British Comedy Guide
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Beneath The News

  • TV sketch show
  • BBC One
  • 1975
  • 5 episodes (1 series)

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Press clippings

Beneath the News (BBC1) was good fun along the lines of Week Ending on Radio 4. Only with Moving Pictures. And in Colour. And from Manchester. I particularly liked the adventures of BTN's intrepid, albeit inept, reporters. Mugged, while reporting "The trial of a self-confessed gangland leader." "Why do you think you are being attacked in this vicious way? "It is possibly a little early to say.... It may be this gentleman has some interest in the outcome of the trial."

They arrive late: "Five minutes ago this street was the scene of amazing carnage." They are trapped in the Royal Box as the royals arrive.

As I have watched such staunch chaps standing in the middle of the street in their sheepskin jackets, I have often felt that they were in real danger from a bus. Or a sheep. The script was apparently the unaided work of John Hudson, though, judging by the abundance of religious sketches, he may have had divine assistance.

Nancy Banks-Smith, The Guardian, 2nd August 1975

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