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The Day Today: The show that changed British comedy forever

“Branson's clockwork dog crosses Atlantic floor.”
“Sacked chimney sweep pumps boss full of mayonnaise.”
“Where now for man raised by puffins?”

It’s hard to imagine that a TV show featuring such preposterous one-liners went on to launch the careers of some of the nation’s most talented individuals and at least one bona fide iconic character, altering the face of British comedy forever. But on 19 January 1994, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two aired the first edition of The Day Today – and the world shifted slightly on its axis.

Listen to The Reunion: The Day Today

The cast of The Day Today

Based on the award-winning Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 series On The Hour, the show lampooned the bombastic nature of news in the age of cable TV featuring a pompous Paxman-esque anchor (called, and played by, Chris Morris), an array of strangely monikered correspondents (Collately Sisters, Peter O’Hanraha-hanrahan) and overtly over the top music and graphics. Oh, and a sports reporter called Alan Partridge.

As the main writers and actors of the series got together once again for an episode of Radio 4’s The Reunion, how did they remember their time on this groundbreaking the show?

“Slamming the wasps from the pure apple of truth.”

Both producer Armando Iannucci and writer/performer Chris Morris got their starts by deliberately biting the hands that fed them. They subverted the shows they contributed to on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Bristol respectively, adding surreal or thoroughly bizarre interludes, before their paths finally crossed at Radio 4 and On The Hour was born.

They knew they wanted to spoof news in a whole new way, as Armando explains: “I think we were of that generation where the jokes just weren’t about the words, but about the style. I was just looking for a new way of packaging jokes.”

And Radio 4 itself can take a little credit in their approach to the show, as Armando explains: “I remember John Humphrys on the Today programme really giving a reporter a grilling and thinking - that’s an interesting dynamic.”

“Facts times importance equals NEWS!”

Armando Iannucci, co-creator of The Day Today
Even though no one knew who we were, I knew we were on to something.
Steve Coogan

On The Hour assembled a crack team of prime comedy minds. Alongside Morris, there were Iannucci’s fellow Oxford graduates, David Schneider and Patrick Marber, actors Rebecca Front and Doon Mackichan, and a young impressionist named Steve Coogan. After the success of On The Hour, a move away from radio seemed inevitable.

As Armando explains: “We had an open invitation to try and do the show for television.” And just like the radio version, the show was a mix of improvisation from the actors, plus contributions from first-rate, like-minded comedy writers, pre-recorded segments (including "mockumentaries" like The Pool, years before The Office trod similar ground) and the added bonus of cutting edge – if totally absurd – news graphics. As Steve Coogan remembers: “Even though no one knew who we were, I knew we were on to something.”

Steve Coogan as sports reporter Alan Partridge

“Bearded cleric in oily chin insertion.”

But the new show was a totally different beast to the cosy world of Radio 4. The Day Today would be festooned with music stings that would go on for slightly too long and bombastic graphics filling the screen. Many of the cast didn’t see the final result until the series aired. As Doon explains: “I was so overwhelmed by the way it had been packaged.”

Though this new approach took its toll on producer Iannucci. When the pressure got too much, the unsympathetic cast would dance around him chanting "NERVOUS BREAKDOWN" at him. As Patrick Marber states: “I’d like to say I regret that, but it was quite funny at the time.”

“He must have a foot like a traction engine!”

The contributors to On The Hour and The Day Today knew there must be a sports component to the show, but admitted to not knowing a great deal about the subject. As Steve Coogan explains: “There was a reporter on Newsbeat called Frank Partridge and I thought, ‘What’s a sporty first name?’ And Alan sounded not academic.” And so Alan Partridge was born. As Doon states: “It was fantastic to be at the birth of this character where anything he said made us laugh.”

Alan has had a remarkable comedy career with spin-off shows, books, stadium tours, a feature film and podcasts. Coogan remembers Patrick Marber calling him to claim: “In five years' time people will be shouting ‘Aha!’ at you in the street and I remember thinking, ‘Wow that would be fantastic’.” This feeling would be tempered slightly as Partridge appeared to take over the ambitious actor’s career.

Eat My Goal

Alan Partridge's unique football commentary.

“Now fact me 'til I fart!”

The show won perhaps the ultimate accolade of fooling certain members of the public into thinking it was actual news. One complainant wrote in about Alan Partridge claiming: “After hearing Mr Partridge I had to tune to Radio 3 for some soothing music.” Steve Coogan has the letter framed and hanging in his downstairs loo.

Chris Morris anchors The Day Today
It really did change my life completely... It makes me weep with gratitude.
Patrick Marber

Another disappointed viewer wrote to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ after witnessing a fake story about the Royal Family culling their members of staff. At the time, Chris Morris released a written response that read: “The story was designed to identify the stupid. The deeply dim would think it was a piece of real news and the spectacularly bone-headed would actually write letters of complaint.” He wasn’t messing about.

"Simon Rattle Lost in Cress."

There was just a single series of The Day Today, though no one seems to know why. The pressure on Iannucci may have been one factor, as he states: “It took about two years to make from start to finish.” But many of the cast and crew went on to collaborate on the same projects, so it never felt like it was over, as David Schneider told The Reunion: “We were still all working together. It didn’t feel like it ended.”

Chris Morris took the concepts originated on The Day Today even further with Brass Eye, before beginning a film directing career. Iannucci made The Thick of It and Veep. Patrick Marber became an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter. Rebecca Front and Doon Mackichan are beloved British comedy staples. And Alan Partridge slowly took over the world (while Coogan was nominated for an Oscar).

But could the show ever return? Iannucci feels that news may now be beyond satire. “It’s just so bonkers now. There’s no ‘The News’ any more. There’s lots of types of news. It’s difficult to twist the perceived notion of news.” But the show undoubtedly had a profound effect on everyone involved. As Patrick Marber states: “It really did change my life completely. It gave me a level of confidence that allowed me to then write plays. It makes me weep with gratitude.”

Comedy, and Branson’s clockwork dog, would never be the same again.

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