When Viz first appeared in 1979, 150 copies were sold in the pubs of Newcastle in just two days. The comic's latest audit figures put sales at 911,454 for the period July to December last year. Described by some as the publishing success story of the decade, the magazine has probably amused more than it has offended with hilarious characters like Sid the Sexist, the Fat Slags and other unprintables. But has it gone too far with its attacks on household names like Shakin' Stevens and Bob Monkhouse and on our Royal Family? In tonight's programme, Philip Branston catches up with the comics's creators, and Auberon Waugh, Harry Enfield, Keith Chegwin and some of its victims express their views.
Born half-man, half-fish, young Billy Thomson's dream was to play in goal for Fulchester United. And that dream came true, in the pages of Viz magazine. Like other sports stars before him, Billy has gone on to make the transition to TV celebrity, and the highlights of his illustrious career are captured here, for prosperity. It's a football fan's 'catch' of the day, an action packed account of the adventures of everybody's favourite footballing fish.
The star of Fulchester Television brings shows such as 'Blinkety Blank', 'The Mellie Report', 'The Antiques Roadshow' and 'Challenge Roger', in a series of short episodes based on his popular comic strip.
Farmyard sex action as a quiet caravan ride in the country for our duo turns out to be etc. etc. etc.
It's Saturday night, and San and Tray are looking for action. And they get it - in the back of a taxi! No surprise there.
Our shameless shagbags get more than they bargained for when a routine visit to the dole office turns into an explicit sex and cream cake orgy.
Here it is. Raunchier than a Swedish rabbit and bluer than a baboon's arse. The two and only FAT SLAGS burst onto your screens in non-stop steamy red hot rubber Panhandlevision. Ooh la la! Hold tight for 45 minutes of crude language, shagging and chips. It's the footage that Channel 4 refused to show. And we must admit, they probably made the right decision.
Meet Sid, Baz, Bob and Joe as they set out to paint Newcastle red. enjoy their colourful bad language as they stagger from pub to restaurant to club to takeaway to gutter.
Sid and the lads jet off to sunny Spain for a spot of holiday romance. Unfortunately things don’t go according to plan. Sid's advances result in a less than trouble-free holiday for all.
Sid’s luck changes for the better after his friends disown him. His unique style of conversation is to one woman’s liking and the evening progresses very positively.
The lads call Sid for a night of beer drinking in front of the television, but little do they know, it will lead to them undertaking an adventure in a strange far off place.
Sidney cruises the streets in search of something special. Much time, effort and incident leads to a result; which in turn leads to Sid’s bedroom.
Sidney Smutt is a smooth talking sex machine, a lady killing hard man who can drink anyone under the table...or so he thinks. Featuring: Oot On The Tap, Eurosidney, Sid’s Ship Comes In, Sid’s Blind Date and The Big Pull
The yo-yo knickered Slags get the blues when randy romeo Baz marries their love rival Thelma. But it's during their disastrous honeymoon at the sinister Paradise Park that the action really turns blue! There's a swearing vicar, a voluptuous virgin, a twelve inch sausage that smells of kipper, a knife-wielding transvestite, a black and white minstrel with a pink arse, the worlds bluest comedian, a dead donkey plus a women eating a dog turd. What more could you want? Blue Honeymoon is quite the fattest, fartiest and funniest videos ever made.
Armando Iannucci presents a series which explores the history of British comics. He looks at the new characters and strips which emerged in the 1970s and 80s to appeal to an older, more adult readership of comics, from Judge Dredd and Tank Girl to Viz and Watchmen.
Lauren Laverne celebrates 30 years of Viz with creators Chris and Simon Donald.
A look at the rudest comic ever to hit Britain's newsstands: Viz. Started in 1979 from a bedroom in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the magazine's particular brand of British toilet humour soon became a nationwide hit, selling over a million copies by 1989. It's been in decline ever since... TateShots boarded a train to Newcastle and filmed editors Simon Thorp, Graham Dury and Davey Jones as they finished off some specially made strips for Tate Britain's exhibition. Featuring Viz stalwarts the Fat Slags ("nice big curves"), Mrs Brady Old Lady ("she's obsessed with her bowels"), and new characters Thomas Rowlandson and James Gillray ("trying to impress a girl"), the cartoons are as childish and crude as they are pointless and purile. The Viz team also discuss what makes the magazine so British, why they gave up trying to be topical, and how "nothing comes out of the comic looking good, least of all ourselves".
Viz, the legendary UK comedy comic is still very much anarchic, fresh and funny. Baby Cow Animation brings Viz to life with three hilarious Viz Blaps. Hosted by Roger Mellie, the Blaps feature sketches, Top Tips, Letterbock, the Profanisaurus and other funny bits.
The Fat Slags host the second Blap, with sketches, Top Tips, letters, the Profanisaurus and other good bits.
Biffa Bacon, Mutha and Fatha host the final Blap, with sketches, the Top Tips, letters, the Profanisaurus and even more good bits.
