Alternative comedy and sketch comedy, consisted of Manchester University and Royal Central School graduates Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders, who began to aim their talents at television. As "The Comic Strip Presents", the group made over 40 television films for both Channel 4 and BBC. Ben Elton, who had by then become the Comedy Store's next MC, was invited by Rik Mayall to join him as co-writer of BBC2's TV hit sitcom "The Young Ones". However, it was as MC of Channel 4's new comedy show "Saturday Live" that Elton found fame in his own right.
Thick as Thieves (TV series) as Annie Johnny Briggs as Spiggy Michael Robbins as Sergeant Black Dick Clenent and Ian La Frenais had written the successful sitcom "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads" (follow-up to their previous 1960's hit series, "The Likely Lads"). This success led to their writing for "Seven of One" in 1973, a series of seven individual comedy playlets starring Ronnie Barker. Each 30-minute segment from different writers each would be considered potential 'pilot' which if decided it had the potential could be developed into a series in its own right. Clement and LaFrenais's contribution was "Prisoner And Escort" featuring Fletcher, an