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Murder Most Horrid is a British black comedy anthology series starring Dawn French. It was broadcast on BBC Two for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999.
| Murder Most Horrid | |
|---|---|
 Title screen | |
| Genre | Black comedy Crime |
| Created by | Paul Smith |
| Developed by | Talkback Productions |
| Written by | Various |
| Starring | Dawn French |
| Theme music composer | Simon Brint Simon Wallace |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Peter Fincham |
| Producers | Sophie Clarke-Jervoise Jon Plowman |
| Production locations | London, England |
| Editors | Geoff Hogg Michael John Bateman |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two |
| Release | 14 November 1991 – 2 April 1999 |
Created by Paul Smith, who also co-created Colin's Sandwich (with Terry Kyan, as noted below) and has written for The Brittas Empire, among other programmes, the series starred French as a different character in each episode. Many episodes were directed by Bob Spiers, who also worked with French on The Comic Strip Presents... and French and Saunders.
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Most episodes parodied the thriller and murder mystery genres with one episode lampooning the trials and tribulations of being a children's presenter in general, and Blue Peter in particular. In 1998, this episode ("Murder at Tea Time") was repeated to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Blue Peter, as part of a section entitled "Spoof Peter", which also featured (among others) the Python skit "How to Do It".[1]
Each episode was stand-alone, and the episodes were written by different writers or writing teams with several contributing multiple episodes across the four series. Among these writers, the pairing of series-creator Paul Smith with Terry Kyan (who had previously collaborated on Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones) is particularly notable. The two would subsequently create and write Bonjour la Classe, starring Nigel Planer.[2]
Other series writers included Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You stalwart Ian Hislop, Press Gang creator and Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, award-winning children's author Anthony Horowitz, Nick Newman and John O'Farrell.
Episodes in series 1 mostly opened with French selecting and reading from a book, usually a quotation actually or allegedly from Shakespeare; series 2 onward dropped this opening. The series' theme song, which featured at the end of the episode, was sung by Ruby Turner. The lyrics changed between episodes, the penultimate line always a word rhyming with "horrid", sometimes humorously forced. The murders ranged from the straightforward to the bizarre, with the murder weapon shown on a pedestal during the end credits.
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Series 1 (1991)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Case of the Missing" | Bob Spiers | Ian Hislop & Nick Newman | 14 November 1991 | |
|
WPC Diane Softly (French) is suddenly put in charge of a seemingly straightforward murder case, which gradually becomes more complex and mysterious. Guest actors: John Boswall (Judge), Paul Mark Elliott (Max Rammell), Stephen Frost (Sgt. Dawkins), Gary Love (Constable Williams), Timothy Spall (Pathologist), Geoffrey McGivern (Mason), Bill Paterson (Chief Inspector) | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Girl from Ipanema" | Bob Spiers | Terry Kyan & Paul Smith | 21 November 1991 | |
|
When housekeeper Maria (French) arrives at the house of MP Howling and his wife Lydia, she doesn't quite find things the way she expected. But one day, Maria witnesses a violent attack on Lydia by her husband and things start to take a turn for the better. Guest actors: Marsha Fitzalan (Lydia's friend), James Cossins (Sir Hugh Lotterby), Jane Asher (Lydia Howling), Jacey Sallés (Silvia), Martin Jarvis (Maurice Howling), Christopher Good (Leonard) | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "He Died a Death" | Bob Spiers | Nick Newman & Ian Hislop | 28 November 1991 | |
|
Backstage at a London theatre, rivalry turns into suspicion when one of the cast is murdered during a performance. With French as Judy Talent, an actress in a play. Guest actors: Kevin McNally (Inspector Turner), Stephen Moore (Basil Hampton), Kevin Allen (Simon Pleasance), Kenneth Cranham (Inspector Salford), Ben Miller (PC Watkins), Robin Driscoll (Reg), Gwen Taylor (Beryl), Tony Slattery (Tony Sparkle), Harriet Thorpe (Sarah Deveraux), Greg Cruttwell (Timmy Duval), Togo Igawa (Japanese tourist) | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "A Determined Woman" | James Hendrie | James Hendrie | 5 December 1991 | |
|
Scientist Rita Proops (French) brings her equipment home to start working on the ultimate invention — the time machine. But this causes friction at home with disastrous results. Guest actors: Michael Sharvell-Martin (Judge), Soo Drouet (Porter), Caroline Blakiston (Dr. Rachel Vine), Kathy Burke (Helen), Jim Broadbent (Selwyn Proops) | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Murder at Tea Time" | Bob Spiers | Jez Alborough & Graham Alborough | 12 December 1991 | |
|
Bunty Bresslaw (French) is a successful children's television presenter, an expert in sticky-back plastic and a favourite with the young viewers of Write Away. However, when her younger co-presenter is asked to pose for a wax modelling session at Madame Tussauds, jealousy arises off camera, and Bunty decides to put her young rival in his place. Guest actors: Jane Booker (Sally), Geraldine McNulty (Mandi), Rebecca Stevens (Lizzie), Andy Parsons (Charlie), David Harewood (Jonathon), Dexter Fletcher (Colin), Marco Williamson (Donald | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Mrs Hat and Mrs Red" | Bob Spiers | Dawn French & Ian Brown & James Hendrie | 19 December 1991 | |
|
Mrs Hat is shocked when she bumps into her doppelgänger, and ends up following her home. She finds herself literally stepping into her shoes and taking over her luxurious lifestyle. Both Katie Hatcliffe and Sonya Redfern are played by French. Guest actors: Robert Llewellyn (Taxi Driver), Jim Carter (Roy Redfern), Kate McEnery (Jemima Redfern), Ricco Ross (Gary), Geoffrey McGivern (Guy), Beresford Le Roy (Supermarket Manager), Claire Cathcart (Cashier), Brian McCardie (Supermarket Assistant), Mia Soteriou (Pianist), Susie Fairfax (Friend), Harriet Thorpe (Friend), Matilda Thorpe (Friend), Francesca Brill (Jemima's Friend) | ||||||
Series 2 (1994)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Overkill" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 3 March 1994 | |
|
French as Tina Mellish, social worker turned reluctant assassin; also features Emma Amos, Amanda Donohoe, Colin Salmon, Peter Vaughan and Geoffrey McGivern | ||||||
| 8 | 2 | "Lady Luck" | Bob Spiers | Terry Kyan & Paul Smith | 10 March 1994 | |
|
Dawn as Denise Cunningham, hairdresser; also features Ann Bryson and Sean Gallagher | ||||||
| 9 | 3 | "A Severe Case of Death" | Marcus Mortimer | Chris England | 17 March 1994 | |
|
French as Maud Jenkins/'Dr Adams', Victorian maid turned cross-dressing doctor; also features Lucy Benjamin, John Fortune, Timothy West, James Saxon, Georgina Hale, David Gooderson, Brian Hibbard and Roy Evans | ||||||
| 10 | 4 | "We All Hate Granny" | Dewi Humphreys | James Hendrie | 24 March 1994 | |
|
French as Lily Gibbs, grandmother; also features James Fleet and Victoria Wicks | ||||||
| 11 | 5 | "Mangez Merveillac" | Bob Spiers | Ian Hislop & Nick Newman | 31 March 1994 | |
|
French as Verity Hodge, travel and cookery writer; also features Jane Booker, Philip Jackson, Kevin McNally and Clarke Peters | ||||||
| 12 | 6 | "Smashing Bird" | Dewi Humphreys | Jon Canter | 7 April 1994 | |
|
French as Vikky, nightclub singer; also features David Bamber, Hywel Bennett, Philip Martin Brown, Mark McGann and Ray Winstone | ||||||
Series 3 (1996)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Girl Friday" | Dewi Humphreys | Paul Smith | 10 May 1996 | |
|
French as Sally Fairfax, P.A.; also features Nigel Havers and Geraldine McNulty | ||||||
| 14 | 2 | "A Life or Death Operation" | Dewi Humphreys | Mark Burton & John O'Farrell | 17 May 1996 | |
|
French as Kate Marshall, surgeon and TV presenter; also features John Bird and Brigit Forsyth | ||||||
| 15 | 3 | "Dying Live" | Dewi Humphries | Steven Moffat | 24 May 1996 | |
|
French as Daisy Talwinning, sacked abattoir worker; also features Jim Carter, Helen Lederer, John Thomson, Marcus D'Amico, and Jonathan Coy | ||||||
| 16 | 4 | "The Body Politic" | Ferdinand Fairfax | Anthony Horowitz | 31 May 1996 | |
|
French as Linda Bryce, schoolteacher and wife of the Leader of the Opposition; also features Hugh Laurie and John Bennett | ||||||
| 17 | 5 | "Confess" | Coky Giedroyc | Jon Canter | 7 June 1996 | |
|
French as Wendy Hodge, police sergeant; also features Minnie Driver, Roger Lloyd-Pack and Clive Russell | ||||||
| 18 | 6 | "Dead on Time" | Ferdinand Fairfax | Ian Hislop & Nick Newman | 14 June 1996 | |
Series 4 (1999)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "Frozen" | Coky Giedroyc | Nick Vivian | 19 February 1999 | 5.50 | |
|
French as Lily Wood-Newton, churchgoer and pillar of the community; also features David Battley and Joanna Scanlan | |||||||
| 20 | 2 | "Going Solo" | Tony Dow | Paul Smith | 26 February 1999 | 4.02 | |
|
French as Tracey Phillips, yachtswoman; also features Jim Carter, Liam Hess and Sarah Lancashire | |||||||
| 21 | 3 | "Whoopi Stone" | Coky Giedroyc | Jon Canter | 5 March 1999 | 3.96 | |
|
French as Barbara Greaves/Whoopi Stone, police constable turned 'Queen of New York'; also features Jamie Foreman and Will Barton | |||||||
| 22 | 4 | "Confessions of a Murderer" | Edgar Wright | Ian Hislop & Nick Newman | 19 March 1999 | 3.40 | |
|
French as Harriet Snellgrove, serial confessor and nuisance; also features Hugh Bonneville, Graeme Garden and Philip Jackson | |||||||
| 23 | 5 | "Elvis, Jesus and Zack" | Tony Dow | Steven Moffat | 26 March 1999 | 2.82 | |
|
French as Jill Tanner, head of the Obituaries Department at Broadcast One; also features Sean Hughes, Janette Krankie, Chris Langham, Paul Reynolds, Nick Stringer, Pip Torrens and Jake Wood | |||||||
| 24 | 6 | "Dinner at Tiffany's" | Dewi Humphreys | Jonathan Harvey | 2 April 1999 | 3.26 | |
|
Tiffany Drapes, school dinner lady; also features Frances Barber as Gloria Twigge, a glamorous, selfish, alcoholic, spoilt Head Teacher; Thelma Barlow, Geraldine McNulty and Peter Serafinowicz | |||||||
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Reviewing the DVD release, Empire wrote: "Dawn French's first solo effort has been eclipsed by the wider success of her Vicar of Dibley, and of comedy partner Jennifer Saunders' Ab Fab. But this arguably sees French on her best form".[3]
Awards
- Murder Most Horrid won the 1994 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Drama[4]
VHS
Two videos of the series were released by the BBC in 1996, through BBC Worldwide/Talkback (the former of which became 2 | entertain). Both were released on 3 June 1996, the first containing three episodes from series one and the second, three episodes from series two. These two series were not repeated on British television as often as the later series and, as a result, episodes not featured on the videos released by the BBC (The Case of the Missing, He Died A Death, Mrs Hat and Mrs Red, A Severe Case of Death, We All Hate Granny and Smashing Bird) have proven fairly difficult to view.
- Murder Most Horrid: The Girl from Ipanema/A Determined Woman/Murder at Tea Time (BBCV5854) EAN: 5032680800767
- Murder Most Horrid: Overkill/Lady Luck/Mangez Merveillac (BBCV5855) EAN: 5014503585525
DVD (Region 2)
- Murder Most Horrid: Volume 1 was released by FremantleMedia on 10 March 2008. The second series was released on 10 September 2012, with the third on 8 April 2013 and the fourth being 28 October 2013.[5]
- Murder Most Horrid: The Complete Collection was released 18 November 2013 by FremantleMedia.[6]
Streaming
As of November 2023, the first two series of the show are currently available to stream in the United States through Freevee, and in the United Kingdom through BritBox.
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