Victor and Hugo
| Victor & Hugo: Bunglers in Crime | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | 'Victor & Hugo' |
| Created by |
Brian Cosgrove Mark Hall |
| Written by | Brian Trueman Jimmy Hibbert |
| Directed by | Brian Cosgrove |
| Starring |
David Jason Jimmy Hibbert Brian Trueman Edward Kelsey (2 episodes, 1992) |
| Composer(s) | Dave Roylance Bob Galvin Mike Harding (uncredited) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | John Hambley |
| Producer(s) | Brian Cosgrove Mark Hall |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Cosgrove Hall Productions for Thames Television |
| Distributor | FremantleMedia |
| Release | |
| Original network |
ITV Network (Children's ITV) ABC, 7TWO (Australian repeats) |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original release | 6 September 1991 – 29 December 1992 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by |
Count Duckula Danger Mouse |
| Followed by | Avenger Penguins |
Victor & Hugo: Bunglers in Crime is a British animated series made by Cosgrove Hall Productions for Thames Television and screened on Children's ITV from 6 September 1991 to 29 December 1992, and was based on the five-time villains of Gaston and Pierre from Count Duckula; it was the company's second production to be assisted by Alfonso Productions, and their final cell-animated project before the collapse of Thames Television (who lost the 1991 ITV regional franchise round a month after it premiered).
It was also the last Cosgrove Hall show to feature the voices of Brian Trueman and David Jason, and featured guest appearances from many of the company's earlier characters, including Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Soames and Potson, and even Damson Bunhandler (a pig newscaster from two episodes of Danger Mouse, who gave a report on the brothers' most recent crime on at least two occasions).
As mentioned above, Victor and Hugo were based on the two five-time villains of Gaston and Pierre from Count Duckula; while Gaston was a tall, thin black stork, and Pierre a stubby, short parakeet, both Victor and Hugo were humans, but they lived in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals (possibly to allow for guest appearances from other, non-human Cosgrove Hall characters). Many of the actions and phrases first used for Gaston and Pierre were reused for Victor and Hugo, such as Gaston shoving Pierre's beret in his mouth to keep him quiet, "Why is it that it is?", "Yes, but mainly no!", and "It is your fault, it is all your fault, it is always your fault!".
The series centred on the exploits of two bumbling French criminal brothers, who were the eponymous Victor and Hugo; despite referencing the French author Victor Hugo in their names, both brothers were not particularly intelligent (but Victor was the more intelligent). The plot of every episode focused on Victor, Hugo, Interpol (their parrot), and their English-based business "Naughtiness International" getting hired by criminal figures to steal something - and Victor would come up with a "meticulous plan" to achieve this goal, which was routinely botched by Hugo. Most episodes usually ended with the brothers imprisoned (but others, including the first and last, did not).
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