Mash and Peas

Last updated

Mash and Peas
Starring Matt Lucas
David Walliams
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time25 Minutes
Original release
Network Paramount Comedy Channel / Channel 4
Release1996 (1996) 
1997 (1997)

Mash and Peas was a parodic sketch show written by and starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Their first television work together, it originally aired on Paramount Comedy 1 and Channel 4 between 1996 and 1997. The episodes were repeated before the channel's relaunch in 1999. The programme is made up of parodies of various television genres, introduced by the childish and incompetent Danny Mash (Lucas) and Gareth Peas (Walliams). Edgar Wright directed and long-standing collaborator Paul Putner appeared throughout.

Contents

Episode guide

1. "Kids TV"

2. "American Sitcoms"

3. "Sex Talk"

4. "Prime Time ITV"

5. "Late Night ITV"

6. "Boy Band Documentary"

7. "British On The Box"

8. "Strange Phenomenums"

Sitcoms Night

In addition to these, in 1997, four sketches, very similar in tone to the American sitcoms edition were produced for a Sitcoms Night, which was made in partnership between Paramount Comedy 1 and Channel 4.

The first was a remake of the ALF parody A Puppet Lives In My House. The only major difference being that Jessica Stevenson's role was now taken by Rebecca Front, who performed as if her character was heavily medicated.

The remaining sketches were My Gay Dads, in which one typical American teenage girl is beset with three loud homosexual fathers, a US remake of Only Fools and Horses entitled Only Jerks and Horses and a Seinfeld parody, I'm Bland (but my friends are krazy!). Also appearing in these sketches were Bob Mortimer, Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and Simon Greenall.

Promotion

Shortly before transmission, Lucas and Walliams appeared in-character to publicise the show on Dominik Diamond's Paramount chat show Night O'Plenty. This item did not go well, as the pair infuriated Diamond by interrupting the show with squabbling and childish songs, as well throwing darts at the presenter. Walliams' autobiography Camp David states that Diamond chased them out of the studio in a rage.

Later, the pair also appeared as Mash and Peas in a number of music videos by Fat Les made between 1998 and 2000, including the hit single "Vindaloo".

Subsequently

Soon after this, Lucas and Walliams created Sir Bernard's Stately Homes , before achieving recognition with Play UK's Rock Profile and, subsequently, their most successful work, Little Britain .

The pair have since expressed regret at their spoof of Victoria Wood, saying in the commentary of the third series of Little Britain that it was "youthful arrogance".

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