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Al Murray's Happy Hour is a chat show presented by comedian Al Murray, and the first series aired in early 2007. It is on the British terrestrial TV channel ITV and is broadcast on Saturday nights at about 22:00. Murray presents the program in his Pub Landlord character, a stereotypically nationalistic, chauvanistic character. The show contains stand-up, guest interviews and live music. The show ends with Murray performing a Queen song with the musical guest.
[edit] Layout of each episode
The show has a large studio audience, and at the start of the show Al interacts with them, talking to some of them in the front row, and usually remarking that they have "beatiful British names" even if the name is clearly not British (such as "Dominique"). He often points out any celebrities in the audience, such as Vanessa Feltz and Uri Geller, as well as pointing out 'Big Bob', a regular in the series, and the members of the local pub of the week. He will then often give a speech about the greatness of Britain, before beginning to interview the three guests. In the middle of the interviews, before a commercial break, the musical guest will often sing one of their own songs. At the end of the shows, after the interviews he will join the musical guest in singing a Queen song. In the final episode of the first series, this was the cast of the musical about Queen - "We Will Rock You", and then the band Queen actually came on and did a special performance. Every episode ends with Murray saying "please take your glasses back to the bar".
[edit] Episode Guide
[edit] Series 1
| Date |
Episode Number |
Guest(s) |
Musical Guest/Songs performed |
| January 13, 2007 |
1 |
Jason Donovan, Amanda Holden, Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean |
Katie Melua (Nine Million Bicycles) & (Crazy Little Thing Called Love) |
| January 20, 2007 |
2 |
Jean-Christophe Novelli, Myleene Klass, James Cracknell & Ben Fogle |
The Feeling (Rosé) & (Fat Bottomed Girls) |
| January 27, 2007 |
3 |
Emma Bunton, James Hewitt & Duncan Bannatyne |
McFly (Transylvania) & (Don't Stop Me Now) |
| February 3, 2007 |
4 |
Buzz Aldrin, Martin Kemp & Jodie Kidd |
Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Catch You) & (Radio Ga Ga) |
| February 10, 2007 |
5 |
Jermaine Jackson, Anneka Rice & Aled Jones |
The Ordinary Boys (I Luv U) & (I Want to Break Free) |
| February 17, 2007 |
6 |
Jerry Springer, Linda Lusardi & Len Goodman |
Lemar (Tick Tock) & (A Kind of Magic) |
| February 24, 2007 |
7 |
Shane Warne, Abi Titmuss & David Coulthard |
Melanie C (I Want Candy) & (One Vision) |
| March 3, 2007 |
8 |
John Barrowman, Natalie Cassidy, & Donny Osmond |
Madness (Sorry) & (Killer Queen) |
| March 10, 2007 |
9 |
Louis Walsh, Penny Lancaster & Dennis Waterman |
We Will Rock You cast & Queen (We Will Rock You) |
[edit] Series 2
| Date |
Episode Number |
Guest(s) |
Musical Guest/Songs performed |
| Q1 2008 TBA |
1 |
TBA |
TBA |
[edit] Trivia
- There is a regular audience member on the show by the name of "Big Bob". Al Murray always addresses Big Bob after he has spoken with other members of the audience, and has given him his own gimmick chant that the rest of the audience join in with which goes 'Big Bob, Big Bob, Big Bob Big Bob Big Bob' at which Big Bob gets out of his chair and provides the crowd with a dance with Mrs Big Bob watching on his left hand side. He also makes a passing joke about Big Bob's weight, usually sending up excuses other overweight people use. Examples include Al Murray saying "It's a slow metabolism, isn't it, Bob? And a very fast pie arm", or "He's got a weight problem; he can't wait till dinner time".
- Al says in every show: 'You see, Britain is all about rules. If we had no rules where would we be?' The audience then shouts out 'France!' 'If we had too many rules where would we be?' 'Germany!' And for the third it varies, but usually features Spain. For example: 'If we had rules forcing you to take a nap in the afternoon where would we be?' The audience then proclaims: 'Spain!'.
- Whenever a female guest comes on, his friend Gary phones him up or makes contact in a variety of ways and asks the guest to say filthy, and then Al says Gary owes him £15. He also makes references to female guests as "delectable" and how he would "delect them"
- In Series 1 Episode 3 The title of show changed after Duncan Bannatyne's interview to "Bannatyne's Happy Hour" this was a joke to the fact that he names his assets with his name. (e.g. Bannatyne's Casino)
- At the end of the final episode of the first series, Al Murray awakes in bed thinking that him singing with Queen was a dream. He then looks around to find Queen next to him in his bed.
[edit] External links
