New series of ‘Weeds’ comic show

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 15

New series of ‘Weeds’ comic show

A zany comedy group, the "Grumbleweeds,” will return tonight in a new series of “The Grumbleweeds Radio Show” at 9.30 on One.

Robin, Maurice, Carl, Graham and Albert deliver another manic mixture of music, sketches and impressions, and introduce some new characters alongside old favourites, Viv and Trix, Hymie and Rachel, the Milky Bar Kid, and Wilf “Gasmask” Grimshaw.

The Leeds-based group has one of the fastest moving comedy shows on television, with more than 40 sketches in the opening programme.

“The idea,” says John Hamp, who devised the format, “is that it’s virtually impossible to tire of a

joke or a sketch. We’ve put together a series of one-liners so that if one joke doesn’t appeal, the next one, delivered a few seconds later, probably will.”

Hamp hit on this formula because the “Grumbleweeds” have built their reputation in cabaret where five individuals often do five different things simultaneously in different parts of the stage — impossible for one television camera to pick up.

The “Grumbleweeds,” who got their big break on British television’s “Opportunity Knocks,” specialise in impressions. Amongst their repertoire are Rod Stewart, Bing Crosby, Elvis and Demis Roussos.