In Bed with Medinner
Encyclopedia
In Bed with Medinner was a 1990s late-night British TV programme starring Bob Mills
. It is a precursor to both the contemporary Harry Hill's TV Burp
and Russell Brand
's Ponderland.
In Bed with Medinner was a London Weekend Television
production for ITV
. Stand-up comic Bob Mills
specialised in a cynical view of life and its everyday objects, and in pastiches of popular culture icons.
The show was set in Mills' home, which was dressed to resemble the home of Number Six
from The Prisoner
and, in the final series, Steed
's flat from The Avengers
. The first three series opened with a parody of The Prisoner while the fourth and final series was re-titled Still In Bed With Medinner, and the opening sequence changed to be a parody of the classic Avengers Series Five title sequence.
Mills wanders around his flat, telling ludicrous fictional anecdotes about his showbusiness friends and reminiscing about his (fictional) time as a television producer. These stories are illustrated by genuine clips from the ITV archives, which, interspersed with Mills' own heavily-contrived commentaries and bizarre non-sequiturs, come together to reveal surreal fictional backstories.
's 1991 film In Bed With Madonna
.
Bob Mills (comedian)
Robert Edward "Bob" Mills is a British comedian, notable for his appearances in cult TV series such as In Bed with Medinner and The Show, the latter an attempt to do a non-fictional British version of The Larry Sanders Show.Born in Chester, after a very short spell training for the Merchant Navy,...
. It is a precursor to both the contemporary Harry Hill's TV Burp
Harry Hill's TV Burp
Harry Hill's TV Burp is a British television comedy programme produced by Avalon Television for ITV and hosted by comedian Harry Hill. The show presents a satirical look at the week's television, including extracts from TV shows with added sketches, observational voice-overs, and guest appearances...
and Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
's Ponderland.
In Bed with Medinner was a London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
production for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. Stand-up comic Bob Mills
Bob Mills (comedian)
Robert Edward "Bob" Mills is a British comedian, notable for his appearances in cult TV series such as In Bed with Medinner and The Show, the latter an attempt to do a non-fictional British version of The Larry Sanders Show.Born in Chester, after a very short spell training for the Merchant Navy,...
specialised in a cynical view of life and its everyday objects, and in pastiches of popular culture icons.
The show was set in Mills' home, which was dressed to resemble the home of Number Six
Number Six (The Prisoner)
Number Six is the central fictional character in the 1960s television series The Prisoner, played by Patrick McGoohan. In the AMC remake, the character is played by Jim Caviezel, renamed "Six"....
from The Prisoner
The Prisoner
The Prisoner is a 17-episode British television series first broadcast in the UK from 29 September 1967 to 1 February 1968. Starring and co-created by Patrick McGoohan, it combined spy fiction with elements of science fiction, allegory and psychological drama.The series follows a British former...
and, in the final series, Steed
John Steed
John Steed is a fictional character and the central protagonist on the popular British series The Avengers and The New Avengers, played by Patrick Macnee and Ralph Fiennes in the movie....
's flat from The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
. The first three series opened with a parody of The Prisoner while the fourth and final series was re-titled Still In Bed With Medinner, and the opening sequence changed to be a parody of the classic Avengers Series Five title sequence.
Mills wanders around his flat, telling ludicrous fictional anecdotes about his showbusiness friends and reminiscing about his (fictional) time as a television producer. These stories are illustrated by genuine clips from the ITV archives, which, interspersed with Mills' own heavily-contrived commentaries and bizarre non-sequiturs, come together to reveal surreal fictional backstories.
Original broadcasts and video releases
In Bed with Medinner ran from 1992 through to 1999, totalling 60 episodes: fifty-four 30-minute episodes and six 60-minute episodes.- Series One consisted of two 30-minute specials shown 20 November and 27 November 1992.
- Series Two consisted of six 60-minute episodes and ran from 8 April to 13 May 1994.
- Series Three consisted of twenty-six 30-minute episodes and ran from 11 January to 22 November 1997.
- Series Four consisted of twenty-six 30-minute episodes and ran from 6 February to 24 April 1998 and 10 January to 25 April 1999.
- An hour-long compilation of highlights of the first and second series Wot a Palaver − The Best of In Bed with Medinner broadcast by London-area ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
on 2 August 1996, having been released on VHS on 26 September 1994.
Cultural references
The title was a parody of MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's 1991 film In Bed With Madonna
Madonna: Truth or Dare
Madonna: Truth or Dare is a 1991 American documentary film chronicling the life of American singer-songwriter Madonna during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour...
.
Episode guide
- In Bed with Medinner (series 1)In Bed with Medinner (series 1)This is a list of episodes of In Bed with Medinner episodes in broadcast order, from broadcast series 1.- Summary :Offbeat London comic Bob Mills presents the first of two pilot programmes...
- In Bed with Medinner (series 2)In Bed with Medinner (series 2)This is a list of episodes of In Bed with Medinner episodes in broadcast order, from broadcast series 2.- Summary :Bob Mills escapes from The Prisoner's village and arrives home at his pad just in time to entertain his mates....
- In Bed with Medinner (series 3)In Bed with Medinner (series 3)This is a list of episodes of In Bed with Medinner episodes in broadcast order, from broadcast series 3.- Summary :Part 1: titles, intro, clips: paramedics, sketch casualty man, EOPPart 2: Bop, clips: Paramedics, flatmates, credits, sketch, logo.- Credits :...
- In Bed with Medinner (series 4)In Bed with Medinner (series 4)This is a list of episodes of In Bed with Medinner episodes in broadcast order , from series 4.----...
External links
- Comedy Guide - In Bed with Medinner at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
- In Bed With Medinner fansite