O.T.T.

The regular cast of O.T.T. in 1982 (from left to right) Alexei Sayle, Helen Atkinson-Wood, John Gorman, Lenny Henry, Chris Tarrant, and Bob Carolgees

O.T.T. was a late-night adult version of the anarchic ATV children's show Tiswas, but made by its ITV franchise successor Central Television. It was broadcast at 11.00pm on Saturday nights for one series in 1982. O.T.T. was created and presented by Chris Tarrant, and also starred ex-Tiswasians John Gorman, Lenny Henry and Bob Carolgees. Helen Atkinson-Wood was the female sidekick replacement for Sally James, who stayed behind to present the concurrent and final series of Tiswas alone.

Origins

The programme's origins can be traced to Independent Broadcasting Authority worries about the increasingly risqué content of Tiswas. To find an outlet for this aspect of Tiswas's content, Tarrant joined up with Gorman, Henry and James in a live tour of nightclubs and colleges called The Four Bucketeers. The success of this tour (plus album, single and Top of the Pops appearance) made them realise that an appreciative adult audience existed. On 28 March 1981, Tarrant, Carolgees, Gorman and Henry left Tiswas for good to start work on O.T.T..

In January 1982 Chris Tarrant told Kenneth Kennaugh: "We know it has enormous potential appeal for adults. Quite what that appeal was remained remarkably ill defined." The same article stated that Lenny Henry "doesn't know what he will be doing in tonight's O.T.T.. But one thing is sure. When the show ends he'll be standing under a hot shower - 'just to recover' ... Henry loves the uncontrolled humour where even he never knows what is going to happen next. Tiswas was marvellous to work on. It was a new style of lunatic humour, and we got away with murder. When I first started Tiswas, my nerves used to go before each show simply because it was live. But now, in OTT I just get on with it."

Series

The show debuted on only the second day of broadcasting of the newly established Central Television (a substantially re-tooled version of Midlands license-holders ATV, which was responsible for producing Tiswas). It came under fire from the press and public for its purportedly lowbrow, shambolic and obscene content. A man sticking a rat down his tights, topless dancers and Bob Godfrey animations about one man's obsession with a blow-up doll furnished ammunition for critics. An early casualty was original co-host, the American actress Colette Hiller, who was fired after only one show.

In keeping with its edgier remit, the new programme gave Alexei Sayle, who sprang from the then-new alternative comedy movement, his first regular television exposure. Other acts included The Greatest Show On Legs (whose members included the legendary late comedian and comedy promoter Malcolm Hardee). Their 'balloon dance', involving naked men dancing whilst swapping balloons to cover their genitalia, caused a national outcry at the time. The balloon dance also was included in the Swedish tv-series Nöjesmaskinen, sometime showing it several times in a single episode. It was also remade with Sven Melander, Lasse Åberg and Bosse Larsson.

In a link to the old show, there was Count Custard, an adult version of Tiswas's Phantom Flan Flinger, played by Benny Mills who was the main performer who played the Phantom Flan Flinger.

Alexei Sayle left in show nine as he was committed to touring Australia with The Comic Strip.^[1] Later, in his book 'Great Bus Journeys of the World' he said of his time on the show "I was good, Lenny Henry was good, the show was packed with vibrant life... it was happy to come from Birmingham and not tainted with Londoniswhereitsatism... it was very popular, with 7-8 million viewers...".

His replacement was the controversial Manchester comedian Bernard Manning. While Manning performed his stand-up set, full of racial caricatures, Lenny Henry could be seen in the background with his head in his hands.^[2]

Musical guests included The Human League, Gillan, Fun Boy Three and Roy Wood, who recorded and released a single 'O.T.T', though it was not used as the theme music.

Show 3 (16 January 1982), transmitted at a later time than scheduled, when the World Cup draw over-timed by an hour and twenty minutes. The show didn't start until 12:20 (rather than the scheduled 11pm slot).

The comedian Michael Palin appeared in several sketches in Show 7 (13 February 1982) to promote the show to new viewers. His appearance went largely unnoticed by the public however, and Palin doesn't mention the show in his published diaries on the precise date.

The show was cancelled at the end of its first run. Lenny Henry, speaking in 1999, said looking back on O.T.T. "Some of it was bad because of the innate sexism there: the Benny Hill-type humour didn't sit right with an anarchic, pro-rock 'n' roll show." ^[1]

A sequel Saturday Stayback appeared a year later with much the same cast, but the humour much more toned down. This gave the first TV break to the likes of impressionist Phil Cool and comedian and actor Tony Slattery.

O.T.T never transmitted on the 6th March 1982, due to a snooker match - leaving ITV the choice to transmit the film Magnum Force in place.

The name OTT

An abbreviation of the phrase "over the top". The origins of the name being chosen are uncertain: Rick Wakeman told an interview with Tiswas Online that he was a member of:

"an elite showbiz club, called 'Over The Top' in the late seventies. I became chairman and the president was a record plugger called Allan James, who also used to supply some of the music acts for Tiswas. We would all meet up in restaurants. There were about 20 of us in all, and whilst the evening meal would start quite normally, it usually ended in ejection or sometimes arrest as things became very similar to that of the Tiswas programme. We called ourselves the Over the Top Club and that indeed was where the name and idea for the spin-off TV series of the same name came from, hosted by Chris Tarrant. Membership was elite and we were banned eventually from at least nine restaurants to my knowledge."

Episode guide

12 episodes and one compilation finale were broadcast between 2 January and 3 April 1982 ^[3]

Show 1

• OTT (2nd JANUARY, 1982)

Soccer on Saturday / Opening Titles / Announcements, and News Round-up / That's Tough / Super-scouse / Do Or Die by The Human League / Commercial Break / Announcements, including Count Custard, and Chris's Embarrassing Childhood Story / Cliff Richard in a Loincloth / Alexei Sayle / Jimmy Savile Impression / Stacy Brown Got Two by Shel Silverstein / Announcements / Beat Your Brains Out / Algernon Razzamatazz / Tanks For Dropping In! / Commercial Break / Alexei Sayle on Art / Children's Programmes For Grown-ups / Houdi-Elbow / Whoofalot Advert / Pause For Thought / American Banking Clip / Announcements / Film Clip of Man Hitting His Nose With a Hammer / John Gorman's Birthday / The Greatest Show on Legs / Weekend Wind-up / Closing Credits /

Show 2

• OTT (9th JANUARY, 1982)

Report on Last Week's Episode / Opening Titles / News of the Week / Bank Robber Sketch / Chris in the Audience / Find Yourself Another Fool by The Blues Band / PC Plod / Beatles Competition Result, and Count Custard / Joshua Yarlog / Commercial Break / Courtroom Sketch / Dustin Hoffman Volkswagen Ad / Jehovah's Witnesses Sketch / Do Wah Diddy Diddy by Manfred Mann / Announcements / Beat Your Brains Out, including Lady Lewisham Clip / Henry 9 Till 5 (cartoon) by Bob Godfrey / Algernon Razzamatazz / Tanks For Dropping In! / Commercial Break / Houdi-Elbow Mind-Reading Trick / Airplane Clip / Chris in the Audience / Blues at Ten / Weekend Wind-up / Mastermind Sketch, and Closing Credits /

Show 3

• OTT (16th JANUARY, 1982)

Satirical Desert Sketch / Opening Titles / News of the Week / Bedroom Sketch / Move On by Fashion / Announcements, and Competition Results / Weather Report Clip / World Cup Preview / Commercial Break / Continuity Announcer Sketch / Announcements / Thought For the Day / I Can't Explain by The Who / Count Custard / Hilaire Belloc Poem / Beat Your Brains Out / Alexei Sayle and Radical Posture / Bellamy on Ice / Going For a Spin / Commercial Break / Riot in Studio / Laurie (Strange Things Happen) by Dickey Lee/ Charlie the Monkey / Balls Pond Road / Weekend Wind-up Caption / PC Plod / I Wanna Bang Me 'Ead, and Closing Credits /

Show 4

• OTT (23rd JANUARY, 1982)

Tennis '82 / Opening Titles / News of the Week / Bus Stop Sketch / Public Telephone Box Sketch / Restless by Gillan / Gillan Competition, and Competition Result / Joshua Yarlog / Commercial Break / A Criminal Office of Information Film / Corporal Punishment Sketch / Kama Sutra Rides Again (cartoon) by Bob Godfrey / Beat Your Brains Out / Julia in The Sun / Mrs Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel / The BPITA Award / Alexei Sayle / Randyberg Advert / Count Custard / Telephone Answering Machine Sketch / Commercial Break / Copper / Toy Box Tales / Weekend Wind-up with Joshua Yarlog / New Orleans by Gillan, and Closing Credits /

Show 5

• OTT (30th JANUARY, 1982)

Telephone Sketch / Opening Titles / News of the Week / Barry ManilowSketch / Octavo and Philippe / Gastropod Link / Some Guys Have All the Luck by Robert Palmer / Charlie the Monkey Link / Looking at Literature / Commercial Break / Park Sketch 1 / Bottom of the World / Park Sketch 2 / Competition Results / Alexei Sayle / Jeans Advert / Beat Your Brains Out / Careers '82 / Commercial Break / Bunker Sketch / Around and Around by The Rolling Stones / Spit the Dog Song / How to Cross the Road / Cigarette Trick / The BPITA Award / The Great Gustavo / Weekend Wind-up, and Closing Credits /

Show 6

• OTT (6th FEBRUARY, 1982)

Licensed Sex Shop / Opening Titles / Announcements / News of the Week / Train Strike / Gastropod Link / Loving Me, Loving You by Steve Gibbons Band / Announcements, and Competition Results / Bedtime Story / Nutty Norman Hat / Commercial Break / Strip Poker / A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Reggae Party / SAS Retraining Office / Algernon Razzamatazz / Beat Your Brains Out / Cheap Air Travel / Drowning in Berlin by Mobiles / Charlie the Monkey / A Fine Romance / French Shaver Advert / Spit the Dog / Pop-up Toaster by Alexei Sayle / Commercials / Alcoholics Anonymous / Have I the Right by The Honeycombs / The BPITA Award, and Announcements / Bob in a Barrel / The Greatest Show on Legs / Weekend Wind-up, and Closing Credits /

Show 7

• OTT (13th FEBRUARY, 1982)

Weather Report (Michael Palin) / Opening Titles / Announcement by Chris / News of the Week / Germ Warfare / Gastropod Poem / It Ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) by Fun Boy Three and Bananarama / Algernon Razzamatazz Questioned by the Police / Bornhoffen Advert / Competition Results / A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Totally Honest Party (Michael Palin) / Commercial Break / Lager Announcement / Negotiators on a Train (with Michael Palin) / The Deal by Pat Campbell / The Week's Good Cause (Michael Palin) / Beat Your Brains Out / Alexei Sayle / Commercial Break / Valentine's Day / Valentine's Card Sketch / She Loved Like Diamond by Spandau Ballet (excerpt) / Houdi-Elbow / Arthur Spendlove's Cookery & Gossip Corner (Michael Palin) / My Babe by Spencer Davis Group / Joshua Yarlog Goes Disco, and Closing Credits /

Show 8

• OTT (20th FEBRUARY, 1982)

Chief Editor Speech / Opening Titles / How to Do the OTT Actions / News of the Week / Zimbabwe Talk / Romantic Cameraman and Camerawoman / Dolly Parton's Tits by Maclean and Maclean / Couple Talking / The Making of a Manchester United Supporter / Obscene Telephone Call / Delbert Wilkins / Commercial Break / Announcements, and Competition Results / Spot the Willy / Temporary Beauty by Graham Parker / Plastic Surgeon Sketch / Heavy Metal (excerpt) / Competition, and Algernon Razzamatazz / Beat Your Brains Out (BBC Version) / Schoolboy Sketch / Alexei Sayle / Commercial Break / Acapulco Sketch / She Loves You by The Beatles / Child Psychologists / Shell Luma Advert / The BPITA Award / From Small Things, Mama, Big Things One Day Come by Dave Edmunds / Beat Your Brains Out (ITV Version), and Closing Credits /

Show 9

• OTT (27th FEBRUARY, 1982)

Three Comedians in a Pub / Opening Titles / Mr Mary Whitehouse / News of the Week / Algernon Razzamatazz / News of the Week (continued) / SAS Sketch / Is it a Dream by Classix Nouveaux / Tax Return Sketch / Commercial Break / Car Wash Legs / 'Ullo John! Gotta New Motor? by Alexei Sayle / Pulsebeat / Wedding Song / Woman & Man / Stiksy Advert / Competition Results / Beat Your Brains Out / Church Sketch / The Only Professional Flasher On the Books by Tom Bright / Commercial Break / Pearly Gates Sketch / Dear Margery Boobs (cartoon) by Bob Godfrey / Argument Over Breakfast / Help Me, Rhonda by The Beach Boys / Matabele Girls by Joshua Yarlog, and Closing Credits /

Show 10

• OTT (13th MARCH, 1982)

Snooker Sketch / Opening Titles / Breakfast TV Rivalry / Tearful Eye by Nine Below Zero / Announcements / Bedroom Sketch / Competition Result / Recap of Snooker Sketch / Fishing Story / Haircut Sketch / Pregnant Woman / Commercial Break / TV License Sketch / Algernon Razzamatazz / Ball and Chain by XTC / Cricketers Sketch / David Bellamy / Outtake From Previous Sketch / Hospital Sketch / Beat Your Brains Out / Pub Sketch / Commercial Break / Medieval Pub Sketch / Glad All Over and Bits and Pieces by The Dave Clark Five / Electrical Shop Sketch / Wipe Away Your Kiss by Nine Below Zero, and Closing Credits / The BPITA Award, and Closing News Items / Ken's Furry Friends /

Show 11

• OTT (20th MARCH, 1982)

Adultery Sketch / Opening Titles / Bob and Spit the Dog / Joshua Yarlog and The Disco G Strings / Announcements, and Competition Results / Honeymoon Sketch / Bob and Charlie the Monkey / Breakfast Sketch / Tobacco Road by The Nashville Teens / Algernon Razzamatazz / Boardroom Sketch / Commercial Break / Bernard Manning / Street Player - Mechanik by Fashion / Beat Your Brains Out / Oriental Orchestra Advert / Train Ticket Sketch / Spoof Cigar Advert / Commercial Break / Courtroom Sketch / Dream Doll (cartoon) by Bob Godfrey / The BPITA Award / Shout! Shout! Knock Yourself Out by Rocky Sharpe and the Replays, and Closing Credits / Bernard Manning /

Show 12

• OTT (27th MARCH, 1982)

OTT Song by Roy Wood, including News of the Week / Beat Your Brains Out, Announcements, and Competition Results / Restaurant Sketch / Wiki Wiki Advert / Cricket Sketch / Encyclopedia Sketch / Dear John by Status Quo / Pig Sick / Commercial Break / After the Bomb / Pulsebeat / Jimmy Savile Impression / Save it For Later by The Beat / Bedroom Sketch / Making of a Movie / Commercial Break / Japanese Olive Soap Ad / Bags of Fun / Ice Cream Ad / Announcements / Stacy Brown Got Two by Shel Silverstein (outtakes) / David Bellamy Outtake / Stand Down Margaret by The Beat with Algernon Razzamatazz, and Closing Credits /

The Worst of OTT (compilation)

• OTT (3rd APRIL, 1982)

Chris as Kenny Everett / 3 Bedroom Sketches / Joshua Yarlog / Looking at Literature / Find Yourself Another Fool by The Blues Band/ Surrogate Mother / Tennis '82 / Commercial Break/ Horror Intro / Alexei Sayle / A Fine Romance / Arthur Spendlove's Cookery & Gossip Corner (Michael Palin) / Blues at Ten / Obscene Telephone Call / It Ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) (excerpt) by The Fun Boy Three and Bananarama / Algernon Razzamatazz Questioned by the Police / Spot the Willy / The Greatest Show on Legs / Commercial Break / Pulsebeat / Woman & Man / Bernard Manning / Dolly Parton's Tits by Maclean and Maclean / Boarding School Sketch / Circus Lumiere / Plastic Surgeon Sketch / I Wanna Bang Me 'Ead / Chris and Ellen Thomas Outside, and Closing Credits /

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "What do the cast of O.T.T. think of it now?". Tiswas Online Forum. http://www.tiswasonline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=881. 
2. ^ "The Worst of O.T.T. (ITV, 1982)". Rare British Television Reviews. 2006-05-11. http://raretv.blogspot.com/2006/05/worst-of-ott-itv-1982.html. 
3. ^ "OTT Episode Guide?". Tiswas Online Forum. http://www.tiswasonline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=861. 

External links

• Comedy Guide - O.T.T. bbc.co.uk
• O.T.T. discussion forum at Tiswas Online
• Tiswas Online page on related shows (including OTT)
• Rare British Television Reviews - A detailed look at the last ever episode of OTT
• Off The Telly - The Glory Game - The Rise of Saturday Night Television Part 5 (includes section on OTT)