Sunshine on Putty: The Golden Age of British Comedy from Vic Reeves to The Office

The definitive history of a golden age in British show-business, Sunshine On Putty is based on hundreds of interviews with the leading comedians of the era, as well as managers, agents, producers, directors, executives and TV personalities.In the 1990s, British comedy underwent a renaissance – shows like The Fast Show, The Day Today, Shooting Stars, The League of Gentlemen, The Royle Family and The Office were hugely popular with critics and audiences alike. Just as politics, sport, art, literature and religion seemed to move towards light entertainment, the comedy on the nations televisions not only offered a home to ideas and ideals of community which could no longer find one elsewhere, but also gave us a clearer picture of what was happening to our nation than any other form of artistic endeavour.From Ricky Gervais self-destructive love affair with dairy products to Steve Coogans suicidal overtaking technique; from the secrets of Vic Reeves woodshed, to the stains on Caroline Ahernes sofa; from Victor Meldrews prophetic dream to Spike Milligans final resting place, Ben Thompson reveals the twisted beauty of British comedy’s psyche.