Finger (Bottom)

"Finger" is the fifth episode of the third series of British television sitcom, Bottom. It was first broadcast on 3 February 1995.

Synopsis

Richie and Eddie return to the flat after a cricket match, and Richie is unhappy that Eddie, who was umpiring the match from the bar in the clubhouse, gave him out off what should have been a no ball: Welsh cricketer "Cannonball" Taffy O'Jones had bowled a beamer at Richie's head, causing him to collapse unconscious into his stumps. As the two discuss the finer points of cricket, Eddie reveals that the match was a "stag cricket match" for O'Jones, who was getting married that afternoon, and that the opportunity to knock Richie unconscious was a wedding present.

Meanwhile, in his capacity as umpire, Eddie has stolen a wide array of hats, jumpers and (due to a particularly wild party afterwards) trousers from the other players, and they find O'Jones' car keys. Richie wants to use them for unambitious pranks, and attempts to move the car around the corner to where O'Jones can't find it; but, his inability to drive means he and Eddie accidentally ram-raid the local off-licence (where Eddie takes cans of beer) and speed off into the countryside. While searching the car's glove compartment, Eddie finds the O'Jones' honeymoon reservation at a hotel in glamorous (by their standards) Wolverhampton, and the two decide to steal the honeymoon as well.

Richie and Eddie turn up to the hotel, and Eddie dresses up as a woman in order to fool the hotel staff into thinking they are a newlywed couple. Thereafter, both Richie and Eddie unsuccessfully try to pull women at the hotel, the latter by pretending to be a lesbian, which results in him being repeatedly kicked in the bollocks. Eddie meanwhile takes every opportunity possible to make a scene and force Richie to behave chivalrously. After the two run up a huge drinks bill at dinner, one of the hotel's male waiters takes a fancy to Eddie; for some reason (possibly intoxication) Eddie is keen, and Richie becomes jealous, and challenges the waiter to a fistfight. The fight is called off when an enraged Taffy O'Jones tracks the boys down, and (from offscreen) throws cricket balls at Richie and Eddie.

Notes

Background

• Victor Spinetti appears briefly in this episode. He famously worked alongside The Beatles in their three movies A Hard Day's Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour.
• Kevin Allen is the younger brother of The Comic Strip Presents regular Keith Allen. He would later appear as Detective Constable Kray in Ben Elton's The Thin Blue Line.
• This episode provides a possible explanation for the look of disgust on Richie's face when eating the fish finger in "'s Up". It is revealed that Eddie often hollows out fish fingers and pokes in dog excrement, catching Richie out regularly.

Breaking the fourth wall

• Questionably, Richie impersonating "Cannonball" Taffy O'Jones by shouting "You ignorant English wanker!" directly at the camera may qualify.

Continuity and Production Errors

• Richie and Eddie attempt to steal "Cannonball" Taffy O'Jones's car wearing a pair of tights as a disguise. After Richie abandons his half of the disguise, the tights change place on Eddie's head twice. Outside the car, the one leg is above his right eye and the other below his left ear. Inside the car they have moved to one leg under his right ear and the other leg on his nose. When in the off licence, they have moved again to one leg above his right ear and the other in the middle of his forehead.
• When the Maitre d' is seating Eddie, there is a wide shot showing two men seated at the corner table behind. The camera angle changes to a close up of Eddie being tucked in, and a man hurries past the Maitre'd towards the corner table. A second later the shot changes back to the wide angle, and there are still only two men at the table behind.
• When Eddie orders a pint of mild ("Make it a double!"), Marcel turns around, browsing the shelves behind, before turning again, ducking under the bar. A moment later, he produces the pint. At no point does he actually pour the drink. He just finds it under the bar, looking decidedly flat.
• "Cannonball" Taffy O'Jones sounds distinctly like Marcel, only with a Welsh accent instead of French.

Cast