Clips from unseen pilot to air

Clips from the never-broadcast pilot of Men Behaving Badly are to be broadcast tomorrow.

Writer Simon Nye gave the producers of the Radio 4 series Britain In A Box his tape of the 1991 episode to use in the documentary. It is the only copy of the show known to exist.

The 1991 pilot features the same cast as the first series –  Harry Enfield, Martin Clunes, Leslie Ash and Caroline Quentin - but was remade for the first broadcast episode with some script changes, different performances, and Martin Dennis replacing John Howard Davies as director.

The documentary features new interviews with Nye, Clunes, Ash and Enfield, as well as producer Beryl Vertue. Enfield starred in the first ITV series, then quit to be replaced by Neil Morrissey. ITV cancelled the show after the second series, but it transferred to BBC One where it became a hit, running until 1998 and spawning an unsuccessful US version.

Britain In A Box, fronted by former BBC comedy executive Paul Jackson, airs at 10.30am on Saturday February 19.

Published: 18 Feb 2011