Big Train is 20

[Twit 2]

I agree about the sketches often going on too long though. The scientist sketch with Eldon's great laugh mentioned above is a good example. Great set up. Good joke. But then drags on for about a minute too long.

The extended reaction is precisely the joke. Stop getting Big Train wrong!

[kalowski]

The extended reaction is precisely the joke. Stop getting Big Train wrong!

And, if course, it led to this

https://youtu.be/SbuWAHA4MjA

[Thursday]

The monk one came before the scientist one.

The monk one is better really, but I just enjoy Eldon's insane laughter in the scientist one more.

[kalowski]

The monk one came before the scientist one.

The monk one is better really, but I just enjoy Eldon's insane laughter in the scientist one more.

Ooh, well remembered. I prefer the monk one definitely, but they are both great.


Put me down as another fan of the stare eyes. It's just so well realised. The one where they have the giggles is just utterly spot on.

The cast is pretty stellar when you think about it.

[Virgo76]

Apparently, the show was indeed named after the theme song.

I don't remember a particular train sketch?

[Cuellar]

I believe it's this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEgkM9eBts

I do like Pegg's dash for the door when the minister screams.

[Attila]

He revisited in Harry & Paul's Beatles sketches.

How did I not know of the existence of these sketches before -- that's my afternoon's workday shot then. Yay!!

[Lord Mandrake]

Not sure if is a dvd extra or what and I can't find it on youtube but there is a sketch with Heap, Pegg and Eldon, dressed in civil war era gear singing 'Rose red' in a round. Peggs character keeps coming in off time and its hilarious. Another sketch I loved was Portatchio the Shakespere impersonator and all the ones with Heap as Ming.

[Cuellar]

I really enjoy the ones where the man is masquerading as a counsellor/a magician, and getting people to do dirty things then being chased off by the police.

Pretty Benny Hill, but the police running on from nowhere shouting 'Oi!' really makes me laugh. And Mark Heap's acting when he's pretending to be the counsellor.

[neveragain]

I've always thought that sketch was a(n almost) complete rip of this: https://youtu.be/heskWNMUqC8

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

I've always thought that sketch was a(n almost) complete rip of this: https://youtu.be/heskWNMUqC8

With elements of " Conjuring Today " from the " Mr. Neutron" episode .

[purlieu]

Eldon's most wonderful moment.
His impatient policeman is also incredible, particularly "God, did he?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rEBtpWQ7x8

Honestly, too many great sketches to pick a favourite. Tin Man, fat handed twat, the guy who goes to say something a second too late, Bee Gees vs Chaka Khan (directed by Chris Morris, of course), Streets of London, "I will only say this once"...

How about the dog booking theatre tickets (complete with really unconvincing paw): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QknK40ymD9M

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

The Ken Morse sketch is great
And "Ritz to the Titz" stands out at this point

[c]

That dog/theatre sketch - that was a genuine call wasn't it?

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

That dog/theatre sketch - that was a genuine call wasn't it?

I think so. Not a real dog, though.

[popcorn]

Sorry, I am momentarily hijacking the thread to ask a question. Saw this gag in a short film just now - where someone does this lame thumb magic trick and you're supposed to think it's incredible - and I was sure it was also in Big Train but it isn't. Can anyone identify what I'm thinking of?

[Sean Ymphs]

Sorry, I am momentarily hijacking the thread to ask a question. Saw this gag in a short film just now - where someone does this lame thumb magic trick and you're supposed to think it's incredible - and I was sure it was also in Big Train but it isn't. Can anyone identify what I'm thinking of?

Don't know what it would be called as a standalone, but it's at 2:10 in this compilation:

https://youtu.be/5Wf-j8CfsyY?t=129

[popcorn]

Ah yes! That's it! Ace, thanks!

Hee hee hee Mark Heap wincing at it is so lovely.

[Endicott]

That's about 20 mins into Series 2, episode 2, and about 3 min before that Heap does it while doing some street magic.

[popcorn]

So it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9hGQ0oXI5U

Cheers for this.

[kalowski]

So it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9hGQ0oXI5U

Cheers for this.

Oh god, that's brilliant. Plus the cast's reactions seem to infect the other people in the crowd so they're all horrified when he bites his thumb off.

[The Boston Crab]

Off to kill me self

[mobias]

Big Train is one of my favourite all time sketch shows. Way more hit than miss for me. Sure, it has its fair share of duffers but the hit rate is pretty high I think. Comparing it to Limmy's Show is a bit pointless. Limmy's Show is a very personal sketch show with an ensemble of returning characters. Big Train is not that. If you really wanted to compare Limmy's Show to something mainstream you'd be better off comparing it to The Fast Show. There's more of a cross over there with the use of English and Scottish stereotypical character studies.  I've often thought Limmy and Paul Whitehouse share a few things in common with their superb character acting.

Anyway back to Big Train. Too many favourite sketches to post (and not all of them are on youtube) but some favourites are This is Your Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4dc-2lnYso office wanking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKH9ECC_Qa4&t=44s and Jesus employing the devil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6WUMTYxeo0

[popcorn]

Can anyone remember where the sketch with the police man running away is?

[MuteBanana]

Isn't Mark Heap like a proper magician or clown or something?

I like the mother being reunite with her child who turns out to be this weird dwarf creature with a long tongue played by Eldon. Audience reaction was incredible.

Also "Vodka and orange. Gotta pint?"

I never liked the Bryan Ferry sketch. Or the Rose, Rose, Rose one. Or that one where his skin gets caught in the helmet.

Nick Frost's first TV appearance.

[rm2kmaster]

I believe it's this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEgkM9eBts

I do like Pegg's dash for the door when the minister screams.

Never noticed that, it's glorious.

[Sexton Brackets Drugbust]

Isn't Mark Heap like a proper magician or clown or something?

He was a street performer, part of a double act called The Two Marks. I remember him as a regular on Saturday morning TV show Ghost Train, where The Two Marks were hypnotised into being the villain, Barry Mafia's, henchmen.

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

He was a street performer, part of a double act called The Two Marks. I remember him as a regular on Saturday morning TV show Ghost Train, where The Two Marks were hypnotised into being the villain, Barry Mafia's, henchmen.

Also appeared on " 3-2-1 ", back in the day.

Mark Heap's about 61 years old nowadays, summat like that.

[neveragain]

Or that one where his skin gets caught in the helmet.

Ouch.

[MuteBanana]

He was a street performer, part of a double act called The Two Marks. I remember him as a regular on Saturday morning TV show Ghost Train, where The Two Marks were hypnotised into being the villain, Barry Mafia's, henchmen.

That makes sense because I'm remember it being related to his character on Spaced.