Uncovered: Unseen sketch show John Sullivan wrote

...before he created Only Fools And Horses

A script of an unseen sketch show that comedy writer John Sullivan was planning before Only Fools And Horses has been unearthed.

Nitty Gritty’s scenes included a James Bond-style spoof, a musical number entitled The Lament Of The Cowboy From Balham and various other short sketches.

Fellow writer Alan Wightman discovered the 65-page document in his archives, and it is now being auctioned off.

It comes with a letter from Sullivan, pictured, dated October 1979, after his first sitcom success, Citizen Smith, but two years before Only Fools. However, it’s believed Sullivan – whose first TV work was writing skits for The Two Ronnies – had started work on the sketch show before the narrative comedies.

He had planned on working with Wightman on the programme, but the offer was never taken up and the show was never produced.

The script being sold by East Bristol Auctions is believed to be the copy in existence, and bidding currently stands at £410.

A covering letter reads, in part: 'Dear Alan, Please find enclosed a rather soiled copy of Nitty Gritty.... (it) is merely the working title for the idea I discussed with you.

‘This is a rough draft, a very rough draft, you'll discover how rough when you see that sketch number five hasn't even been finished... I've attempted to link the various sketches and quickies with to a tenuous theme.

‘This was done at the suggestion of the BBC (they like themes!). I'll be interested to hear your views on this script, mainly whether you feel we have the same taste in humour (I think we have).

‘I'm sure that if you and I can work well enough together we shouldn't have too much trouble selling the idea, if not the Beeb then to someone else...'

The phrase ‘nitty gritty’ has more recently been deemed problematic by some anti-racist campaigners as it has been suggested that the expression originally referred to the detritus found in the bottom of ships carrying enslaved people. However that etymology is disputed as the phrase did not appear in print until the 1930s, long after the era of slavery.

Wightman has written gags for the likes of Les Dawson, The Two Ronnies, Jimmy Tarbuck, Des O’Connor, Richard Digance, Joe Pasquale and Cilla Black.

East Bristol Auctions is also selling a number of his other scripts from programmes including Russ Abbot’s Christm as Madhouse, Friday Night Live and Only Fools And Horses.

Here’s an interview with Wightman in which he discusses some of the items available for auction in this sale.