Gerry Brooke looks back on a lacklustre performance by comedy duo Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones

The stars to see in Bristol this winter month in 1986 were the very popular Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, on stage at the Colston Hall.

The Post’s critic David Harrison, however, wasn’t amused by the comic duo or their antics.

“After a first half of undemanding sterility this was a sell out in more ways than one” he wrote the next day.

“Smith and Jones have proved themselves among the most individual and inventive of TV comedy teams.

“Some of their sketches are already classics and they form a good partnership, ideal for bouncing ideas off each other.

“So why then, spend an hour as an obscene version of Cannon and Ball, telling puerile and often elderly jokes?

“Crude innuendo and tacky stories about sex and bodily functions are no substitute for comedy.

“These were long, boring and aimed at an audience who find four letter words hilarious when spoken by someone famous on stage.

“After the interval Smith and Jones grew up a little with a session of their marvellous saloon bar philosophy in which half truths, rumours and twisted logic become firm fact.

“There was the superb, racist sketch, the Pope doing a TV commercial, more jokes about sex – but funny ones this time – and a good time was had by all.

“But the targets were easy ones – folk dances and religion – and the duo worked hard for their laughs.

“But nearly 2000 people lapped it up, from the naughty words to the regurgitated TV routines.

“ Was I the only one to find the evening a total waste of both their talents and my time?”

This was the opening night of the tour.

Before the show Jones had talked to the Post’s diarist about a former visit in Bristol when he had been invited to give an informal talk to some undergraduates about his theatrical experiences.

When he arrived at Temple Meads, however, he was shocked to find himself facing huge posters announcing not a talk, but a one man show.

“I was very annoyed” he said.

“I had no show prepared so I had to stand up, chat for bit, answer questions and just generally blather on.

“It was all right in the end, but all rather peculiar.”

Jones went on to say that the duos two month, 22 town tour of Australia had been a great success.

They had spent Christmas Day, he explained, on Bondai beach with Pamela Stephenson and Billy Connolly, who were also touring Down Under.

In 1981 Smith and Jones founded TalkBack Productions, a very successful TV company which produced Smack the Pony, Da Ali G Show and I’m Alan Partridge.

Ten years ago they sold the company to Pearson for a cool £62 million.

If Smith and Jones weren’t your cup of tea then there was always Cannon and Ball on stage at the Hippodrome in the panto Babes in the Wood.

Tommy and Bobby, who had met in the early 1960s while working as welders, started out as singers in Northern pubs and clubs before switching to comedy after being told they could earn an extra £3 a night.

Their first TV appearance, on the The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club show was in 1972 but seven years later they had reached the top – their very own Saturday night TV show.

As born-again Christians the duo now take a gospel show around the country.

Failing panto then how about going to see top players Steve Davis, Willie Thorne, Tony Knowles and Jimmy White taking part in the Tolly Cobbold snooker championship at Redwood Lodge Hotel and Country Club.