TV Time Machine #15: February 2000: My Hero, Nature Boy, That Peter Kay Thing, EastEnders Anniversary

The Custard TV Podcast

Matt and Luke hop aboard their TV Time Machine to view the TV landscape of February 2000. EastEnders turns 15 with a double episode which sees the residents of Albert Square locked in the Vic when an unexploded WW2 bomb discovered nearby.

The BBC try their at a traditonal American sitcom, with audience laughter and a team of writers producing the Ardal O'Hanlan superhero comedy My Hero. In better comedy, a fresh-faced, but very astute and already polished northern comedian, Peter Kay gets his first full series in Channel 4's That Peter Kay Thing. The series, in which Kay plays a variety of different characters, is done in the docusoap style popular at the time, and the lads watch two episodes of the series. The first of which would become Kay's hit sitcom, Phoenix Nights.

Lastly, there's gritty drama Nature Boy, which aired on the BBC and starred Lee Ingelby as a teen who was living in an abusive foster environment who finds he has an affinity with wildlife.

And, as always, Matt tests Luke's knowledge of the UK music scene of the time.