Talking Bottom

The Bottom podcast - three foxy stoats discuss and appreciate the world’s greatest sitcom, courtesy of Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, over an Esther Rantzen cocktail and pickled onion sandwich. From Paul Tanter, Mat Brooks and Angela Pearson. The book TALKING BOTTOM: A GUIDE TO THE CULT SITCOM is now in its 2nd edition and can be ordered here: https://wiltonsquarebooks.com/products/talking-bottom

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100 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes100

Newest first

Sep 30, 2021 · 50 min
S4E3 - The Costumes
The costumes of Bottom are such an important part of the show's identity. All fans recognise Eddie's hat and glasses and Richie's voluminous pants and belt pulled up too high. Plus of course... Halloween. Angela, Paul and Mat talk about costume making character, specially making clothes, how costume shows social status (class again? We did that last week!), going to fancy dress parties as a talking Halloween banana and a devil (in either pre-shitted or post-shitted tights), what the supporting characters wear and how costume can make sitcoms feel timeless. The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 23, 2021 · 1 hr 5 min
Paul Jackson interview part 1
Talking Bottom is thrilled to be joined by legend of British comedy, Paul Jackson. He brought alternative comedy to the masses and was the man who got The Young Ones on TV (which he also directed), changing the face of sitcoms forever. Amongst working on a plethora of great shows he also gave us Filthy, Rich and Catflap, Red Dwarf and the pilot episode of Bottom. In part 1, Paul chats about his entry into TV and his early years rising to become a producer, his comedy influences, working with the Two Ronnies and on Steptoe and Son, meeting Rik and Ade, Boom Boom Out Go The Lights, writing, comic duos, throwing himself into puddles, bringing The Young Ones to TV and a treasure trove of stories about it. The inteview continues in part 2. The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 23, 2021 · 1 hr
Paul Jackson interview part 2
Talking Bottom's interview with TV titan Paul Jackson continues as he discusses making Filthy, Rich and Catflap, seeing Rik and Ade in Waiting for Godot, slapstick, working with writers, special effects in sitcoms, producing TV in the US and Australia, working with Ant and Dec, chairing Comic Relief, the American remake of The Young Ones, Heil Honey I'm Home!, pathos in comedy, the current lack of political satire and being thanked by Rik on stage at Exeter Uni, Plus of course lots about Bottom including its genesis, Alan Yentob wanting the title changed, how the Bottom pilot episode came about, seeing it recorded, the live shows and Guest House Paradiso. The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 23, 2021 · 1 hr 12 min
S4E2 - Class and Poverty
Three media twats pontificate on class in sitcoms and the importance of it and poverty in Bottom. Paul, Mat and Angela talk about the classifications of class, sitcoms and sketches where class plays an important part. They cover Richie and Eddie's place in society, possible history and education. Numerous other sitcoms are discussed including Only Fools and Horses, Red Dwarf and Gavin and Stacy, plus shooting multi camera format vs single camera. Also, feminist chat! The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 16, 2021 · 57 min
Mark Lambert interview (IT‘S THE GAS MAN!!!)
HELLO MR GAS MAN! Talking Bottom prepares the steaming cold tea for a very special guest. Olivier award nominated veteren of stage and screen, Mark Lambert brings his frying pan and joins us for a chat. He tells all about his career, early days at Uni with Rik, working as a character actor, plummeting from a building in Cracker, having "Gas Man" yelled at him and of course, his role as quite possibly Bottom's most memorable guest star. The conversation took place over Zoom so please forgive the occasional connection drop out. The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 16, 2021 · 1 hr 39 min
S4E1 - Physical Comedy
30 years ago today Bottom expolded onto British TV! To celebrate three decades of the world's best sitcom we are looking at some of the themes that make the show what it is. That's right, we're over-analysing it to fuck! First up is physical comedy. Mat, Paul and Angela discuss its history, evolution, rules, legends and international appeal. We look at examples in British comedy and, of course many moments in Bottom and Rik and Ade's other work. The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 9, 2021 · 1 hr 3 min
Bottom Live 5 - 2003: Weapon Grade Y-Fronts Tour
In the final live show, Eddie's locked himself away in the toilet and Richie finds he's been inventing gadgets. The pair embark on an adventure through time and space on-board Eddie's time machine "The Turdis" which is a toilet cubicle. Angela, Paul and Mat discuss plot holes, crowdpleasing, repurposing old material, absurdist humour, the Only Fools and Horses musical and dad jokes. Plus the final Talking Bottom quiz! The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Sep 3, 2021 · 57 min
Bottom Live 4 - 2001: An Arse Oddity
Richie and Eddie are back and still on the desert island. Searching for a means to escape, their desire to reach the theatre bar blurs the lines between fiction and reality as things get very meta and everything builds to a musical finale. Paul, Mat and Angela discuss long synopses, "have a wank", pervy silhouettes, nob gags, meta performances, deliberate fuckups, DVD features, TV references, local jokes and musical numbers. Plus some incredibly detailed knowledge is required in the Talking Bottom quiz! The book "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom" can be found to order at: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Jul 5, 2021 · 4 min
100%... inside a y̶e̶a̶r week! Talking Bottom book FUNDED
Oh God, oh God... this is real. In less time than it takes to read up to chapter one, sentence three in War and Peace, we have hit the funding target! Thank you to everyone who has backed the book and get to soddery everyone who hasn't. It's not too late to get your name in it and some additional t̶a̶t goodies at https://unbound.com/books/bottom/ Right, we're off down the Maserati showroom. Book available HERE: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Jul 3, 2021 · 2 min
Talking Bottom book update: 75% funded. Splice my sausages!
At this rate it's going to be longer than War and Peace and with more pics than The Joy of Sex! Thank you to everyone who's resisted the temptation to take their cash to Dr O'Grady's Personal Organ Enhancement Clinic and instead backed the book. You'll get far more long-term enjoyment with this investment (not actual investment advice). Book available HERE: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Jun 30, 2021 · 3 min
Talking Bottom Book 50% funded! Wait until Norris Mcwhirter hears about this!
And on the second day, the Lord said "let the book reach fifty ruddy percent funding already!" And then He backed the top tier that guaranteed Him a SIGNED first edition paperback of "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom", a Lamb and Flag pub menu tea towel, a t-shirt, a mug, an invite to the pub crawl, an ebook AND his name printed in the book as a supporter. And then He had a wangle. Ta muchly to all you top Bottom fans getting us this far. If you're after a gift for the comedy fan in your life, check out what's available with the book here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Jun 29, 2021 · 2 min
Talking Bottom Book update: 25% funded already!!
We didn't think we'd be posting this after ONE DAY! Thank you so much to everyone who has backed the book already on Unbound and started snapping up the exta goodies available. You've got us to 25% funded already, which is a fantastic start and we're sure it's all downhill from here. Check out https://t.co/G677or4Xgw to find out more about the book, how to support it and what else is available. Right, we'd better pull our fingers out and get writing "Talking Bottom: A guide to the cult sitcom".
Jun 28, 2021 · 21 min
Talking Bottom the BOOK (a guide to the cult sitcom)
All right Dickens, get on with it! We're proud to announce that we've been commissioned to write a book about Rik and Ade's best ever sitcom - Bottom. It'll be a chance for us to expand on what we've learned during our podcast in order to create the first ever unofficial guide book to the show, delving even deeper into Bottom (oo-er) and chatting with the cast and crew, looking at first draft scripts and previously unseen photographs as well as essays on each episode. First, though, we're crowdfunding via the publisher Unbound to make it a reality. Details at link below - pledge if you can and you'll get your name in the book and a nice bit of Talking Bottom objet d'arte in return if you choose some merch AND there's a chance to grab yourself an invite to a Hammersmith pub crawl (with all the lads on the Ark Royal) when we launch the book! Thanks for reading / pledging your support if you can. Please share to spread the word. https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
May 21, 2020 · 1 hr 22 min
Guest House Paradiso
Rik and Ade finally bring Bottom to the big screen, playing Richard "Richie" Thwaite (pronounced Twat) and Edward "Eddie" Elizabeth Ndingombaba (in other words it's Richard Richard and Eddie Hitler), who run the Guest House Paradiso - the worst hotel in the world. Excitement arrives in the form of Italian movie star Gina Carbonara, seeking refuge from her ill-tempered fiance Gino Bolognese. As Richie and Eddie do their best to keep the place running, their proximity to a nuclear power plant means tonight's fish dinner is going to repeat on the guests. Mat, Paul and Angela dribble on about the Bottom universe, BBC rights, cinema viewings, fake vomit, filming stunts in reverse, saucy nymphs and happy endings. Plus a look at the original publicity materials released by the film distributor at the time, and of course the Talking Bottom quiz! The Guest House Paradiso behind the scenes vid we talk about can be watched here: https://youtu.be/qIH3ck-qSXc Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
May 14, 2020 · 1 hr 18 min
Bottom Live 3: Hooligans Island
Richie and Eddie have been on a desert island for three years, following an ecstasy binge and a turn on a cruise liner as "The Great Arsehole and Norman", a job procured for them by theatrical impresario Sir "Pervy" Leslie McBlowjob. Now Eddie's on the Sake and Richie's got a load of shit up his back. Now they just have to deal with Cannibals, food poisoning and a massive French nuclear bomb. Angela, Paul and Mat discuss the fourth series of Bottom that never happened, Rik and Ade's set design, scripted fluffs, the squits, love albatrosses, wank biscuits, stage violence, Angus Deayton's autocue and 90's TV references. Plus some fiendishly difficult questions with the Talking Bottom Quiz! Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
May 7, 2020 · 1 hr 20 min
Bottom Live: The Big Number 2 Tour
"Have a wank!" Bottom tours the UK once more, filming Rik and Ade's performances at the Apollo Theatre Oxford. This time Richie and Eddie are planning on meeting the Queen when her procession traverses Mafeking Parade. But a combination of getting their todgers out and a massive explosion sees them banged up and sentenced to 350 years in jail. Now they must evade Geoffrey Nasty the Psychopathic Penis-Remover's boss, Horace Big (who is built like a donkey AND has a really enormous knob) long enough to escape prison and make it to tea with Her Majesty the Quim. Paul, Mat and Angela ramble about Anne and Nick, great watch gags, pretend fluffs, the Queen's lavatory, being blocked by the Samaritans, Charles Aznavour, puns, gas, the play Cell Mates and Her Maj's Vag. Plus an absolute routing in the Talking Bottom Quiz! Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
May 1, 2020 · 23 min
Series 3 round up
Ok we're actually back really this time, look I haven't got my fingers crossed or anything. Talking Bottom returns with the season 3 round up! Mat, Paul and Angela talk about what they've discovered about the show, Jiffy condoms, humourous riots, Mafeking, people's reaction to the podcast and the passion many have for the final series. We're back with a shorter series from next week while the world hunkers down. Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Apr 1, 2020 · 59 min
April Fools Episode - Catastrophe
Bonk! April Fools! Sorry... this was a wind up. There are, sadly, no series 4 episodes knocking about the place. Richie and Eddie return via unusual and messy means, finding the flat in disgusting condition and the toilet still blocked with Eddie's medical experiment. A visit to the Lamb and Flag sets them right and they quickly alight on a money making scheme to keep their new landlord off their backs. But Richie's family history soon comes back to haunt him with Eddie proposing only one solution; drink. Angela, Paul and Mat return to discuss the legendary series four episode that Rik and Ade shot but was never broadcast, the other series four scripts, cheating death,BBC commissioning processes, the ever changing layout of Hammersmith, Rik and Ade's other work in the noughties and the weight of Malibu. Plus the Talking Bottom quiz returns with ever more fiendish questions. Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Nov 29, 2019 · 1 hr 1 min
S3E6 - Carnival
It's the annual carnival/riot and all of Hammersmith is ablaze. Richie and Eddie use the distraction to nip out and steal a king's ransom of Malibu and a BBC TV camera. Richie has a plan: use the camera to achieve fame and fortune, first as a daytime chat show host but soon deciding that some hilarious video accidents will pry some cash out of Beeeadle. But a discovery of a nudie sex tape of the Prime Minister means a new blackmail opportunity: sandWICHES! Paul, Mat and Angela bollock on about riots, Aswad, Eddie's sexual fantasies, Richie's TARDIS trousers, home video shows, fire stunts, 90's politicians and the BBC announcing a 4th series of Bottom. Plus the series concludes with... The Talking Bottom Quiz! Talking Bottom will return soon with a series 3 round up, an ep on Guest House Paradiso and ones on the live shows. Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw
Nov 22, 2019 · 1 hr 4 min
S3E5 - Finger
Richie and Eddie acquire psychopathic Welshman Cannonball Taffy O’Jones’ car keys following a cricket match playing for the Shepherd’s Bush Spudulike Irregulars (second eleven). This is their chance to steal his honeymoon weekend and see how much booze they can put away at the Marveloso Splendido Hotelo. There’s only one drawback - they have to pose as a newly married couple. Mat, Paul and Angela mull over British holidays, odd title choices, swanky posh hotel names, nazi-based sitcoms, Richie and Eddie as a married couple and getting kicked in the bollocks. Plus; the Talking Bottom quiz! Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom available here: https://t.co/G677or4Xgw