Extract from an early evening chat show hosted by Paul Coia (Grampian ITV region only) I recorded in 1987. Chatting about alchoholism, Harold Wilson, The Holy Grail and other stuff
A nervous schoolgirl is interviewed as a potential student at a medical school. One of the funniest sketches ever. Sadly, she'd probably be good enough to get in now.
The end of the ITV strike which had blacked out the entire channel from august to October that year. This is the first programme on it's return on October 24th 1979. Top stories involve Laker flight, Jim Callaghan's battle with the Labour left and the end of the ITV strike coming third.
About three minutes into this, we cut from ITN briefly to a BBC news report about ITN.
Reggie (Leonard Rossiter) hears from Jimmy (Geoffrey Palmer) about his plans for a fairly secret army. This may be the most fantastic bit of comedy I've ever seen.
I got this from the rather wonderful
http://www.leonar drossiter.com
Not being 1979 anymore of course, this isn't proof at all I suppose. But take it from me, I remember this going out on ITV and changing channels to BBC1 & 2 to check, those were indeed the shows on the other side.
Garry Shandling is not impressed by Gervais's defence of his second sitcom, then doesn't make him a cup of coffee.
This interview was not staged, as some here have suggested, it's for real. Here's confirmation by Gervais himself
http://www.youtub e.com/watch?v=q7IEvf d1oXo (6min 34 secs in)
Interviewed on Jonathan Ross's eighties Channel 4 chat show.
To understand some references, first guest Dawn French said she was "moist" at the thought of final guest Tom Jones appearing, and also that Dr Ruth had just been on talking about condoms.