Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer

Bang, Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer
Cover of Bang, Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer
Genre	Comedy
Directed by	Mark Mylod
Starring	Vic Reeves Bob Mortimer
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Producer(s)	Alan Marke
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	Channel X
Release
Original network	BBC2
Original release	1 January (1999-01-01) – 5 February 1999 (1999-02-05)

Bang, Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer is a British comedy television series, the third by comedy double act Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and their second in a sketch show format. Directed by Mark Mylod and produced by Alan Marke, it first aired in 1999 on BBC2.

While maintaining elements from The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Bang Bang was very different in many ways. As with their previous sketch show, a song kicked off the proceedings, and once again the duo sat at their trademark desk. However, the desk was almost completely bare, (as opposed to their previous prop-covered ones), and had a transparent front through which the moving form of a naked man (in interviews, the duo explained that he was "a homunculus") could be seen. The studio set was different too, the huge R&M letters replaced with large representations of the pair behind warped glass.

There were also changes in their double-act dynamic. Vic's character was frequently unhinged and waved guns and large blunt objects around with relish, while Bob played a slightly baffled innocent most of the time. As usual, however, they tended to fall out easily, resulting in one of their trademark slapstick fights, which grew more absurd, violent and freeform as the series progressed. One memorable instance involved Vic's head becoming grotesquely disfigured after a spin in a tumble dryer. Bob then gleefully set about the hunchbacked, pathetic Vic with a baseball bat.

There were also a number of pre-recorded sketches. These would often feature Charlie Higson, Morwenna Banks, Matt Lucas and David Walliams in supporting or cameo roles. It was a firm favourite with Vic and Bob's cult following, but confused and unsettled many new fans who had joined them after viewing their more accessible game show spoof, Shooting Stars. With this in mind, it is perhaps ironic that the duo confessed that Bang Bang was their "first real attempt at making something commercial". Vic and Bob have said that they are very proud of the show, with Bob stating that "We have this hope that if there's anyone left bothered about us in fifty years' time, [Bang Bang] will be the one they'll remember".