The classic TV series Edgar Wright called his “Year Zero event in terms of comedy”
Edgar Wright might have hit it big more recently with shiny blockbusters like Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho, and Marvel’s Ant-Man, but once upon a time, he was better known for his fast-paced comedy films and very British sitcoms.
A long-time collaborator with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Wright directed the sitcom Spaced, as well as the iconic Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. So, it’s not surprising that among his top inspirations are some of the most British comedy series to ever exist.
Of course, no one working in British comedy could talk about their inspirations without touching on the iconic Monty Python. A comedy troupe made up of the likes of Terry Gilliam, John Cleese and Michael Palin, it is credited with creating what is considered one of the greatest funny films of all time, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Wright goes further back to the television show that put the group on the map, Monty Python’s Flying Circus. The show was known for its absurdist and overtly political humour that was made up of surreal situations, sight gags, observational sketches and animations. It came out of the group’s desire to create a comedy television show that was completely undefinable and unlike anything else ever made. This was a feat that was unequivocally achieved and paved the way for many of the amazing comedies we have today, including Wright’s oeuvre.
But while he cites the show as a touchstone, it was a little ahead of his time, considering he was born the year it came to an end. Instead, he was more affected by The Goodies, a show that he called “a kids’ version of Monty Python”. Also quintessentially British, it combines surreal sketches with situation comedy and was also created by a group of comedic friends. Despite being compared to the more ‘high-brow’ former show and often parodying it, The Goodies were frequently considered Britain’s favourite comedy trio.
The last mention on Wright’s list was definitely not the least. In fact, he claimed The Young Ones was his “Year Zero event in terms of comedy”. A sitcom following a ragtag group of university students in the 1980s, it featured the late, great comedian Rik Mayall—another British powerhouse. Mayall was known for his high-energy, farcical and anarchic humour, which was popularised through this show.
Much more alternative than Python or The Goodies, The Young Ones actually helped popularise not just its cast but alternative comedy in general. Watching the show when he was as young as eight, Wright explained, “You were nobody in school if you hadn’t seen The Young Ones the night before”. The same might be said of Wright’s own comedy stints; I can certainly remember recounting the gory gags and clever quips of the buddy cop flick Hot Fuzz with friends at school.
It’s interesting that the trio of influences that Wright cites are all characterised by friendship and group dynamics. After all, that’s the tendency reflected in his own comedy ventures, including his Bafta-winning show Spaced. And, of course, the iconic trio that was Wright, Frost and Pegg—RIP.
