TV Comedy Tie-In Books - The Heyday

While you did have some in the 70s such as Monty Python and The Goodies (whose three books, The Goodies File, The Goodies Book Of Criminal Records and The Making Of The Goodies Disaster Movie, are slightly unusual in that they have a running thread that continues on throughout the three books), it was really when you got into the 80s and 90s that the comedy book became pretty omnipresent. It wa sa standard expectation that a comedy show or comedian would produce a coffee-table book (as such things used to be referred to before becoming more likely to be be referred to as a toilet book) in time for the lucrative Christmas market. There are many that I have (and still do) enjoy so here’s whistle stop tour to some of the ones I enjoy the most.

Bachelor Boys: The Young Ones Book
Type:- “In-Universe”
Written as if it’s by Rik, Neil, Mike and Vyvian, this was another early one and one that was frequently thumbed through (alongside How To Be A Complete Bastard by Adrian Edmondson - not strictly a TV tie-in as such but presented by a version of Ade Edmondson that fits into the Vyvian/Eddie Hitler mode).

The Mary Whitehouse Experience Encyclopedia
Type:- “In The Style Of”
Presented as an encyclopedia but really probably the best way to represent a combination sketch and stand up show that was written by comedians with different styles. The format allows them all to be able to write in their own style and subjects of their own choosing. A big favourite amongst me and my mates at secondary school.

Shooting Stars With Reeves And Mortimer
Type:- Other
Basically, an attempt to allow you to play Shooting Stars in the comfort of your own home. The book itself was quite funny but the one thing that made it an essential purchase was the CD that came long it containing 50 songs sung by Vic Reeves “in the club style”. To this day, his rendition of Earth Song by Michael Jackson still cracks me up.

The League Of Gentlemen’s Local Book For Local People
Type:- “In-Universe”
Presented as a document on Royston Vasey, it’s a triumph of design, from the slipcover which is designed to look like stitched together human skin through the various pieces of Vasey paraphernalia ladi out as if it’s within a scrapbook belonging to Local Shop co-owner Tubbs Tattsyrup.

Honourable Mentions:-
Father Ted: The Craggy Island Parish Magazines (lovely design but the material’s not quite strong enough); The Not The Nine O’Clock News Book; The B’Stard File (from The New Statesman)’ Vic Reeves Big Night In; Head To Head With Smith And Jones