The Comic Strip
The Formation of a Revolutionary Comedy Collective
In 1980, a seismic shift in British comedy began when The Comic Strip opened as a regular club night at the Raymond Revuebar in London's Soho. Founded by comedian Peter Richardson and agent/impresario Hazell, this collective brought together some of the most innovative minds in comedy, including Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Nigel Planer, and Alexei Sayle.
The Comic Strip represented the perfect convergence of talent, timing, and creative vision. These performers, mostly recent university graduates with backgrounds in alternative theater, shared a desire to break free from the constraints of traditional comedy. They rejected the racism, sexism, and formulaic approach that characterized much of mainstream comedy at the time, instead embracing a more literate, politically conscious, and formally adventurous style.
"We were all from a similar background, which was university and fringe theater, rather than working men's clubs. We weren't interested in jokes about mothers-in-law or Irish people. We wanted to do something different." — Peter Richardson
Live performances at The Comic Strip club were characterized by high energy, narrative-driven sketches, and a willingness to experiment with form. Unlike the stand-up heavy programs of other comedy venues, The Comic Strip emphasized character-based performances and longer-form pieces that often satirized aspects of British culture and politics.
Their timing could not have been better. The alternative comedy movement was gathering momentum, and the launch of Channel 4 in 1982 created an outlet for more experimental television programming. This perfect alignment of creative talent and broadcast opportunity would soon catapult The Comic Strip from club performances to television stardom.
Key Members
The Comic Strip brought together an extraordinary constellation of talent, many of whom would go on to become defining figures in British comedy. While the membership shifted over time, the core group established a collaborative approach that allowed individual talents to shine while creating something greater than the sum of its parts.
Peter Richardson
Founder and creative director who conceived the original Comic Strip club and helmed many of the Film Presents... episodes.
Rik Mayall
Anarchic performer known for his larger-than-life characters and physical comedy, who starred in many of the group's most memorable productions.
Adrian Edmondson
Frequent collaborator with Mayall, bringing a manic energy and physicality to his performances in numerous Comic Strip productions.
Dawn French
Versatile performer who appeared in many Comic Strip films before achieving wider fame with "French and Saunders" and "The Vicar of Dibley."
Jennifer Saunders
Writer and performer who gained prominence through The Comic Strip before creating "Absolutely Fabulous" and other hit shows.
Nigel Planer
Actor and writer who appeared in numerous Comic Strip productions while also playing Neil in "The Young Ones."
Other notable members and frequent collaborators included Robbie Coltrane, Keith Allen, Alexei Sayle, and Peter Richens (a key writer for many of the productions). This rich mix of talent created a dynamic creative environment that fostered innovation and pushed the boundaries of comedy.
"The Comic Strip Presents..." and Television Breakthrough
The group's transition to television came with the launch of Channel 4 in November 1982. "The Comic Strip Presents..." debuted on the channel's opening night with "Five Go Mad in Dorset," a satirical parody of Enid Blyton's Famous Five books that established the template for their approach: affectionate yet biting parodies of British cultural touchstones, executed with cinematic ambition rather than typical sitcom production values.
What set "The Comic Strip Presents..." apart from other comedy shows of the era was its anthology format and filmic approach. Each episode was a self-contained story, often directed by either Peter Richardson or other group members, with production values more reminiscent of independent film than television comedy. This approach allowed for tremendous creative freedom and formal experimentation.
Career Highlights
- Founding of The Comic Strip club at Raymond Revuebar in Soho (1980)
- Television debut with "Five Go Mad in Dorset" on Channel 4's launch night (November 2, 1982)
- Created 41 original films across multiple series of "The Comic Strip Presents..." (1982-2016)
- Won BAFTA Award for Best Comedy for "The Strike" (1988)
- Influenced a generation of British comedy writers and performers
- Pioneered the cinematic approach to television comedy that would become increasingly common
Five Go Mad in Dorset
The debut episode satirized Enid Blyton's Famous Five books, exposing the xenophobia, class prejudice, and casual racism embedded in these beloved children's stories.
Bad News Tour
A mockumentary following a fictional heavy metal band, predating "This Is Spinal Tap" and establishing a template for the format.
The Strike
Award-winning satire of Hollywood adaptations of British stories, centered around the miners' strike with Al Pacino (played by Peter Richardson) portraying Arthur Scargill.
Definitive Performances
The Comic Strip's output is best appreciated through their groundbreaking television work, which blended satire, parody, and cinematic ambition. These clips showcase their innovative approach and enduring influence:
Legacy and Influence
The influence of The Comic Strip on British comedy cannot be overstated. By bringing alternative comedy sensibilities to television and adopting a cinematic approach to the medium, they created a template that would be followed by countless comedy shows in subsequent decades.
Their work helped establish the careers of performers who would go on to define British comedy for a generation. Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson's subsequent work on "The Young Ones" and "Bottom"; Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders' success with "French and Saunders" and their respective solo projects; Robbie Coltrane's transition to dramatic roles—all were built on foundations laid during their time with The Comic Strip.
Beyond individual careers, The Comic Strip's approach to comedy—intelligent, formally adventurous, politically engaged, and unafraid to experiment—helped legitimize comedy as a medium for artistic expression rather than merely light entertainment. Their willingness to tackle political themes, particularly in episodes like "The Strike" and "GLC," demonstrated that comedy could engage with contemporary issues while remaining entertaining.
"What The Comic Strip did was to take television comedy and make it look like film. It was shot on 35mm film, it took itself seriously as a piece of cinema." — Peter Richardson
While The Comic Strip's television output became less frequent after the initial burst of activity in the 1980s, they periodically reunited for new specials, with the most recent—"Five Go to Rehab"—airing in 2016. These later productions demonstrated the enduring creative bonds formed during those early days at the Raymond Revuebar.
The group's lasting legacy lies not just in the body of work they created together but in how they transformed British comedy, bringing it from the working men's clubs into the realm of cinema and helping to establish alternative comedy as a major cultural force. Their influence can be seen in everything from the sketch shows of the 1990s to the cinematic comedies of Edgar Wright and the formally adventurous work of Charlie Brooker.
Through their pioneering work, The Comic Strip helped create space for comedy that was intelligent, politically engaged, and artistically ambitious—a legacy that continues to shape British comedy to this day.