The Real McCoy (TV series)

The Real McCoy was a BBC Television sketch comedy show that ran from 1991 to 1996 featuring an array of black and Asian comedy stars and featured many famous guest appearances, including Ian Wright, Sir Trevor McDonald and Frank Bruno.[2]

The Real McCoy
Title card for Series 2-4
GenreComedy
StarringCurtis Walker
Ishmael Thomas
Llewella Gideon
Collette Johnson
Leo Chester
Robbie Gee
Meera Syal
Eddie Nestor
Judith Jacob
Felix Dexter
Kulvinder Ghir
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series5 (+1 compilation series)[1]
No. of episodes30 (+4 compilation episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)Curtis Walker
Producer(s)BBC
Production location(s)Television Centre, London
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkBBC 2
Picture formatColour
Original release10 May 1991 –
9 February 1996
External links
Website

Development

The producer of the first two series, Charlie Hanson, was the co-founder of the Black Theatre Co-operative and had produced No Problem! and Desmond's before creating The Real McCoy. He was working with a double act named Curtis and Ishmael (Curtis Walker and Ishmael Thomas) at the 291 Club at the Hackney Empire and suggested making a television version. However, the BBC opted for a totally new sketch series, launching The Real McCoy. Llewella Gideon and Collette Johnson, who were also in a double act named Short Sharp and Shocking, made up the main initial quartet of writer-performers. Soul II Soul frontman Jazzie B co-wrote the title theme.

Casting

Walker, Thomas, Gideon and Johnson were given top billing in the opening credits of the first series. Walker and Thomas were billed under their double act name "Curtis and Ishmael" in the closing credits. In addition to the main quartet, Robbie Gee and Leo Chester also appeared in every episode of series 1.[3] Further recurring semi-regulars included Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir and Perry Benson.

For series 2, a new animated title sequence was used with a new theme by Overlord X. The main six performers again appeared in every episode (although Gideon was unable to attend the recording of the final episode). Syal and Benson also returned as semi-regulars.

Series 3, saw some big changes. Walker, Thomas and Johnson did not return. Meera Syal was promoted to a regular, with newcomers Eddie Nestor and Judith Jacob joining the cast. A seventh main cast member Felix Dexter appeared each week, performing solo material from his repertoire of characters.

In series 4, the same seven writer-performers returned to make up the main cast. Kulvinder Ghir also appeared in every episode of series 4.

For series 5, Ghir was promoted to the main cast, which now made eight regulars.

Other UK comedians and actors that appeared in the series included Sanjeev Bhaskar, Jo Martin, Kathy Burke, Rudi Lickwood, John D. Collins and broadcaster Alan Towers.

Format

Although mainly a sketch comedy show, the dance troupe Danserious also performed short routines throughout the first series with longer routines to entire songs in series two.

In series 3, the dance sections were replaced with studio performances from a different musical act each week including The Real Thing, Ruby Turner & Junior, Mica Paris and Macka B.

From Series 4, the music acts were replaced with stand-up routines from guests such as Junior Simpson, Toju, John Simmit and Richard Blackwood.

Episodes
Series Episodes Originally aired
First in the series Last in the series
1 6 10 May 1991 14 June 1991
2 6 6 July 1992 10 August 1992
3 6 7 May 1993  11 June 1993
4 6 9 August 1994 13 September 1994
The Best Of 4 3 November 1995 24 November 1995
5 6 5 January 1996 6 February 1996

Most appearances

Excluding the four compilation episodes.

30 appearances (all regular episodes)

  • Leo Chester
  • Robbie Gee

29 appearances

  • Llewella Gideon

25 appearances

  • Meera Syal

18 appearances

  • Eddie Nestor
  • Judith Jacob
  • Felix Dexter

12 appearances

  • Curtis Walker
  • Ishmael Thomas
  • Collette Johnson

Reception

The show was very successful, quickly becoming a cult hit and reaching audiences of 5 million.

Its popularity attracted many famous guests. From series 3, a recurring sketch was an EastEnders spoof called The Rub-A-Dub in which celebrities including Linford Christie, Andi Peters, Colin McMillan, Tessa Sanderson, Norman Beaton appeared as themselves.

In series 4, guests included Frank Bruno, Saracen from Gladiators, Ian Wright, Carmen Munroe and Omar and Lennox Lewis.

In series 5, John Barnes and Sir Trevor McDonald appeared.

In December 1994, a short special aired as part of Fry and Laurie Host A Christmas Night With The Stars.

In November 1995, a 4-part compilation series aired called The Best Of The Real McCoy featuring the best sketches from series 1-4.

Legacy

Following the show's success, Felix Dexter was given his own pilot sketch show Felix Dexter On TV, as part of the Comic Asides series of pilots, which was broadcast on BBC Two in September 1995. Dexter also wrote and starred in the sitcom pilot Douglas broadcast on BBC Two in August 1996, based around his lawyer character from The Real McCoy. Neither pilot was picked up for a full series, despite positive reception.

Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir and Sanjeev Bhaskar went on to create Goodness Gracious Me for BBC Radio 4 in 1996, before adapting it for TV in 1998.

Availability

In 1994, a 90-minute VHS compilation simply titled The Real McCoy was released featuring over 20 of the show's best sketches.

Despite its popularity, the show was never released on DVD.[4][5]

Series 1 was made available for download on the short-lived BBC Store.

All 5 series were made available on the BBC iPlayer from July 2020.[6]

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gollark: This is kind of sacriligeous, but not everything has to be crazily pointfree.
gollark: I have no idea when you would want to use that, but sure.
gollark: We can probably make it automatically breathe fire if a flint and steel is supplied and the bufferdroppers replaced with dispensers.
gollark: Link?

References
  1. "BBC - Comedy Guide - The Real McCoy". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 8 December 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  2. Brian Logan (13 April 2010). "Meet black comedy's trailblazers | Stage". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  3. "The Real McCoy reunite at the Hackney Empire - Time Out London". Timeout.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. "Ariel - What is the legacy of The Real McCoy?". Bbc.co.uk. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  5. "Bring back the Real McCoy". The Voice Online. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  6. NME.com, 2020-07-30


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