, Lauren. Yes. Am I bothered? Yeah. Am I bothered though? Do you want a quarter pounder with that? Am I bothered though?

Yeah, it was a good sketch. Good fun. Years and years and years ago. God, yeah, because that was on ages ago, wasn't it? Oh, a long, old time ago. I love the Catherine, Eliza likes the Catherine Tate show. It hasn't aged well, is what I would say. Yeah.

But back in the day, it was hilarious. Yeah.'t aged well, is what I would say. But back in the day it was hilarious. And yeah, I still find it really funny. God, it was huge, wasn't it? Yeah, it was massive. Are there any comedy shows like that now? Sitcom sketch shows. Sorry, sketch shows. Yeah, well there are sketch shows where it's like one person fronting it and then they've just... There hasn't been a lot of sketch shows lately. I think that's because... I don't know why actually. I know, because they... I don't know why actually.

I know because they don't... Is it because people are really scared of offending people now? I don't know. But there aren't any other... there aren't any, you know, like just men or women just doing, you know, loads of different characters and having their own show. Is there not? It's anything of anything where it is the something show. Let us know. Yeah.

Please? Yeah, let us know if there are any sketch shows or anybody fronting their own show. 033306784704. Is there any sketch shows out there? I don't know. We'll probably be bombarded with them now. Yeah. Shall we have another one? Does anybody remember on the up, it was with Dennis Waterman. Yes. Do I rememberman and he lived with his wife and there was always row when she was going off and she used to stay at Claridge's I think the hotel and there was a he had a housekeeper and a butler and the housekeeper Mrs. Wembley she always had a drink but she always says just the one Mrs. Wembley. but she always says just the one Mrs Wimberley. We've just been watching it again actually I think it's on you drama alibi and you or something like that anyway yeah I liked that one on the up. Do you remember it? Yeah do you? Yes I do. I loved it. I'm on the up. Yeah I think it was. I think it was. I'm on the up. I want to sing One Foot in the Grave to then On the Up but it doesn't work.

So I don't know but I think the theme tune was quite similar to da da da da da but that's One Foot in the Grave. But On the Up was brilliant. Yeah, it was good, wasn't it? Yeah, I might look at that. I might go back and have a little look at one of those. God, did you ever remember Brushstrokes? I loved Brushstrokes. Do you remember Dear John? Oh my god, I loved Dear John. Oh my god, I loved it. I used to love Dear John, right, and then years and years and years ago, oh my god, I must have been in my twenties or something, I did what the butler saw in Hampstead

Theatre, I think it was, and Belinda Lang was in it as well. And I just remember being mesmerised by her. And Belinda Lang, was she in 2.4 children as well as the mum? Yes, she was, yes. And round about that time with all of the comedy sitcoms and all of that, she was in loads of them. And she had, well, the thickest hair ever. And she was so beautiful and she was like just this perfect mamma. Oh my god she was lovely, she was so gorgeous. But it was mad just meeting her after I just used to love Dear John. And you think about it and you think oh my god

it's so, I remember watching it when I was a little girl. What was the one with, what's her face in? I'm not being rude, that sounds really rude. Judi Dench until I think of it. I used to watch that with a lovely man, Lionel. What's his name? With a nose. Oh my god, what the hell was it called? He's got a nose. It was quite a shaky nose. It was a bit rude. You know what, as time goes by. Oh god, yes. Love that. What was his name in it? Oh my god, as time goes by. Wasn't it great? 2.4 children. 2.4 children. Brush strokes. Dear John. The upper hands. The upper hands. My god I love the upper hands. With Kelly. Loved her long, long, long blonde hair. I loved it. There's

so, so many. And I tell you another little slice of comedy we haven't got into. Yeah. Which is Sue Pollard's slice of comedy. Oh my god. So you had Heidi High. I loved Heidi High. You had Oh Dr Beeching. And you had all the same people. It's like a little rep. And they did all the same comedies. Yes. Yes.

Brilliant. Remember Ted from Heidi High. I loved Ted. Loved him. Loved him. Loved him. God, Heidi High was brilliant. Wasn't it?

And Peggy never ever got to be your coach. Never. Not Peggy. That was like everything. Yeah. Do you think these days that we're all just so sort of like all old and cynical now? Because that was like everything about Peggy and it was like every single series whatever. in Big Boys who's never left the uni and just loves it so much. That's that Peggy character. You can always see in any comedy no matter where you go, to what decade, to what you're talking about, those kind of characters and they just appear. You know the hopeful, optimistic one, the miserable one.

It just fascinates me. It fascinates me. God. All I want to do is write a comedy. Oh my God. I haven't got it in me I don't think. I bet you have. I just need to go away. What have you got in there? You know like we said we need to go away. Yeah. Was it you I said that to? Maybe. You need to rent somewhere. I just not have anything in my head and just write something. Yes. That's what I feel like I need to do. You should because they don't write in retreats now. They do. Yeah. I don't think I'd be good on that though because I think I'd feel like it was like school like you're being forced to. I think I'd rather just take myself away. Yeah. And just yeah and just go and write something. Yeah but I think I need to be told to do it. I think I quite like

the structure of it all. Yeah. Anyway there you go. Shall we have one more? Yes. Are you being served? Yes, some parts of it haven't dated very well, but it was ahead of its time. A decade after homosexuality had been decriminalised, the BBC put a gay character at the front and centre of their biggest comedy. Oh, yeah? It's just incredible. It's hilarious. Some things haven't dated that well, but you've got Molly Sugden, who delivers every single line like she's doing stand-up.

And then you've got your wonderful Wendy Richard, Natalie, who is just... She's just fantastic. It's a warm hug is just, she's just fantastic. It's a warm hug. Yeah. It, they're just fantastic and they really make me laugh. No, absolutely right. And it was so ahead of its time. Are you being served?

Was it Mrs. Slocum's pussy? Yes. It was Mrs. Slocum's pussy. Yeah. All delivered in a very dry sense, you know, a very dry way. My dear late great friend, Wendy Richard, she said she loved that.

That was her favorite. She just had the best time with the best people. And he's absolutely right. Homosexual man was at the forefront of that show. Yeah, he was. And it was a brilliant, brilliant thing. Do you remember? Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie with Kathy Burke? Amazing. And James Dreyfuss. Yes. I used to absolutely love it. I remember buying the whole big box set of

it on DVD when there were still DVDs. Flippin' loved it. She was brilliant. I loved it. It wasn't one that I sort of was really passionate about, but it did make me laugh. Well, that's it for another bonus episode of Off the Telly. What shall we watch? Thank you so much everybody for sending in your voice notes because we couldn't do this without you doing that. We really couldn't and they were absolutely brilliant. They were brilliant. I love listening to what you're all watching and all your favourite things. It's brilliant. So good. Look, we think our next bonus app should be about our favourite dramas. Ooh. Your favourite dramas. There have been so many good ones out. Just this year alone we've

had Severance and The White Lotus. What are your faves? Voice notice on WhatsApp. The number is 033 06 784 704. I think for that one I'm going to learn how to sing the theme tune for the white lotus. That's my first lesson. Sounds like you've done it already. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. And on that note Jo, love you. Love you. We'll see you next Wednesday. Bye! Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating. The commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts and it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. A new podcast series from BBC Radio 4. In the first stage of a poltergeist haunting, the entity will confine itself to making noise as if it's testing its victims the Battersea poltergeist my name is Shirley Hitchens

I'm 15 years old I live with my mom dad brother Gran and Donald subscribe to the Battersea poltergeist on BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Robin Ince. And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off. Jupiter versus Saturn. It was very well done that because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

After all of that it's gonna kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice. And also in this series we're discussing history music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature shapes. So listen wherever you get your podcasts.