Naked Video

Naked Video
Opening title
GenreSketch show
Created byColin Gilbert
Directed byColin Gilbert
Brian Jobson
Alex Young
StarringRon Bain (Series 1–3)
Gregor Fisher
Andy Gray
Helen Lederer
Tony Roper
Elaine C. Smith
John Sparkes (Series 1–3)
Jonathan Watson
Annette Staines (one episode, Series 3)
Kate Donnelly (Series 4)
Louise Beattie (one episode, Series 4; Series 5)[1]
ComposersDavid Anderson
Tim Green
David McNiven
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series5
No. of episodes30
Production
ProducersColin Gilbert
Philip Differ
Running time25 minutes
Production companyBBC Scotland
Original release
NetworkBBC2
Release12 May 1986 (1986-05-12) –
18 November 1991 (1991-11-18)
Related
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Naked Video is a BBC Scotland sketch show that was aired on BBC2 from 12 May 1986 to 18 November 1991. The show was created by Colin Gilbert who had previously created A Kick Up the Eighties and Naked Radio (the latter being a radio sketch show that was aired on BBC Radio Scotland, began its ten-year run on 22 January 1981, covered all aspects of Scottish society and featured a lot of topical satire material rather than parody). The series originally starred Ron Bain, Gregor Fisher, Andy Gray, Elaine C. Smith, Tony Roper, Helen Lederer and Jonathan Watson, but they were later joined by Kate Donnelly and Louise Beattie. The series' producer was Colin Gilbert and its script editor was Philip Differ.[2]

Naked Radio proved a popular part of the local schedule, and in 1985, the cast mounted the series on stage at the year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Gilbert realised the series had potential for television and Naked Video was created. It proved popular at a time when alternative comedy was at its peak. The Naked Radio series ended in 1991, when it was cancelled along with Naked Video. The show also spawned a radio spin-off: the football-themed Only an Excuse?, which later also made the transition to television.

In 2000, the cast reunited for a theatre show and radio broadcast, and in 2005, Gerard Kelly presented a documentary for the Radio Roots season on BBC Radio Scotland, looking at how the series "sprouted a generation of TV writing and performing talent".

  1. ^ ""Naked Video" (TV Series 1986–1991) – Full Cast & Crew". imdb.com. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  2. ^ "BBC – Comedy Guide – Naked Video". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 December 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2014.