In these modern times, there have been a cluster of double acts that have shown us that the best way to get a laugh is to make a mockery of those lower than themselves. Little Britain and Peep Show pull this off with varying degrees of success, but how many other double acts can you name who, essentially, scorn those in a higher position than themselves? Fry and Laurie are not only one of the few who ever did this, but they did so with near-total ease, mostly because they are those upper class fools. They also never felt the need to resort to the immensely grotesque like Rik and Ade often did to get their giggles. Theirs was a gentler and more subtle tactic at poking fun at a vulnerable part of society. We could do with more of that gentlemanly nature in todays world of brash stand-ups and formulaic sitcoms.
Senior editor for the superhero/comic book hub A Place To Hang Your Cape. BA in Creative Writing and Film Studies from Hull Uni. Currently getting lost in the big wide world of freelance writing. And some other stuff.
