TV Hell
Encyclopedia
TV Hell was a BBC2
theme night broadcast on 31 August 1992, showing a whole evening of archive television clips widely regarded by critics and the public alike as among the worst ever produced in Britain. It followed an unrelated series of archive theme nights called "TV Heaven
", shown on Channel 4
earlier in 1992.
The clips were linked by Angus Deayton
, playing the part of the Devil
, and Paul Merton
, playing a shellsuited couch potato who had been condemned to experience the worst of British Television for all eternity following his death, caused ironically by a television falling onto his head from an upstairs window in the programme's opening sketch.
TV Hell was defined as programmes and broadcasts where the conception of the production was misguided, even though it made use of established television cast and crew. Many of the resulting catastrophes caused promising careers to be curtailed, or in some cases led to a review of the commissioning process.
The comic sequences with Deayton and Merton were used to link several short documentaries, comprising, for example, Disastermind (a review of the worst performances on Mastermind
), an A-Z of TV Hell moments, Storm in an Egg-Cup - a look back at the downfall of TV-am
- and a short documentary about the production of the television soap Triangle
, with interviews with cast and crew, followed by a repeat of the first episode. There were also humorous contributions from Victor Lewis-Smith
.
Examples of programmes in TV Hell included:
The BBC pilot for Mainly for Men, a late night men's lifestyle magazine programme made in 1969, was also shown. Although this was never screened and never progressed to a series, some television critics have subsequently and erroneously assumed that it was broadcast in the 1960s. It is unknown whether this screening was a factor in the launch, several years later, of the UK's first television channel exclusively for men, "Granada Men And Motors".
The term "TV Hell" has since been adopted in media culture to describe television programmes which are not very good.
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
theme night broadcast on 31 August 1992, showing a whole evening of archive television clips widely regarded by critics and the public alike as among the worst ever produced in Britain. It followed an unrelated series of archive theme nights called "TV Heaven
TV Heaven
TV Heaven is a series of 13 theme nights shown on Channel 4 in early 1992, celebrating the best of archive British television. Each programme focused on a particular year....
", shown on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
earlier in 1992.
The clips were linked by Angus Deayton
Angus Deayton
Gordon Angus Deayton is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and broadcaster. He is best known for his role as Victor Meldrew's long-suffering neighbour Patrick Trench in the comedy series One Foot in the Grave...
, playing the part of the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
, and Paul Merton
Paul Merton
Paul Merton is a British comedian, writer, actor and television presenter. Known for his improvisation skill, his humour is rooted in deadpan, surreal and sometimes dark comedy...
, playing a shellsuited couch potato who had been condemned to experience the worst of British Television for all eternity following his death, caused ironically by a television falling onto his head from an upstairs window in the programme's opening sketch.
TV Hell was defined as programmes and broadcasts where the conception of the production was misguided, even though it made use of established television cast and crew. Many of the resulting catastrophes caused promising careers to be curtailed, or in some cases led to a review of the commissioning process.
The comic sequences with Deayton and Merton were used to link several short documentaries, comprising, for example, Disastermind (a review of the worst performances on Mastermind
Mastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
), an A-Z of TV Hell moments, Storm in an Egg-Cup - a look back at the downfall of TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
- and a short documentary about the production of the television soap Triangle
Triangle (TV series)
Triangle was a BBC television soap opera in the early 1980s, set aboard a North Sea ferry which sailed between Felixstowe & Gothenburg and Gothenburg & Amsterdam. A third imaginary leg existed between Amsterdam & Felixstowe to make up the program title, but this was not operated by the ferry company...
, with interviews with cast and crew, followed by a repeat of the first episode. There were also humorous contributions from Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith is a British satirist, producer, critic and prankster. He is known for his sarcasm and biting criticism.-Radio and recordings:...
.
Examples of programmes in TV Hell included:
- Churchill's PeopleChurchill's PeopleChurchill's People is series of 26 historical dramas produced by the BBC, based on Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. They were first broadcast on BBC1 in 1974 and 1975....
a 26 part dramatised history of Britain screened on BBC 1 in primetime during 1974-75. The series was such a ratings disaster that the BBC changed its entire drama commissioning policy. - Christopher MayhewChristopher MayhewChristopher Paget Mayhew, Baron Mayhew was a British politician who was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1950 and from 1951 to 1974, when he left the Labour Party to become a Liberal...
taking mescalineMescalineMescaline or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine is a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid of the phenethylamine class used mainly as an entheogen....
hydrochloride on an unbroadcast 1955 edition of PanoramaPanorama (TV series)Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
, the first time an excerpt from this show had been screened. - Club XClub XClub X was a short-lived 1989 Channel 4 arts and music magazine programme that is often cited as an example of TV Hell.- Details :The production and presentation team was largely taken from the earlier Channel 4 success Network 7 and had the same editor Charlie Parsons...
- a disastrous attempt at an arts programme by Channel 4, presented from inside a noisy club - David DimblebyDavid DimblebyDavid Dimbleby is a British BBC TV commentator and a presenter of current affairs and political programmes, most notably the BBC's flagship political show Question Time, and more recently, art, architectural history and history series...
filling live airtime on Panorama when all available telecine and video tape machines were out of commission. - The various appearances by a drunk Oliver ReedOliver ReedOliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
on live television - Several embarrassing moments taken from the Top Of The PopsTop of the PopsTop of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
archive, linked by John PeelJohn PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004... - Danny BakerDanny BakerDanny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
presenting a selection of clips from chat shows where interviews had not gone to plan. Baker himself made his debut as a chatshow host in his own right the following year. - "MinipopsMinipopsMinipops was a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Focused primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set, featuring preteen children singing then-contemporary pop music hits as well as older classics...
"
The BBC pilot for Mainly for Men, a late night men's lifestyle magazine programme made in 1969, was also shown. Although this was never screened and never progressed to a series, some television critics have subsequently and erroneously assumed that it was broadcast in the 1960s. It is unknown whether this screening was a factor in the launch, several years later, of the UK's first television channel exclusively for men, "Granada Men And Motors".
The term "TV Hell" has since been adopted in media culture to describe television programmes which are not very good.