The Mrs Merton Show
Encyclopedia
The Mrs Merton Show is a mock talk show
starring Caroline Aherne
as the elderly host Mrs Merton. It ran from 1994 to 1998, and was produced by Granada Television
.
The writers included Aherne, Craig Cash
, Dave Gorman
and Henry Normal
.
It was followed up by a sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm
, based on Mrs Merton and her son Malcolm, who was played by Craig Cash.
In August 2006 a poll of 4,000 people was commissioned by UKTV Gold
for the best comic one-liner. In second place was a line from the Mrs Merton Show when she famously asked Debbie McGee
, "So, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels
?"
The complete series, including pilot and specials, was released on 25 February 2008 by Network DVD
.
Prior to TV success, Aherne's Mrs Merton character appeared on Frank Sidebottom
's album "13/9/88".
For the first two series, the house band was Hooky and the Boys, fronted by Aherne's then husband Peter Hook
. Following their break up the band was replaced by The Patrick Trio from the 1996 Christmas special until the end of the show in 1998.
In 1998 the production moved to Las Vegas for a series of specials with Hollywood stars. The series was not well received and was slated by critic Garry Bushell
amongst others. For the following (and final) series back in the UK, Bushell was a guest and got appropriately roasted by Mrs Merton and her studio audience.
In an interview in November 2001 Aherne revealed that she did not want to carry on with the show and wanted to write a sitcom with Craig Cash
and only agreed to a fourth series if she could write the sitcom which was the Bafta winning The Royle Family
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
starring Caroline Aherne
Caroline Aherne
Caroline Mary Aherne is an English comedian and BAFTA winning writer and actress, best known for Mrs Merton and The Royle Family.- Background :...
as the elderly host Mrs Merton. It ran from 1994 to 1998, and was produced by Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
.
The writers included Aherne, Craig Cash
Craig Cash
Craig Cash is an English comedy actor, BAFTA award-winning writer and also a director.-Biography:Cash is best known for playing slightly dull and dopey working-class northern men, particularly Dave Best in the hugely successful BBC sitcom The Royle Family, which he co-wrote with Caroline Aherne...
, Dave Gorman
Dave Gorman
David James Gorman is an English author, stand-up comedian and presenter. He has performed comedy shows on stage in which he tells stories of extreme adventures and presents the evidence to the audience in order to prove to them that they are true stories...
and Henry Normal
Henry Normal
Henry Normal is an English comedian, television producer, poet and writer. He is Managing Director of Baby Cow Productions Ltd which he set up with Steve Coogan....
.
It was followed up by a sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm
Mrs Merton and Malcolm
Mrs Merton and Malcolm was a six episode BBC One sitcom produced by Granada and written by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Henry Normal. It has never been repeated on the BBC although a DVD was released on 10 November 2008...
, based on Mrs Merton and her son Malcolm, who was played by Craig Cash.
In August 2006 a poll of 4,000 people was commissioned by UKTV Gold
UKTV Gold
GOLD is the original channel of the UKTV network, broadcasting to the United Kingdom and Ireland. It launched on 1 November 1992 as UK Gold, and is currently available on Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV and terrestrial subscription via Top Up TV. It shows repeats of classic programming from the BBC...
for the best comic one-liner. In second place was a line from the Mrs Merton Show when she famously asked Debbie McGee
Debbie McGee
Debbie McGee is an English television, radio and stage performer who is best known as the wife and assistant of magician Paul Daniels. McGee is a former ballet dancer and, for three years, she was artistic director of her own ballet company...
, "So, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
?"
The complete series, including pilot and specials, was released on 25 February 2008 by Network DVD
Network DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
.
Prior to TV success, Aherne's Mrs Merton character appeared on Frank Sidebottom
Frank Sidebottom
Christopher Mark Sievey was an English musician and comedian known for fronting the band The Freshies in the late 1970s and early 1980s and for his comic persona Frank Sidebottom from 1984 onwards....
's album "13/9/88".
For the first two series, the house band was Hooky and the Boys, fronted by Aherne's then husband Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
. Following their break up the band was replaced by The Patrick Trio from the 1996 Christmas special until the end of the show in 1998.
In 1998 the production moved to Las Vegas for a series of specials with Hollywood stars. The series was not well received and was slated by critic Garry Bushell
Garry Bushell
Garry Bushell is an English newspaper columnist, rock music journalist, television presenter, author and political activist. Bushell also sings in the Oi! band The Gonads and manages the New York City Oi! band Maninblack. Bushell's recurring themes are comedy, country and class...
amongst others. For the following (and final) series back in the UK, Bushell was a guest and got appropriately roasted by Mrs Merton and her studio audience.
In an interview in November 2001 Aherne revealed that she did not want to carry on with the show and wanted to write a sitcom with Craig Cash
Craig Cash
Craig Cash is an English comedy actor, BAFTA award-winning writer and also a director.-Biography:Cash is best known for playing slightly dull and dopey working-class northern men, particularly Dave Best in the hugely successful BBC sitcom The Royle Family, which he co-wrote with Caroline Aherne...
and only agreed to a fourth series if she could write the sitcom which was the Bafta winning The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...