Leonard Hatred disgraces himself in the last programme of this retro science comedy (!), but this is, on the whole, affable fare.

Based sometime in the twilight zone of late '70s-early '80s science shows, all the presenters have the jaunty presenting style of that era off pat.

Looking ahead to the future, there are such inventions as cream for the dreadful cobbles disease (people literally turned into a mass of cobbles), and a vegetable orchestra (vegetables trained to be musical). Inspired madness.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

DEAD RINGERS

'Dead Ringers' was a satirical impressionist show, which brought us the sexiest woman on television in the early part of the 21st Century - Jan Ravens as a rampant seductress version of newscaster Fiona Bruce.

Originating on BBC Radio 4, 'Dead Ringers' made a successful transition to television, on BBC2. The TV version included an impressive list of impersonators - Ms. Ravens, Jon Culshaw, Mark Perry, Kevin Connelly, and Phil Cornwell.

Jon Culshaw was probably the star of 'Dead Ringers', with impressions which included a surreal American President George W. Bush, whose sentences were full of malapropisms. Also notable were Culshaw's rather brave impressions in public - of actors Tom Baker and Russell Crowe, TV/radio presenter/interviewer Michael Parkinson, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and art critic Brian Sewell.

Other impressive impersonations included Jan Ravens' Clare Short and Kirsty Wark; Mark Perry's late, lamented Labour MP Robin Cook, Professor Robert Winston, and TV presenter David Dickinson; Kevin Connelly's Mark Lawson, David Starkey, Andrew Marr, Bill Oddie, and Andrew Neil; Phil Cornwell's Michael Caine, Jack Nicholson, and Jimmy Hill.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

Dead Ringers DVD available from booksmusicfilmstv.com - in association with Amazon.co.uk
Dead Ringers - Series 1 [2002]

ALISTAIR McGOWAN'S BIG IMPRESSION

Along with other excellent BBC shows, 'Dead Ringers' and 'Stella Street', 'Alistair McGowan's Big Impression' has been at the forefront of the impressionist TV revival in the early part of the 21st Century.

With the very talented Ronni Ancona, Alistair McGowan's shows, latterly called 'Big Impression', were very funny at taking the mickey out of some of the celebs of the day, in an affectionate way, notably David and Victoria Beckham. Alistair and Ronni also had a regular Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn spot, which was uncanny. Other impressive impressions included Richard and Judy, Ruby Wax, Michael Parkinson, and Trevor Brooking.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

Alistair McGowan DVD available from booksmusicfilmstv.com - in association with Amazon.co.uk
Alistair McGowan's Big World Cup [2002]