Not the 9'OClock news

Not the Nine O'Clock News is a British television comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC2 from 1979 to 1982. Originally shown as a comedy alternative to the Nine O'Clock News on BBC1, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy sketches, re-edited videos, and spoof television formats. The show featured Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, Mel Smith, and Griff Rhys Jones, as well as Chris Langham in the first series.

[@nigeljohnwilson4549]

It's truly astounding how the satire from Not the 9'OClock News remains remarkably relevant even after four decades! 👍🏻

[@zekelucente9702]

Think of all the great comedic movies that could never be made today. I remember reading 1984 in school and being sure Orwell was talking about conservatives, but instead it’s turned out that it’s the liberals that are against free speech.

[@bartduinslaeger7289]

Just replace stout with transgender and its up to pace

[@stevie-ray2020]

Especially that recruiting-drive for the Russian Army! They're dropping down like flies over in Ukraine!

[@Subsidiarity3]

The joke around the 10 minute mark is kind of topical again sadly. Well, the latest technology bit isn't quite right.

[@zapkvr0101]

@zekelucente9702 not even close to true. Murdoch isn't a liberal

[@ronaldstrange8981]

This is 2023 and there's nothing like it anywhere on Tele today. Thank you so much for this.

[@LordOfTheThreeWorlds]

Uh no first of all this is 2024 and it is exactly here the same except looking older. Welcom

[@danmar007]

What's tele? :-)

[@marifeely1694]

Proof, if it were needed, that genius comedy will stand the test of time. Just as hilarious as it was then. I loved this show.

[@gandydancer72]

Dis is BaBa WA Wa!

[@gandydancer72]

Ahh, the 70s and 80s

[@Christine_1985]

Rowan’s face when Pamela Stephenson gets in that truck.😂😂

[@philhawley1219]

Pamela was fit!!!

[@kitemanmusic]

Well wouldn't you? I know I would!

[@LeoDragon34]

Pamela Stephenson’s portrayal of Janet Street Porter is brilliant. Completely on the money.

[@nicholasmartin297]

I like to think JSP has seen this and had a good laugh. Incredibly talented actress who was stunningly beautiful.

[@robertwalkey1443]

She sounds nothing like Janet Street Porter😂

[@alleadmin3294]

We all had a mega horn for Pamela. 👍

[@robertwalkey1443]

@@alleadmin3294 I didn’t 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@alleadmin3294]

@@robertwalkey1443 You are either gay or your knob has fallen off.

[@dallasreid7755]

Saw many of these live. The "Constable Savage" sketch must be one of the all time best comedy sketches ever. Even more appropriate in light of the Met issues.

[@zaftra]

ironically, with invented racialist accusations.

[@victoriamyatt1709]

Can't remember if it was the barbican centre or not but went to several live filming episodes, was quite a small studio but a great experience.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Not the 9 O'Clock News was a brilliant political themed sketch comedy show that was ahead of its time.

[@zapkvr0101]

No. It wasn't. Neither brilliant nor ahead of its time. It was average. It was of its time.

[@whatshisname3304]

@@zapkvr0101 it was funny though, you miserable bastard.

[@willemslie]

@@zapkvr0101 Agreed, but it still shows the flashes of brilliance that its cast went on to fulfill.

[@jonallen8346]

@@zapkvr0101 Here is me thinking woke feminists were a modern thing. I guess not. 🤣😂🤣

[@zapkvr0101]

@@willemslie crap

[@RockinRedRover]

For us this was THE highlight of the TV week, so many great sketches, and so many wonderful comic talents. So memorable, especially PC Savage !. Light years better than today's tv rubbish.

[@sebastian993]

one of the few comedy shows that are timeless.

[@zapkvr0101]

Utter bullshit. It was quite LITERALLY of its time and no other

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

As long as you remember “That’s Life” telephone boxes, Janet Street Porter, Thatcher, trade Unions, the Hamlette adverts, Punk, tomorrows world…….

[@nigelnyoni8265]

​@@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549 I was born in 1998, so I don't know many of those things, so I think a lot of references are flying over my head .. sometimes I can tell it's satire, but i don't know who/what they're satirising.

[@willemslie]

I loved this show as a teenager and find that I still remember several of these sketches 40+ years later. Those were the days when you could laugh at poor-taste humour without offending anyone.

[@Torquemada-su1cn]

Realising I still know all the words to 'I Like Trucking'....speechless EDIT: omg, MISTER KODOGO.....

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

At the time Not the nine o’clock news was considered pretty offensive, the daily mail was scathing about it, calling it puerile and crass, Mary Whitehouse was petitioning for it to be taken off air

[@willemslie]

@@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549 Back then, the Daily Mail and Mary Whitehouse were in the minority. I agree that much of the humour was puerile but then I was a schoolboy and I was allowed to find it funny. I still do, tbh. The "That's Life" parody was spot on. Of its time, as has been noted.

[@Torquemada-su1cn]

@@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549 TBF, Mary Whitehouse and the DM hated everything

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

@@Torquemada-su1cn not at all, they were very targeted. They wanted TV to be like it was when they were young.

[@LALakersNornIron]

Rowan Atkinson as Marc Almond was absolutely hilarious

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Yes totally agree 🤣😆🤣😆🏆🇬🇧👍

[@colinbaker3916]

Some of Pam’s impressions might not be familiar now. How many remember Judith Hann from Tomorrow’s World (16:00)

[@benranson8424]

Marc Almond at 14:00, just priceless, happy memories of growing up with this stuff at school in the early 80s.

[@timrobson2519]

Quality !! Great show ! Never missed an episode in the good old days !! X❤

[@QuicknStraight]

It's been years since I've seen these shows. The humour stand up remarkably well. Great fun!

[@stevie-ray2020]

Especially that recruiting-drive for the Russian Army! They're dropping down like flies over in Ukraine!

[@TheTristanmarcus]

Rowan Atkinson was genius right from the beginning - superb 😎 Proto-Thin Blue Line towards the end there 😊

[@deand681]

Whole team was brilliant. Pam was awesome as a woman comedian....she definitely held her own against these guys. Rowan a comedian god. I wasn't old enough to watch most of these shows so put my ear to the bedroom door to hear the audio....still laughed.

[@MrGman2804]

I am now 60 and I still fancy the lovely Pam Connolly. Lucky Billy!

[@SagarNagtilak]

"This has got NOTHING to do with us ! 😌" .... I hereby pledge to speak this sentence , just like Rowan did, for the rest of my days on this planet .

[@banzobeans]

27:34

[@RobMacKendrick]

But you have to use the precise intonation. Preferably while wearing polyester.

[@missliisa7731]

I now officially feel old😂😂😂

[@weskal5490]

This was and still is one of the greatest comedy sketch shows ever to grace TV.

[@MrDavey2010]

Utterly hilarious!

[@RickMyBalls]

The TV licence bit is so true

[@atilllathehun1212]

What an utterly brilliant show this was. Light years ahead of the shite that passes for 'comedy' these days.

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

The old people didn’t like it though. They complained it was puerile and not funny. Maybe being old affects your sense of humour?

[@brianmckenzie6046]

The good old days -when men were men and women were women🤣😊

[@Edgel-in6bs]

Why do people have to be as a default, nasty? Can't you just appreciate something funny (like this) without justifying it by attacking something else? I personally like all comedy.

[@atilllathehun1212]

@@Edgel-in6bs Each to their own. Modern comedy is by and large terrible but if you like it fair play.

[@lilymarinovic1644]

​​ and small green furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were small green furry creatures from Alpha Centauri .... 😂

[@KangoV]

Absolutely brilliant. My favourites are Gerald the Gorilla and the Pythonists sketches.

[@WisdomQuotesLife-sw3xk]

I still miss the 80s and they'll never make tv like this again. This was a brilliant show.

[@samharris3612]

so brilliant and so under rated, they provided a twig of hope and a grasp at sanity in the mid 80s.

[@followtheboat]

They were not underrated in the slightest! These guys were superstars.

[@RobMacKendrick]

And then I moved to France and found that they really are as Rowan Atkinson portrayed them. And here I thought he was exaggerating for effect.

[@claire-christmas-august73]

glorious.. still having a proper giggle in 2-23.! 😉☺️😊😃😆 cheers for sharing.! ✌🏻🌏🇦🇺🤘🏻

[@user-tx9cy4pt2r]

Gawd, this is bringing back memories. The “That’s Life” sketch at 26 minutes.

[@johirsty7392]

That was the best bit - just brill 😂

[@dejavoue88]

I can remember buying the LP version of this . brilliant

[@davedennison7386]

"...the LP version..."...ha ha yer showing yer age there mate😊

[@dejavoue88]

@@davedennison7386 yeah and I had to put a two pence on the arm so it would play properly

[@SuchtFaktorHoch10]

@01:20 This airline sketch is pure gold.

[@mickymack1230]

The sketch at 18:49 is hard to believe in that it predicted the ridiculousness of the present day competition to be the most offended for other people!

[@johnp515]

It didn’t predict anything, it was satirising attitudes that existed even then

[@mickymack1230]

@@johnp515 if you say so.

[@rita8684]

Ron miller 😀😀

[@CastlesForEyes]

Haven't seen any of this since the early 80's, so good to see it as an adult. A lot of it must have went over my head as a kid. Holds up really well.

[@Superdangc]

Lest We forget Mel Smith, thank for the laugh

[@neilfurby555]

Fabulous comedy, what a team!

[@mf-cv4ve]

"We're holding him on a charge of posession of black curly hair and big lips " 😂😂😂

[@dickieb2233]

Guilty!!!!

[@JesusIsKing50]

Don’t you mean gwuilty 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lilgreeneyesp637]

Ahh haaaaha. . I used to watch this with my mum , I'm 47 now and still makes me LMAO! !.. nothing like this on TV anymore...SADLY.. omg... That's Life.. hahaha... the dress on pam..n check Mel smith hair...I'm crying laughing at the horses launching people into the water...princess's Anne. ..hahha. . Wdnt it be great..if she launches self into a tree...Haaaahaa . Thankyou ..this video has made my Monday morning. ..

[@lesleythornton1811]

It's still great, isn't it? The airline food so bad they'd already eaten the other passengers. Forgot how good it was and it was pretty anti-establishment, at the time. Even the name

[@user-er9cd4uo4s]

25 February 2024 "I larfed and larfed" ! The creation of comedic genius. Rowan in his many forms. Mel and Griff ( the darts match). Pam's caricatures. It must be hilarious in the house with "Big Yin". (BTW, in total agreement with the earlier commenter - and I'm 77

[@cconeafter909]

Loved the Billy Connelly sketch.

[@sexynelson100]

Thank You George Pollen for posting this.. Love it. Nuff memories

[@chrisstone8210]

Love it and found it just as funny as I did all those years ago.

[@mrelano65]

Clever and very funny. Loved it back then.

[@mandynewey7215]

Hilarious! Love seeing them all so young, irreverant, funny.

[@lyndasutherland6165]

Thank you for sharing this, brought back giggly memories!

[@pereldh5741]

Pamela’s fantastic

[@michaelcarlisle5403]

Rowan had the best “rubber face”😂😂😂

[@darrinmcneill534]

Those guys were class

[@didulca]

Thank you so much for uploading this - I enjoyed it very much!

[@andrewnorth170]

How can you not like this, its hilarious 😆

[@roderickthered4981]

It depends on your taste. I cannot bear it, even after the 1st lame joke with the canned laughter. My cup of tea was spaced...no canned laughter, and I could choose whats funny :)

[@Rhythmattica]

Oh my.. This literally is the greatest hits! Memories!

[@ceeemm1901]

Can't believe this is over 40 years ago....geez, that went quick!

[@FergusWalsh-dz7mq]

Crucial essential never to be missed viewing , what would you talk about with your school mates next morning if you missed it. Hahaha Schoolwork ,I think not.

[@ggmtv1394]

Brilliant - real quality writing and delivery.

[@Nedchilvs]

The Stoutest sketch? What a parody of every second serious debate in 2024!

[@MrTumshie]

I had forgotten just how funny this programme was. A couple of bits that haven't aged well and I can't remember any reason they'd be having a go at Marc Almond but overall this still stands up well for me and I am now off to see if I can find some more episodes. Thanks for uploading this!

[@RobMacKendrick]

Because they basically had a go at everybody sooner or later. At some point they must've realised Marc had slipped by.

[@mattelliottmusic]

Yeah I thought the same. Was Almond busted lip syncing? I don't think so. Hope he didn't take it too harshly.

[@davedennison7386]

..apart from Chris Langham....

[@5gx673]

Oh I love this, including the music ❤ thank you

[@richardshields1488]

I've still got all my not the nine o'clock news albums i might bring out and listen. 😂

[@davedennison7386]

...old school....very nice...I vaguely remember the book..

[@ripsuploads]

btw john watch those cracks on the pavement.... i remember not walking on them for years lol

[@vandolmatzis8146]

This comedy kinda lingers..thanks for posting.

[@joshuared1000]

OMG!! This is amazing!!! Well done!

[@LeeGee]

Blimey: the 'Stout' sketch is actually happening now.

[@markkennard861]

The forced feeding of skinny..

[@carolynellis387]

Loved Mel Smith, taken too soon ❤

[@CricketEngland]

Rowan took his HGV license just so he could actually drive the truck in that song

[@dee4174]

Loved this at the time.

[@bamboo59.52]

Even Smith and Jones is still hilarious today 😁

[@Faladaena]

Good times!😆 And suddenly I'm on the wrong side of 40...😐🤔🥺

[@Raven-Claws88]

Such accurate and prescient satire of the Met Police, that is still current in 2023!

[@jakethekipper]

RIP Mel Smith ❤

[@VinDieselS70]

I remember seeing this on telly and my word, it could have been today as nothing has really changed. Even had social media on that flight and the toilet sign. The need to know everything Hahaha

[@freedomofspeech2238]

Had a laugh like it has been so long the last time. Thanks for sharing :P

[@66meikou]

I loved this show back in the day but it wouldn't get on the air today. Times have changed, I've changed. Still funny though. I like truckin is a classic!

[@jakethekipper]

And I like to truck.

[@gregsullivan7408]

Absolutely fantastic show. Atkinson is my no 1 comedian of all time

[@Yellow_Fox]

I've seen this for the first time. Incredibly funny, so talented guys. And Atkinson ❤❤❤

[@darthnx9928]

What a classic !!

[@WAKE-UP-BRITAIN]

I was born in 83 I vaguely remember my parents watching it when I was a boy, I think the treasure for my generation was Only Fools and Horses

[@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming]

Only Fools started in 80. By the time you could remember it, it had already finished in the series leaving just the Christmas specials.

[@julianryll755]

GREAT SHOW !

[@bobwallacejnr6852]

Put this back on telly to watch the offended explode

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

I think Mary whitehouse is dead now

[@kitemanmusic]

This was when you could laugh at things you can't laugh at now!

[@patagualianmostly7437]

Wow! I had forgotten how good this show was........I missed most of it as I was abroad mostly.... This is catch-up I guess..... Miss Mel Smith though..... Brilliant.

[@WeatherWeasel66]

Udderly Brilliant !

[@pepsitwsit]

Can't believe how sensitive we've become that you had to censor the scene where they run over a 🧸 hedgehog. Ridiculous.

[@g8xft]

Amazing how many of these I remember

[@SlothLinn]

It's amazing how long it took me to realize the futility of the deaf person knowing when the phone rang... o-O

[@kevingiblin4122]

One of the best ever 😅🎉😂

[@fanficfan8599]

I love British comedies... how have I never heard of this.

[@lauriecook2399]

if you like this you will probably like Monty Python's flying circus - very similar in the madcap humor department 😂

[@fanficfan8599]

@@lauriecook2399 that's what started my love for British humor... I remember my parents watching VHS copies of the show that my dad had mailed over from Europe from a friend he meet in the Air Force...lol... This is way way before streaming...lol

[@user-jh6cg2rx6n]

If you knew who they were taking the Micky out of absolutely spit double.makes it even funnier...😂😂😂😂

[@MelissaWalker-xb9hp]

Mel Smith died too soon 😔 R.I.P ❤

[@Faladaena]

*_"Marc Almond"_* LMAO... I loooved Tainted Love, with a passion! Eurythmics, Yazoo... I could go on for an hour about everything awesome in the 80s!

[@user-yc5um2pl5v]

Mark was deeply hurt about this depiction, by the way.

[@Faladaena]

@@user-yc5um2pl5v *Seriously?* Aww... bless, fragile little petal!😄

[@user-yc5um2pl5v]

@@Faladaena He wrote quite a bit about it in his memoir "Tainted life", it apparently caused him some long-term distress. He was already uneasy with success, after that bit aired he started hating it☺

[@Faladaena]

@@user-yc5um2pl5v Good grief! LOL...

[@user-lo5qm5tu8m]

The Smiths were the greatest thing from the 80's and like this show still relevant today❤❤😂

[@Dentistmentalust]

I once made someone laugh with an amazingly well told joke! She couldn't stop laughing for 4 hours and I had to take her into A and E where she was hospitalised for 6 months without any jokes at all being told to her. She eventually recovered but then accidentally went to a Bernhard Manning show and well she died 12 seconds into it!

[@davidwhelan1545]

Bring this humour back.

[@OriginalAndroidPhone]

6:00 skit was amazing

[@WhatNWDid]

Excellent 😂😅

[@barnbersonol]

Oh God they'd be locked up for that Moira Stewart impersonation now.

[@davidwhelan1545]

Still so funny, Brilliant.

[@nula370]

Stout... repackaged as fatphobia. How utterly predictive! This is so funny though, because jokes in the 80s are our "lived experience" now. It's amazing.🤣🤣

[@Teeveepicksures]

I'll never forget Mel Smith as the hotel proprietor in European Vacation 😂

[@sarcasmo57]

Thanks for that George.

[@user-es5us5vr7t]

Pamela Stephenson was absolutely gorgeous. When I heard billy Connolly was dating her I thought you’ve knocked it of there big man.

[@gregghill2059]

Pity that the US didn't know what to do with her. Maybe that's why she quit the business.

[@tman5634]

Some people need glasses, but aren't aware they do.

[@7ebr830]

​@@tman5634 No, you had to be there. She had a rocking body, and when made up just right, such as on photo shoots, she really was easy to look at. Watching this video today, I can understand your scepticism, but you'll have to take our word for it that she was smoking hot when NT NON was all the rage.

[@keepgoing1973]

Are you blind?? She looks ridiculous

[@kramnam4716]

She’s still beautiful

[@johnleckieWATP]

Holy crap this has reminded me how good comedy was.

[@no_handle_required]

Brilliant