Time Gentlemen Please

Last updated

Time Gentlemen Please
Genre Sitcom
Written by Richard Herring
Al Murray
Directed by Gareth Gwenlan
Richard Boden
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes37
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30mins (inc. adverts)
Production company Avalon Television
Original release
Network Sky One
Release11 September 2000 (2000-09-11) 
1 May 2002 (2002-05-01)

Time Gentlemen Please is a British sitcom primarily written by Richard Herring and Al Murray and broadcast on Sky One from 2000 to 2002.

Contents

Premise

The show is set in a forgotten, unwelcoming pub whose opinionated landlord, 'Guv' (short for 'The Governor'), has some very old-fashioned views on how a pub, and Britain, should be run. The Governor is an evolution of Al Murray's stage persona 'The Pub Landlord', which he had used in stand up since 1994.

Cast

Characters

Bar staff

The regulars

Other main characters

Other Significant Characters:

Locations

The exterior shots of the pub were filmed at The Cowshed public house (formerly The Admiral Blake), at the corner of Barlby Rd and Ladbroke Grove, London W10, since demolished and rebuilt as a residential block circa 2013. The name The Cowshed is referred to in Series 2 Episode 3, where the Guv orders a new sign to be made saying the "Cow's Head", after "Ms Jackson, Cow", but he misspells the name. But he also adds a hand-painted sign of a cow with Miss Jackson's face. The pub is always referred to as the "pub by the chemical works", and its actual name is never referenced in any other episode.

Episodes

Series 1 (2000–2001)

No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"A Woman's Place" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 11 September 2000 (2000-09-11)
An Australian turns up at the pub just as the Guv sacks his barman, Steve. There's also a shock as the brewery sacks its long-standing local regional rep.
2"Never Confused" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 18 September 2000 (2000-09-18)
The brewery dictates that all of its pubs should hold a gay night - needless to say, the Guv is not best pleased.
3"Hoppy Birthday" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 25 September 2000 (2000-09-25)
It's Terry's birthday, and the Guv's lined him up the traditional pint-per-year to celebrate.
4"Monkey's Uncle" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 2 October 2000 (2000-10-02)
The pub is trashed by a local hooligan - unfortunately, he happens to be the nephew of rival landlord and womanising bully Greg Thompson.
5"King Barsteward" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 9 October 2000 (2000-10-09)
Guv receives notification that he has been nominated to join the Grand Order of the Barstewards.
6"Date With Density" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 16 October 2000 (2000-10-16)
It's been a year - but the Guv finally has a date. And as the owner of his own pub, he's already got the perfect evening planned.
7"Getting Diggy With It" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 23 October 2000 (2000-10-23)
The Guv's reluctantly having his beer garden turned into a car park, but work is stopped when human remains are discovered during the excavations.
8"The Pub That Forgot Time" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 30 October 2000 (2000-10-30)
Steve has fallen in love with French archaeologist Sue, but Janet won't let her man go without a fight. Meanwhile, head archaeologist Mike believes that there's a great business opportunity at the site.
9"Fawkes/Off" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 6 November 2000 (2000-11-06)
It's Guy Fawkes' night, also the birthday of little Carl, and the Guv's taking it particularly badly. Meanwhile, a new Guy Fawkes celebratory drink is causing havoc at Thackeray pubs.
10"Help! The Aged" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 13 November 2000 (2000-11-13)
The Guv's new novelty sign promising free drinks for over-80s (when accompanied by both parents) backfires following a disagreement with the Old Man.
11"More Tea Vicky?" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 20 November 2000 (2000-11-20)
Vicky makes a surprise visit to inspect the Guv'nor's books. Meanwhile, Terry's gone AWOL and Steve's sold the time bell for a bag of magic mushrooms.
12"Day Of The Trivheads" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 27 November 2000 (2000-11-27)
The pub's selected to field a team for cult TV pub quiz show Fact Hunt; unfortunately, the first round will be against Greg Thompson's gaff, the Queen of Hearts.
13"Greetings Stout Yeoman" Gareth Gwenlan Richard Herring & Al Murray 4 December 2000 (2000-12-04)
Much to the Guv's disgust, the pub is selected as the first venue outside of the Irish Republic to trial a new stout, Rileys, which professes to be stout, lager and ale in one.
14"Only When I Laugh" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 11 December 2000 (2000-12-11)
The Guv visits Tony Harris in hospital, and bumps into Terry, Vicky, Tina and Sinjun whilst there. The future looks bleak for both Tony and Vicky, but a surprise could be around the corner.
15"Playing Silly Buggers" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 18 December 2000 (2000-12-18)
Guv and the regulars are oblivious when a drug dealer makes a new dealing base out of the pub. But the Irish criminal is under police surveillance.
16"Bar Humbug" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 25 December 2000 (2000-12-25)
It's Christmas Day, and a fire at the home means that the Guv's mum has to come and visit. He's determined that this'll be one Christmas she won't ruin.
17"New Year's Steve" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 1 January 2001 (2001-01-01)
It's New Year's Eve, and with Greg's special guest of 'Cheeky' Alan Supple at the Queen of Hearts, only Janet and the Guv are left.
18"The Return Of Martin Greer" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray & Stewart Lee 8 January 2001 (2001-01-08)
The Guv and his band of dysfunctional regulars and staff continue with their unique brand of philosophy.
19"Juke Box Fury" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 15 January 2001 (2001-01-15)
When Miss Jackson bursts into tears after a disagreement with the Guv over jazz music on a new jukebox, Janet suspects something's up. Sure enough, there's a secret to rock the pub with no name.
20"Farts Of Darkness" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 22 January 2001 (2001-01-22)
It's 3am, and with torrential rain pouring down, the Guv is woken by Terry at the front door. What could he possibly want at this hour?
21"A Dave, A Dave-O" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray & Stewart Lee 29 January 2001 (2001-01-29)
Leslie's in court, and Terry takes his opportunity with Lesley. Meanwhile, a particularly annoying arrival at the pub turns out to be none other than Janet's infamous "last boyfriend", Dave.
22"All The World's A Stag" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray & Stewart Lee 5 February 2001 (2001-02-05)
As Terry's wedding to Miss Jackson approaches, Vicky's desperate to find a way out - but the minder assigned by her father is there to ensure everything goes ahead. Meanwhile, Dave refuses to leave, and Janet's getting desperate.

Series 2 (2001–2002)

No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Christmas Special: It's A Wonderful Pint" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 24 December 2001 (2001-12-24)
It's 10 months since the Guv retreated to his bedroom, and Terry, the Old Man and the Prof have had enough of Dave's Australian-ness. It's time to call in the big guns.
2"The Man In The Iron Cask" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 30 January 2002 (2002-01-30)
The Guv's back in the saddle, but crippled by a double case of Barman's Hand. Steve's still missing, and an applicant for Janet's old job turns out to be a student. Will salvation come?
3"Got The Painters In" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 6 February 2002 (2002-02-06)
As the brewery pays for the pub's refurbishment, Vicky has an embarrassing secret to admit: she doesn't know the pub's real name. Trouble is, neither does anyone else.
4"Wishing On A Bar" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 13 February 2002 (2002-02-13)
As the decorators move inside, the Guv finds himself locked in a battle of wits with an evil Leprechaun.
5"The Harder They Crawl" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 20 February 2002 (2002-02-20)
The Guv's not feeling himself after his divorce came through, but it's Tony Harris's birthday so he and Terry have duties to attend to.
6"Landlord Of The Giants" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 27 February 2002 (2002-02-27)
When Leslie falls under Connie's spell, Lesley brings a new man to the pub. Could this lead to the downfall of The Cowshed? Meanwhile, the Prof claims to have invented the never-ending beer glass.
7"Beer Necessities" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray & Stewart Lee 6 March 2002 (2002-03-06)
Connie is thrown into a moral quandary; torn between her job and 'friends', her objection to pornography, and her residual feelings toward ex-boyfriend Dean, when instructed by nasty brewery owner Mr Jackson to take part in a topless calendar shoot.
8"Game For A Gaff" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray, Rob Adey & Richard Murkin 13 March 2002 (2002-03-13)
As the pub faces the latest whim of Vicky's father, the Guv's hopes of finally getting his dream of a carvery could be realised. Will they be dashed once more, or will a long-dead German come up trumps?
9"Speed The Ploughmans" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 20 March 2002 (2002-03-20)
Connie's stressed over a philosophy exam that will total 0.3% of her degree, and the Guv's received a disturbing letter - Terry, however, is concerned only with his ploughman's.
10"Optics Wide Shut" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray & Stewart Lee 27 March 2002 (2002-03-27)
Uninvited to the Barstewards' Annual Secret Ball, the Guv sets out to sneak in. Could the promised sex orgy and night of abandoned morals break his duck?
11"Storming Up A Cook" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 3 April 2002 (2002-04-03)
Despite the Guv's protests, Vicky hires a local celebrity chef, the Bare-Arsed Naked Cook. As she and Connie fight for his affections, the Guv continues to insist on his dismissal.
12"Of Mice And Mentallists" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 10 April 2002 (2002-04-10)
Barman's Hand takes the ultimate toll on the Guv'nor, and he collapses, setting fire to the kitchen in the process. Although quickly saved by the regulars, he's tormented by visions of giant mice, and when Vicky finds out his terrible shame, he's encouraged to visit a psychiatrist.
13"The Slopranos" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 17 April 2002 (2002-04-17)
Visiting the psychiatrist, Vicky's twin sister, the Guv is forced to confront his demons. Does he want to shag his mother? Is there a mystery about his father? Is he actually confused? And most importantly, is he nuts?
14"This Vale Of Beers" Richard Boden Richard Herring, Al Murray & Stewart Lee 24 April 2002 (2002-04-24)
The Guv's initially ecstatic, as the function room is - for once - booked. Unfortunately, it soon turns out that Greg Thompson is the patron, having found God and turned the Queen of Hearts into a coffee house.
15"Entente Lime Cordial" Richard Boden Richard Herring & Al Murray 1 May 2002 (2002-05-01)
The Guv's reached the end of his tether. His wife's just got remarried - to a Frenchman - and now Vicky demands he closes down for the last time if his Barman's Hand continues. Could a visitor "from overseas" change his fortunes? Has little Carl returned to his Daddy? What will become of The Cowshed?

After the show

After the series came to a close, Al Murray has since suggested that his character Guv's real name was also Al Murray. This allows him to use the 'Pub Landlord' character for his stand-up performances. Most of Al Murray's appearances are either as the 'Pub Landlord', or as an alternative version of himself, usually a slightly more reserved version of the 'Pub Landlord' character.

In multiple episodes of the series, Guv directly repeats direct lines from Al Murray's stand-up shows. In the Christmas Special, Guv repeats the 'When a child is born' routine from one of Murray's tours.

ITV later commissioned a game show called 'Fact Hunt'. The show was based on the fictional quiz show mentioned repeatedly throughout 'Time Gentlemen Please'. But instead of being hosted by the character "Cheeky" Alan Supple, it was hosted by the Pub Landlord. Each episode was based on a traditional pub quiz and featured contestants representing different pubs across South England. The first and only series was cancelled after only a few episodes due to low viewership.

ITV would later commission 'Al Murray's Happy Hour', which again was hosted by Murray in his Pub Landlord character. It was a chat show that was frequently compared to The Graham Norton Show on BBC1. While most guests appeared on the show to publicise something, they rarely got a chance to. Murray would get them to mention the thing once, and then he would mock it as a money-making endeavour, and then he would move on.

Murray would later host his own concept for a game show on Dave. Murray would once again use his Pub Landlord character, but would still use his real name. The show was compared to a higher budget version of Fact Hunt. There has only been one series. There are no plans to make future episodes.

Distribution

After the show was aired on Sky One it was repeated on Paramount Comedy as it was formerly known. In 2011, Comedy Central Extra bought the rights to repeat some of the first series in a late night slot but have since never repeated the series again. Time Gentlemen Please was released onto DVD first in 2006 by Universal entitled Series 1 Part 1 which included the first six episodes of the first series, it was released on 8 May 2006. After Universal showed no plans to release any further episodes of the series onto DVD, ITV DVD later released a complete collection of the series featuring all 37 episodes on 16 March 2009.

In February 2020, Al Murray started releasing one episode of Time Gentlemen Please per week on his official YouTube channel. [2] All episodes have now been uploaded and are available to view.

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References

  1. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Mike the Bean Faced Postman". YouTube .
  2. "Al Murray - YouTube". YouTube .