Morris Minor's Marvellous Motors

[Split_Pin]

After digging out my old Paul Skilleter book on the car, it reminded me of a sitcom with the above title, which ran for only one series in 1989

 

Does anyone else remember this? I've Googled the show and all that I could find was that it was written by Tony Hawks and it featured the bloke that played Gollum in Lord of the Rings.

 

Apparently it was spectacularly shit, but I remember it well. I would have been 8 when it was shown and I think it was aimed at a young audience.

 

I also remember singing the theme tune every day on the way to school around the time it was on, as I used to see a blue 1959 Minor, UFS 946 parked outside a builders yard that was on my way. 'Mooooorris Minor' That must have been annoying.

[RedSparrow]

Yes! I am about the same age as you then. I loved it, partly 'cos my dad is a mechanic.

 

I remember singing the theme tune too, part of it went 'Morris Minor, Nothing finer...'

 

One of those comedies I liked as a kid depite not understanding almost all of the jokes.

[fiatdaft]

it rings a bell,but iain have you noticed that alpina round from you thats just appeared?

 

nice.

[Andrew353w]

Didn't Tony Hawkes front a pop group in the 1980's called "Morris Minor and The Majors"? I believe they had at least one hit, entitled "Stutter Rap" but I stand to be corrected if anyone knows better.....

 

Tony Hawkes suffered the musical equivalent of "too much lager & E-Bay shopping" when, at a drunken party, he bet someone he could get a record into a European country's top 40. ANd he did it, by making a record and having the late Norman Wisdom sing the vocals; it made it to 29 in the Albanian top 40, as Norman Wisdom was a national hero there.

 

Shouldn't this lot be on the "Factoids" thread?

[Lankytim]

I remember that program! As a car mad 9 year old I couldn't wait for the first episode. It was shit.

[barrett]

Didn't Tony Hawkes front a pop group in the 1980's called "Morris Minor and The Majors"? I believe they had at least one hit, entitled "Stutter Rap" but I stand to be corrected if anyone knows better.....

 

He did indeed, I was just going to ask if it was a spin-off of this show?

[pogweasel]

It was.

It was also rubbish.

It was on on a saturday tea time before doctor who.

 

"stutter rap" was the first record i bought.

[peter9000uk]

I thought Tony Hawks as a skateboarder

[Richard]

I think Hawk and Hawks are both thoroughly sick of hearing that.

[scaryoldcortina]

Completely missed the series (must have been busy in '89....) but Stutter Rap (no sleep 'til Bedtime) I do remember. One of the "band" was called Rusty Wing, almost as amusing as the Hamster's bass player being the Rev Otis Elevator...

 

Trouble is, you say Morris Minor and television, all I get is Eric Sykes, or the nurse from "open all hours". Soz.

[fotorabia]

I was stuck in the USA on my way to Spain in 1989 so i know nuffink...perhaps the remake should be called The Slow and the Curious...perhaps an idea for amateur Autoshitest film makers..an off the road movie..a slow motion Mad Max with the hero driving-breaking down in a Talbot Tagora

[eddyramrod]

I have the book Tony Hawks wrote about the Sir Norman experience; called "One Hit Wonderland" it's actually highly amusing. Norman is big in Albania because for years, his were the only western movies allowed on their TV. I barely remember Stutter Rap, and completely missed the sitcom.

[scaryoldcortina]

Mrs S has a question... she remembers a sitcom featuring a main character (in the titles) who pulls a parking ticket off the windscreen of his beige heap and tries to stuff it in the glovebox, which is full and spews 10,000 parking tickets into the passenger footwell. Trouble is, that's all she remembers! Heylpppp!

[Richard]

The Gaffer?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfHGAeG-kh8

[pogweasel]

I believe that's the start of "The Gaffer", featuring Bill Maynard.

My dad had a similar condition white rover at around the same time...

[eddyramrod]

Correct, featuring Bill Maynard and a dirty-white Rover P6...

[scaryoldcortina]

She says Thanky You, that's it exactly. I'm still none the wiser, so I'm off to (insert name of file-sharing web site here) to look for episodes. Failing that, I'll ask Autofive, who probably has a DVD box set.

[Split_Pin]

it rings a bell,but iain have you noticed that alpina round from you thats just appeared?

 

nice.

 

Yes, and it sounds pretty awesome!

 

Looks like hes laid up his Volvo S80 for it.

[fiatdaft]

aye, iain do you know anybody that stays in the seperate steadings to the left of gilston crescent?

[autofive]

She says Thanky You, that's it exactly. I'm still none the wiser, so I'm off to (insert name of file-sharing web site here) to look for episodes. Failing that, I'll ask Autofive, who probably has a DVD box set.

 

i only have series one and two

 

bonus factoid

Tony hawks also wrote " Playing the Moldovians at Tennis" and "Round Ireland with a Fridge" - both very good reads

 

[Richard]

In A Piano in the Pyrenees he has a lot of gear to transport to France (not a bet for a change, he's bought a house there) and buys a cheap Transit Luton instead of hiring one. He loads it up, sets off and It expires before the end of his street so he has to hire one anyway.

[scooters]

She says Thanky You, that's it exactly. I'm still none the wiser, so I'm off to (insert name of file-sharing web site here) to look for episodes. Failing that, I'll ask Autofive, who probably has a DVD box set.

 

i only have series one and two

 

bonus factoid

Tony hawks also wrote " Playing the Moldovians at Tennis" and "Round Ireland with a Fridge" - both very good reads

 

 

 

and a regular panel member on the excellent "Just a Minute" with Nicholas Parsons on Radio 4 on Sundays at noon

[Split_Pin]

aye, iain do you know anybody that stays in the seperate steadings to the left of gilston crescent?

 

Afraid not. Please tell me there is an old Alpine or a 132 stashed there though!

[eddyramrod]

I have the Fridge book, bought because I enjoyed One Hit Wonderland so much. It's in the stack to be read when time allows...

[fiatdaft]

aye, iain do you know anybody that stays in the seperate steadings to the left of gilston crescent?

 

Afraid not. Please tell me there is an old Alpine or a 132 stashed there though!

 

 

there were some subaru brat's there,but just went round and there gone,never mind!

[Andrew353w]

She says Thanky You, that's it exactly. I'm still none the wiser, so I'm off to (insert name of file-sharing web site here) to look for episodes. Failing that, I'll ask Autofive, who probably has a DVD box set.

 

i only have series one and two

 

bonus factoid

Tony hawks also wrote " Playing the Moldovians at Tennis" and "Round Ireland with a Fridge" - both very good reads

 

 

I remember reading "Round Ireland With A Fridge" while working in Algeria in 2003-2004 and crying with laughter! In vain did I try to explain to the Algerians why this was funny-they never got it at all and just shrugged their shoulders, mumbling "les Anglais!"

[Rusty Pelican]

Correct, featuring Bill Maynard and a dirty-white Rover P6...

Bill Played Selwyn Froggit IIRC , magic was his catchfrase , good show , Im a big fan of Bill Maynard for some reason