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Show Me The Funny
- TV factual / stand-up
- ITV1
- 2011
- 7 episodes (1 series)
Reality show presented by Jason Manford in which 10 aspiring comedians travelled to different parts of the country to perform stand-up. Also features Alan Davies, Kate Copstick, Alfie Moore, Cole Parker, Dan Mitchell and more.
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 2 - Catterick
Further details
This week the aspiring comics are given a crash course in military training to help prepare five minutes of new comedy material for their next high-pressure gig; a stand-up night at a Scottish army barracks in front of 250 squaddies.
They immerse themselves in their audience's world, shadowing the troops from the assault course to the gym - but will they break into a bigger sweat on stage?
Keen to get in some early laughs, Cole decides to play a risky prank in front of the strict Drill Sergeant: "I've got a little rouse I'm planning for parade. I'm not sure how it's going to go down. It will either be a rip roaring comedy success... or not."
But Cole is left red-faced when he gets a very public grilling for cutting the buttocks out of his fatigues. The Sergeant fumes: "Him with his ar*e hanging out of his combats, get him in my office that f**ker!" He adds: "I didn't find it funny and I don't think any of the squad did so he might be in for a bit of a rough night [at the gig]."
Worried that he could have blown his chances with the audience, Cole reflects: "I may have shot myself in the foot here."
After a shaky first gig, Prince is desperate to prove himself on stage, but Alan Davies worries: "My concern for all comics is that nerves get the better of them."
Given the opening slot, Prince is first under the spotlight but his incoherent routine is quickly met with awkward silences. Backstage, Patrick comments: "That is why we put him on first because the crowd will be nicer. If we put him on last they would have killed him."
As Prince leaves the stage a disgruntled punter says: "He lost the plot a bit. He rambled on about some house. It made no sense whatsoever."
But as the baying crowd grow more and more hostile, it seems Prince isn't the only comic in the firing line...
As the free bar begins to take effect, the hecklers soon emerge in full force with female comic Ellie the first to be met with outbursts from the tipsy troops.
But refusing to be put off, when Patrick takes the stage he hits back at an audience member: "What was that? Where are you from mate? If you don't know just look at the tag in the back of your uniform!" He gets a big laugh, but the Squaddies have only just begun...
Cole seems to have less luck with the boisterous barracks as his earlier prank comes back to haunt him. Jason Manford comments from the stage door: "It's a problem when a heckler get's a bigger laugh than you!"
Notes
Prince Abdi was voted out.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Monday 25th July 2011
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- ITV1
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
Jason Manford | Host / Presenter |
Alan Davies | Self |
Kate Copstick | Self |
Alfie Moore | Self |
Cole Parker | Self |
Dan Mitchell | Self |
Ellie Taylor | Self |
Patrick Monahan | Self |
Prince Abdi | Self |
Rudi Lickwood | Self |
Stuart Goldsmith | Self |
Tiffany Stevenson | Self |
Bob Mortimer | Guest |
Jason Manford | Writer (Additional Material) |
Paul Woods | Director |
Michael Cumming | Director |
Paul Woods | Producer |
Eireann Sharpe | Producer |
Emma Sayce | Producer |
Kenton Allen | Executive Producer |
Claire Zolkwer | Executive Producer |
Jeremy Salsby | Executive Producer |
Matthew Justice | Executive Producer |
Martyn Smith | Editor |
Tris Harris | Editor |
Simon Rogers | Production Designer |
Damian Coldwell | Composer |