I once thought of myself as a voracious viewer of sitcoms, but the more I explore the world of old newspapers and guides, the more I realise there are huge gaps in my … knowledge isn’t the right word … but, you know … that thing.
So it’s less of a surprise than it once was to come across a sitcom that aired on BBC Two in the coveted 9pm slot in 1990, one which I have no memory of ever seeing.
Tygo Road even appeared as a pilot in 1989’s Comic Asides strand, the same series of one offs that introduced KYTV, Mornin’ Sarge, The High Life and I, Lovett. All of which I remember watching, and hoping there would be more to follow.
(Here’s the full documentary The 39,000 Steps.)
Come the 19th May, and the pilot episode was enjoying a syndicated write-up across a dozen or so local papers.
That’s an impressive cast line-up.
Here’s much the same article in the Liverpool Echo, complete with a photo of an unrecognisable Bill Bailey.
A week later, Rod Bushell reviewed the first two offerings from Comic Asides, seemingly oblivious to the rich history of Playhouse style pilot series.
This really does sound like a show I would have enjoyed. And the pilot was strong enough to be given a full series (that’s five series from six pilots, wow).
Five new episodes aired from 5th May 1990 onwards.
I can’t find a single clip of Tygo Road to share with you, not even buried in some continuity of the time.
Did you see it?
