Beat Generation, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 8 3 (UK)
1 x 30 minute episode

This black-and-white parody of the hedonistic beat poets of the 1960s and European art-house cinema was written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and broadcast as an episode of The Comic Strip Presents… on Channel 4 on 17 January 1983.

Set in August 1960, the story follows Desmond (Adrian Edmondson), a naive, enthusiastic “weekend hipster” whose parents have gone away.

Desperate to find acceptance within the local counter-culture scene, Desmond foolishly signs a legal waiver to let a famous colony of maverick beat poets hold a weekend-long party at his parents’ large seaside villa.

The house is quickly overrun by hedonistic, pretentious characters – including the arrogant writer Alan (Peter Richardson), the violent Kix (Daniel Peacock), angry poet Jeremy (Rik Mayall) and the sex-obsessed Eleanor (Dawn French).

Jennifer Saunders plays a hip, detached filmmaker named Jennifer, and there are cameos from Keith Allen (as Brian Epstein) and Robbie Coltrane.

Desmond struggles to maintain order or even understand their bizarre, nihilistic lifestyle, and the surreal bubble finally bursts when two ordinary girls from the outside world  – Judy (Zoe Clarke) and Tracy (Kim Pappas) – arrive, triggering a wild, chaotic party that forces the characters to face reality.

Desmond
Adrian Edmondson
Alan
Peter Richardson
Courtney
Nigel Planer
Eleanor
Dawn French
Jennifer
Jennifer Saunders
Jeremy
Rik Mayall
Kurt
Robbie Coltrane
Kix
Daniel Peacock
Judy
Zoe Clarke
Tracy
Kim Pappas
Brian Epstein
Keith Allen

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