''The Steam Video Company'' was a 1984 comedy series produced by

Thames Television Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broa ...

for ITV written by Andrew Marshall and

David Renwick David Peter Renwick (; born 4 September 1951) is an English author, television writer, actor, director and executive producer, best known for creation of the sitcom ''One Foot in the Grave'' and the mystery series ''Jonathan Creek''. He was awar ...

. The six episode series was a low budget spoof of the horror genre, intermingled with spoofs on contemporary television programmes, such as '' Nationwide''. The programmes starred the same repertory cast of comic actors in a variety of roles. The cast included:

William Franklyn William Leo Franklyn (22 September 1925 – 31 October 2006) was a British actor, perhaps best known for voicing the "Schhh... You Know Who" adverts for Schweppes from 1965 to 1973. He also performed on stage, film, television and radio, ...

Barry Cryer Barry Charles Cryer (23 March 1935 – 25 January 2022) was an English writer, comedian, and actor. As well as performing on stage, radio and television, Cryer wrote for many performers including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory ...

Anna Dawson Anna Dawson (born 27 July 1937) is an English actress and singer. Born in Bolton, Lancashire, Dawson spent part of her childhood in Tanganyika, where her father worked. She attended the Elmhurst Ballet School and after training at the Central ...

Bob Todd Brian Todd (15 December 1921 – 21 October 1992), known professionally as Bob Todd, was an English comedy actor, mostly known for appearing as a straight man in the sketch shows of Benny Hill and Spike Milligan. For many years, he lived in ...

Madeline Smith Madeline Smith (born 2 August 1949) is an English actress. After working as a model in the late 1960s, she went on to appear in many television series and stage productions, plus comedy and horror films, in the 1970s and 1980s. She is perhaps ...

and

Jimmy Mulville James Thomas Mulville (born 5 January 1955) is an English comedian, comedy writer, producer and television presenter. He is best known for co-founding (in 1986) the British independent television production company Hat Trick Productions with ...

. The title is thought to be a reference to 'the golden age of steam railways', with the 'steam video' apparently a spoof on the multitude of low-budget horror and exploitation films available during the early days of the British home video boom.

Catchphrases and running jokes

William Franklyn responds to at least one double entendre in each episode by looking at the camera and muttering "tempting, isn't it?" Each episode begins with glimpses of non-existent films as a way of introducing the cast members, such as "''Gentlemen Prefer Ladies'' starring Anna Dawson and Madeline Smith", and closes with a spoof 'teaser' of next week's episode, such as ''the Loneliness of the Long Distance Garlic Eater''. Bob Todd is the only actor referred to by name in the episodes, usually by an exasperated cast member expressing dismay at his shoddy disguises.

Episode list

* "The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll" * "Creature From The Black Forest Gateau" * "I Was Hitler's Bookie" * "The Secret Of Plankton Lodge" * "Amityville II – Luton Town 3" * "The Fall Of The House Of Franklyn"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steam Video Company ITV comedy 1984 British television series debuts 1984 British television series endings 1980s British comedy television series